My evening at Richard’s Supper Stage has skyrocketed to my number one dinner theatre experience. I’ve seen several shows, but none quite like “Kaapse Stories from the Mother City”. From the moment I stepped up the staircase, appropriately bearing the names of District 6 streets, to the last clap of the standing ovation, I was enchanted by the colourful warmth of true South African hospitality that is so prevalent at Richard’s.
With its vibrant music, culture, and food, this dinner theatre offers a view of the Mother City from the locals’ perspective. I don’t want to reveal the show’s carefully constructed secrets and ruin all the surprises; it’s an experience you can only understand when you see it for yourself. Trust me. What I saw on the Richard’s website got me excited, but what I saw at Richard’s was a whole lot more than I expected!
You can’t miss the bright red supper stage in Sea Point – it screams “Theatre!” We were welcomed by friendly staff, a complimentary glass of champagne, and a bright pink sequinned hat that begged to adorn my head. As we waited for the show to begin we were serenaded with live jazz music and I could tell that everyone (including the likes of Ferdinand Rabie) was as relaxed and cheery as I was.
Produced by Roland Seidel and Richard Loring (producer of the internationally-acclaimed African Footprint), the show is highly entertaining and interactive. Although based on the true story of a family who struggled through the racial divide of apartheid, I found it wasn’t as much of a story as an upbeat musical medley of local and international songs. It didn’t take long for the audience to sing and clap along.
But Richard’s doesn’t only dazzle with live entertainment. The 3-course meal, featuring Cape Malay cuisine with a Mediterranean twist, is a production of its own. My favourite was the starter – a delicately spiced samoosa on a bed of roasted veg with a dollop of the best homemade snoek pâté that I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. A generous Greek salad completed the tantalising first course.
The main course was a buffet of Korma Chicken and Prawn Curry, Cape Malay Vegetable Brayani, Baked Linefish, Sliced Beef Fillet, and an array of tasty vegetables. In my attempt to report back on the meal, I found my plate piled ridiculously high – despite the meagre helping of each dish. The food was good, but not as memorable as the starter. I do have a general aversion to buffet meals as they seem to lack the delicate balance of flavours that an individual dish offers, and I think this is where it missed the mark. My highlight of the main course was actually not the food, but rather the hilarious introduction given to it by the maître’d.
The dessert featured a mini-platter of traditional South African puddings; a mini koeksister, sliver of milktart, slice of malva pudding with vanilla custard, and a fruit kebab. Sadly the koeksister was dry and soggy, and the malva pudding was cold. The milktart and fruit kebab were delightful, however, but I had to force myself to taste them after the gargantuan buffet.
After the show, guests are invited to visit the Memorabilia Bar, decorated top-to-toe with highlights of Richard Loring’s 50 years in musical theatre, television, records, movies, and cabaret. It’s an impressive past and offers a cool peak into the world of show biz. You may even get the chance to enjoy a drink with one of the gregarious cast.
From here you can sneak downstairs to the Bistro, which operates as a regular restaurant, with an open deck and a colourful interior inspired by the Bo-Kaap. The Bistro opens for breakfast at 8am and remains open after the show, so you can enjoy a wide range of food from freshly-baked muffins to salads, mouth-watering prawns, steaks, and home-made ice cream all day long.
The venue is popular and Richard’s is planning to extend the show from three to possibly seven nights a week. They are considering adding a second cast to keep up with the demand for performances. Aside from the regular Thursday – Sunday schedule of “Kaapse Stories”, you can also watch after-dinner shows on Saturdays, featuring new and established acts, and Sunday events that showcase local artists.
“Kaapse Stories from the Mother City” is on from Thursday to Saturday at Richard’s Supper Stage and Bistro, corner Glengariff and Main Road, Sea Point. Tickets are available from Computicket. For more information, visit www.richardscapetown.co.za, email [email protected], or call +27 (0)21 434 6738.
Check it out and let us know what you think of the show! What other dinner-theatres do you recommend in South Africa?
Images 1 & 2 supplied by Richard’s Supper Stage & Bistro
