Archived Reviews of The Echo of a Noise
REVIEW of THE ECHO OF A NOISE in CAPE TOWN — JULY 2017
Review: THE ECHO OF A NOISE. A One-man memoir written and performed by Pieter-Dirk Uys
– Sheila Chisholm, Weekend Special, 7 July 2017
Oom Hannes, or Pa as Pietertjie called him, threw a riot when, after matriculating, his son went to UCT to register for a “noble” teachers’ training profession. Instead, he switched to “die duiwel’s” BA Drama — and got thrown out of the house for his decision.
This was only one occasion Pieter-Dirk Uys crossed swords with his father. He loved him, but only learned to like him later — big difference. On the other hand he loved his mother deeply, German born pianist Helga Bassel. One could feel his pain as, perched alone and lonely on a high stool centre stage, he related how devastated he was, and still is, by her suicide on 26 May 1969. Those were a couple of the more serious moments in Uys’ memoirs, The Echo of a Noise, he didn’t wrap up in humour.
From the DR Church to Sophia Loren
As Uys took us through his early childhood at 10 Homestead Way, Pinelands, regularly sitting beside Pa at the organ on Sundays at the DR Church, and his passion for Sophia Loren, one story stood out. Uys talked about his Oom Andre’s “knee and hand” problem. “Oom Andre had a funny twitching knee. I was often placed beside him at meals, and his knee continually bumped mine. The more (surreptitiously) I pulled away, the more Oom Andre’s knee found mine. So too his hand, which often fell on my thigh. When I told Ma, she said nothing, but I no longer sat next to Oom Andre. Ma was one mother who listened, then acted, when told a close family member was getting too close to her child.” If more did there would be fewer abused children. Listening is vital to preventing abuse.
Disappointed Uys’ father may have been by Pietertjie studying acting rather than formally following a teacher’s calling. But it’s doubtful if there is a greater teacher in this country than Pieter-Dirk Uys. Through his acting, his stories, his Evita Bezuidenhout and Bambi Kellermann persona, he has taught countless South Africans more about the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, the disgrace of Apartheid, and the ongoing corruption of this present government. His leading role in teaching/acting out condom use to school children has saved countless lives. Not to mention favourably turning round narrow-minded attitudes concerning people who are different to ourselves.
What a gift!
Pieter-Dirk Uys has a knack for knocking life into perspective. Even as we laughed we left The Echo of a Noise much wiser, with thanks for the gift of this teacher/philosopher/actor/satirist/humourist. Long may Pieter-Dirk Uys remain our moral signpost.
What: The Echo of a Noise
Where and when: Theatre on the Bay until 15 July
Booking: Computicket or 021 4383301