Romancing the net

MAMMA, EK WIL 'N MAN HÊ! Reviewed by Brett Adkins

BE THEY infested with sharks, shysters or simply shy souls, the murky waters of internet dating remain tricky to navigate at the best of times – but that certainly doesn't put off modern day adventurers looking for love.

Romancing cyberspace is the theme of a new play by Port Elizabeth theatre personality Marelize Barnard Booyens titled Mamma, Ek wil 'n Man Hê! (Mom, I want a man!) which neatly sums up the often laugh-inducing desperation of some of the lonely hearts searching the web.

The production is being staged by ATKV Peaat at the Little Theatre at the Athenaeum in Belmont Terrace from tomorrow until Saturday at 7.30pm.

"The play is a comical look at the hilarious consequences of internet dating," explained Booyens.

"Larien is convinced by her best friend, Karla, to join a dating site.

"Creating her profile is already funny, but then the story unfolds and she starts meeting the men that she has been chatting with online.

"There is a twist in the tale as well as the audience will realise Larien is not the only one looking for a man on the internet."

Written and directed by Booyens, the cast includes a list of well-known names – Emercia de Lange as Tannie Maryna, Alida Senekal as Larien, Talitha Oosthuizen as Karla, Anna Pauw as Lola, and Marianah Lourens as Tannie Liefie.

Among the male characters are Anton Steyn as Etienne, Cobus Lombard as Wimpie, Christoff du Toit as Prof Andries, Henrico Jordaan as Marco, and Mark Farrow as Stephen.

Tickets for the show are R70 and can be booked through Westway Cafe on (041) 365-0217.

For more information contact Marelize on 082-854-2801.