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Spark In The Dark
Winner of The Special Jury Award at the recent Bitesize Theatre Festival in London, The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, is a feast of theatrical delight and pathos in which themes of identity, heritage, and sexuality are explored through the eyes of a first-generation South African. It will be onstage at Kaapstad Toneelhuis for one night only on 13 June 2024.
“Pain is pain. Love is love. Life is delicious”.
Playright Aldo Brincat is that first-generation South African of Mauritian, Egyptian and Maltese heritage. Born in mid-60’s South Africa, Brincat, along with his family, find their maturing years playing out against the backdrop of a country in turmoil.
Aldo Brincat’s award winning hit, The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, is a 70 minute, largely autobiographical solo performance, which is driven by a loving father and son relationship - each from different eras and motherlands. Here, Brincat plays an array of characters in and around a fragile young nuclear family - some foreign, some local - all of whom are finding or losing themselves in the ever-changing political landscape that is South Africa. Language, religion, ambition, sexuality, and political leanings are brought into sharp focus as our two lead characters fight off ‘otherness’, while attempting to assert themselves into a volatile new country. Key moments in their lives are juxtaposed against powerful developments in South Africa’s history during the 70s and 80s and, as the effects of apartheid (and its homophobic policies) begin to reach boiling point, family ties threaten to tear apart.
The Moon Looks Delicious From Here is universal in its theme, particularly at this time when the intersectional knock-on effects of migrancy, sexuality, heritage and identity are brought increasingly into our consciousness.
Written and performed by the international multi award winning interdisciplinary artist, Aldo Brincat, and directed by Sjaka Septembir, with music by the multi award winning international composer, performer and producer, Bongiziwe Mabandla.
Reviews
“A masterclass in writing and performance… In a league of its own!”
The Special Jury Award - Bitesize Theatre Festival
“Aldo’s mesmerising performance and compelling story makes for a wonderful hour in the theatre. He gently draws you into his world and characters, and makes you feel for them in a way that only excellent live theatre can. A true original, this story is authentic and endearing and moving in equal measure.”
Tony Lankester - ED Riverside Studios
“Utterly brilliant! Everything great theatre should be: Entertaining, moving, inventive, surprising and challenging without being medicinal, or up its own arse. Bravo, Aldo!”
Greig Coetzee - greigcoetzee.com
“...The magic of live theatre is measured by the immediate and visceral response of the audience. Aldo Brincat's one-man show is pure artistry. It gets under your skin. It unsettles and it challenges. Brincat’s The Moon Looks Delicious From Here celebrates the magnificence of Humanity - it breathes into being the wishes, fears, aches, traumas, loves and pain of lives past. Pain is pain. Love is love. Life is Delicious.”
Caroline Esterhuizen - Applause
“Aldo is a master storyteller. He is elegant, eloquent and liquid. The characters he inhabits are compellingly brought to life with such humanity that, however flawed they are, they never lose our sympathy.”
Tom Read Willson - United Agents UK
“Dialogue is fast and furious, moving through the cast of characters. He certainly keeps you on your toes! Don’t miss it!”
Caroline Smart - ArtSmart
“The Moon Looks Delicious From Here, a largely autobiographical stage work by Durban-born Aldo Brincat, is one such glistening treat. It is one of the best things I have seen on stage in some while, … Brincat mesmerises throughout… highly recommended!”
Billy Suter - So Suterbill
“... an engaging, at times whimsical play, shot through with humour and a Mediterranean optimism within tragic circumstances. In the best tradition of Poor Theatre, it is also an important play in that it contributes to the tapestry of our shared history and trauma as The Moon Looks Delicious From Here invites us to reconjure our own memories and confront some difficult truths while doing so, and then be kind to the young person we were. That kindness matters, because in the ‘80s, there was very little of it going around.”
Steve Kretzmann - The Critter
The Moon Looks Delicious From Here
Toneelhuis, Cape Town, 13 June, 8pm
A solo theatre performance by Aldo Brincat.
Directed by Sjaka Septembir.
Music By Bongeziwe Mabandla.
Bookings through Quicket at R150pp.