If you’re looking for a night of pure escapism, entertainment and absolute joy – then, NON-Specific at Gate69 is ready and waiting for you.
This was our fifth time at Gate69 (read about our previous visits here) – and, I fall more and more in love with the team and the venue every time. Situated just off Bree Street, the moment you set foot on the red carpet – with Cathy in all her glory, waiting to welcome you – you instantly know it’s going to be a night to remember.
Over the past few years, I’ve fallen head-over-heels for the Trolly Dollies, and it seems I’m not the only one – Gate 69 has a an exceptional 5 on Tripadvisor – with comments such as “fight for a ticket”, “out of this world” and “unbelievable experience” – you don’t only need to take my word for it, when there are over 500 glowing reviews here, too.
While the format of the evenings remain largely the same – welcome drinks, dinner, ice cream – the show changes seasonally – and, for autumn into winter, we have the opportunity to step behind the curtain with the glamorous trio to see what goes into being three of the most wonderful women in the city.
“The girls are dishing the dirt on themselves and let’s face it, everyone loves an inside scoop. All is not what it seems when it comes to the country’s First Ladies of Flying, three seven-foot-pin-up bombshells who are actually six-foot tall ex-rugby players. These twisted sisters are even more bizarre than the triplets of Belleville (although at least one of them does live in Bellville), and they’ve sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help them Judy Garland.”
The show takes you through the aches and pains of squeezing large feet into heels, the back ache that comes with…ahem, old age – something the audience absolutely understands by the end of an incredible ’80s medley. But, aside from the glitz and sequins. the show also dives into the earlier realities the trio had to face growing up, with an incredibly moving performance by Molly (below) that was so gut-wrenching, it almost felt wrong to applaud afterwards.
I had a feeling that this would be my favourite Gate69 show – as, it’s entirely about the heroines I have fallen in love with, on and off stage – and, I wasn’t wrong. It’s an entertaining, moving show about self-acceptance, and all that comes with it. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
NON-Specific is showing at Gate69 every Wednesday to Saturday until 27 July 2019. Whether you’re an existing fan, or simply interested in a behind-the-scenes peek into the Trolly Dollies’ glamorous world, I can’t recommend the show highly enough. Tickets start at R520 pp and include delicious mezze, hot soup and bread service and purple Patron soft serve ice-cream for dessert. Book your seats here.
The show stars Brendan van Rhyn as Cathy, Rudi Jansen as Molly and writer-director Christopher Dudgeon as Holly. Additional lyrics are by Brendan van Rhyn, sound and lighting is by Chad Goldsworthy, set design is by Eddie du Plooy, wigs are by Tessa Denton and costumes by Lloyd Kandlin and Kyle Jardine. Choreography is by Sven-Eric Muller and musical direction by Melissa van der Spuy.
We enjoyed our evening as guests of Gate69. All images by Nardus Engelbrecht. Views my own.
