PERFECT FESTIVE FARE: Ruby Burton and Ashley Searle in a scene from the highly entertaining Bon Soir at the Kalk Bay Theatre. PERFECT FESTIVE FARE: Ruby Burton and Ashley Searle in a scene from the highly entertaining Bon Soir at the Kalk Bay Theatre.
Karen Rutter
RUBY BURTON performs alongside Ashley Searle in Bon Soir at Kalk Bay Theatre. She chats about her part in the circus-come-cabaret show.
The new show Bon Soir has been described as “eye-catching and over the top”. So what is it all about?
The cool factor about Bon Soir is that there is no story line, there is more of a theme which is very eclectic and avant-garde. It’s an obscure circus-come-cabaret show that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Think Madame Zingara with a bit more bizarreness! It’s comedic and quirky, interestingly strange and takes you through all your emotions. You will be stunned as to what can be done in this intimate theatre.
Perfect festive season fun, then – with a risqué twist, perhaps?
Definitely. It has a lot of sex appeal, especially in the dancing.
And what is your role in the production?
I am one of the weird, white-faced bendy dancers. I also sing a song by Sinéad O’Connor.
Who else can we expect to see?
It’s such an awesome cast, all of whom I absolutely love performing with. Expect to see the fabulous brothers, Ashley and Bradley Searle ( Big Boys), the talented husband and wife team, Lucy and Alexander Tops ( Bar None) and the beautiful Nadine Theron ( Another Day). Oh, and a surprise guest whom I’ve been told about, but I have yet to meet.
You’re a dancer, singer, actor and songwriter. How did you get into all of this?
Coming from an artistic family, it was only natural for me to dig my feet into all the arts. I definitely fell in love with music and dance at an early age. I used to go and watch my dad perform around Cape Town and I think from then on I had eyes for nothing else. All I wanted to do was either put my tutu and make up on and dance around the house or dress up like a tomboy and sing They Can’t Take That Away From Me, which is still one of my favourite jazz classics.
You wrote a song called Short Girls. What is it about vertically-challenged gals? Do they have more fun?
Oh yes, us shorties have a lot of fun. I have always heard the term “short girls” being thrown around and I thought I’d write a song about it and uplift my fellow short girls
Who or what inspires your songwriting?
Everything. It’s all different and mostly a reflection of what I have experienced or want to share with the world. Lots of people inspire me in my life, but I think my pure inspiration comes from life itself.
What was the last show you saw, and how did you find it?
The last show I went to watch was the Alvin Ailey company at the Artscape. I had seen most of the pieces before in New York so it brought back many memories. The simplicity of the show is what I love, quite different to Bon Soir. I enjoyed the show then and I enjoyed it now. I did miss some of the old Alvin Ailey dancers, however, who were breath-taking.
What do you like to do to relax?
You’ll find me at the beach with my toes in the water, a hemp protein smoothie in my hand and perhaps someone rubbing my shoulders. In an ideal world...
l Bon Soir is at the Kalk Bay Theatre from Tuesday until January 24, www.kbt.co.za