KNYSNA NEWS - "When Andie (Morris) was diagnosed with Non-Hutchinson lymphoma, I knew that I would receive angels to help us through this ordeal, I just didn’t realise that the angels would come in the form of a bunch of middle-aged woman who were willing to become half naked on stage!" explained Vanessa Morris, mother of Andie.

The Knysna Amateur Dramatic Society (KADS) stage production of Calendar Girl played to packed audiences for six days, raising a whopping R80 000. This money was donated to one of Knysna’s own, Andie Morris, who is battling with a rare form of leukaemia. After seeing the final show on Saturday, April 2, Morris had the following to say, "What an amazing, amazing show, ladies and gents! I am so glad I got to see it, and wow, all I can say is well done! So much love to you all!"

"The show doesn't look as if it should go to Grahamstown, it looks as if it has come from Grahamstown," said an ecstatic theatre goer. "No," argued another, "this show looks as if it has come from the Baxter Theatre!"

Linzi Jansen, director, wanted to direct a production a little more formal than her past melodramas and musicals, and decided on The Calendar Girls for a very good reason. "Andie Morris, a good friend of my family, has been diagnosed with a very rare form of leukaemia, and I thought, what better way to raise funds to help with the extremely expensive treatment than to produce The Calendar Girls, a show that showcases ordinary people celebrating life over loss."

The cast and crew enjoyed every minute. "There was such love surrounding this production, not only from the cast but the audiences as well. I can only put it down to the fact that all the funds were going towards helping Knysna’s well-known and loved, Andie Morris fight the dreaded cancer," said a cast member.

Morris was given permission by her Cape Town doctors to travel to Knysna to watch the show on Saturday. "There was not a dry eye in the house when Morris stepped on stage to hand a bunch of sunflowers, a flower synonymous with the show, to me," explained Jansen.

"The show was so tastefully done and, oh my, the girls were so brave, all of us in the audience salute them for what they’ve done to help one of our own," said another audience member.
A post on The Calendar Girls’ facebook page summed up the overall feeling perfectly: "To the whole cast and all who helped to present this blooming marvellous production, it was amazing! Slick performances, brilliantly scripted and filled with community camaraderie. Thank you and well done!"

The cast and crew want to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors and members of the audience. "Without you, we would never have been able to raise this amount of money," said Jansen.
The cast and crew hope that by selling the remaining calendars, KADS will be able to reach the R100 000 target that they set for themselves.

"The birthday calendars featuring the cast and crew are still on sale at The Hairdresser, Final Cut, Cut of Africa and 9 on Grey. Please help us to help Andie," concluded Jansen.


The cast and crew of The Calendar Girls with Andie Morris, prior to their final performance. In front (from left) are Jéan-Marie Olivier, Janine Horne, Andie Morris and Bronwyn Eyre. In the middle are Carmen da Sousa (make-up), Teresa Dalton, Linzi Jansen (director and cast member), Sandra Nortje (back stage), Fran Kirsten, Marleen Boyce, Sue Mills and Sharon Laughton. In the back are Jacques Marais, Sheldon Meese, Brent Hicks, Shelley Diesel, Neelis Genade and Hylton Teague (lighting and sound).

ARTICLE: FRAN KIRSTEN