Warming The Heart: Oom Schalk Lourens On Tour – Cultural Review

20130421_0748Oom Schalk Lourens is a beloved fictional character in South African literature, penned by the author Herman Charles Bosman in numerous short stories that were first published in the 1940s. Oom Schalk is known for sitting on his bench with his pipe and his brandy and his tales, both short and tall. He engages the reader by knowing that the success of a story lies not so much in “observing the way the world has with men and women”, but rather in knowing when to pause to knock your pipe or recognising what to leave out.

Currently, David Muller, doyen of South African theatre, is crossing the country (continuing on to Australia and New Zealand) to bring Oom Schalk to life on the stage in towns small and large. As he travels, David Muller carries, in the trunk of his car, the bench which he made by hand – one of the only props in his one man show, Oom Schalk From the Heart, which I saw during its single performance at the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg on 19 April. The stories chosen for the performance are a mixture of some of the best from Bosman’s collections, such as the tale about the day the congregation had to sing all 176 verses of Psalm 119 as the minister had fallen asleep and failed to stop them. By nightfall the congregation was hoarse and defeated. As they sang the last “Amen”, the minister woke long enough to announce that they would sing Psalm 119, before he lapsed back into his trance.

It is a brave man who dares take on the much beloved character of Oom Schalk, specifically after what can best be described as a monopoly that was held on performing his stories, first by Percy Sieff and then by the great Patrick Mynhardt who passed away while on tour in London in 2007. But David Muller succeeds in following in these footsteps.

For a performance that will warm the heart, try to catch David Muller on his tour across

South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

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For More Information Visit:
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https://www.facebook.com/OomSchalkLourens

 

Author: Karen Jennings