South Africa’s Odile Rault sta

South Africa’s Odile Rault stars in London play ‘Dress Rehearsal’

South African singer and actress Odile Rault stars in Dress Rehearsal, a musical play running from 12 to 30 November at The Regal Room in Hammersmith.

South Africa’s Odile Rault sta
Dress-Rehearsal cast 2
Odile Rault, Stiofan O’Doherty and Maggie Robson as Three Little Maids in ‘Dress Rehearsal’.

South African performer Odile Rault stars in Dress Rehearsal, a new play by AJ Evans running from 12 to 30 November at an emerging fringe venue in Hammersmith.

Dress Rehearsal focuses on five performers in the group Lionel King and the Overtones, who hire themselves out to pubs, clubs and parties, singing popular opera arias and musical favourites. Scenes alternate between a function room in the pub and a dressing room over one evening, allowing us to see the characters both in their public and private personas.

This intimate story of relationships reveals an operatic dimension, both in its music and themes of love, jealousy, fear and betrayal.

Musical excerpts from La Traviata, Carmen, The Magic Flute and The Mikado parallel the behind-the-scenes struggles of failed divas, unhealthy dependencies and stifling possessiveness. Yet at the same time deep love, loyalty, humour and camaraderie emerge.

Dress Rehearsal is not about showbiz or success or failure. It’s about trust and timidity and the masks we all wear; it’s about the complexity of human relationships and our habit of not maximising talents, gifts or opportunities in our limited time on earth — simply because of fear of the consequences.

Born in London, Odile Rault has worked extensively in South Africa, Italy and the USA, and is best known for her comedy performances in the hit series Jo’burg Follies — a satirical musical revue along the lines of Forbidden Broadway in which she impersonated 18 different celebrities.

Odile has co-created and performed three one-woman shows which toured South Africa, the latest of which featured her as eight male singing stars, including Elvis Presley, George Michael and Stevie Wonder and made her an expert in lightning-quick costume, make-up and wig changes.

Cast: Eryl Lloyd Parry, Stiofan O’Doherty, Odile Rault, Maggie Robson & AJ MacGillivray

Director: David Edwards

Associate Director: Emily Swain

Musical Director: Claire Kitchin

Dates: 12 – 30 November

Previews 12 and 13 November

Performances: Tues-Sat 7.30pm, Sat 3pm & 7.30pm

Playing at: The Regal Room, The Distillers Pub, 64 Fulham Palace Road, London W6 9PH

Public Transport: Hammersmith underground, Bus stop –  Hammersmith Broadway

Website: www.dressrehearsalplay.com

Email: dressrehearsalplay@gmail.com

Ticket price:  £15 & Concessions £12

To reserve/buy advance tickets online:  http://dressrehearsalplay.ticketsource.co.uk/

Telephone Bookings:  0844 8700 887 (a low-rate number, 5p per minute).