Dandelions And Stones – On At Alexander Bar

Many people don’t know what to say about death, but what if Death had something to say about us?

This was the question that Jessica McCarthy and local drag sensation Lady Aria Grey asked each other as they sat down to write a script together… and what came out was Dandelions and Stones, a play about death and therapy… and Death going to therapy…. with a healthy dose of drag deliciousness thrown in for good measure, of course.

In Dandelions and Stones the embodiment of Death, collector of souls (who also happens to be a fabulous drag queen) decides to go to therapy to work through her feelings surrounding her job, her relationship with humankind, and her sense of self-worth. Through the conversations between Death and her therapist, the audience are invited to explore the connections between life, death, and time, as well as see mortality from a completely different angle… that of Death herself.

The play is to a large extent the brainchild of actress and writer Jessica McCarthy. It was born out of a combination of her fascination with the drag art form, an existential longing to connect with other humans about the difficult subject of our mortality, and a dark and silly sense of humour. Jessica had been threatening to write a play since she was about 12, and had been in love with drag queens since she was about 10, so Dandelions and Stones has been a long time coming!

Jessica was always a helping hand in the wings when Callum Tilbury was creating his drag character of Lady Aria Grey. With their history and Callum’s knowledge of the drag art form, his broad experience writing plays, and of course his sense of humour, Lady Aria Grey was Jessica’s obvious choice of collaborator in developing the script.

Dandelions and Stones is directed by Beren Belknap, the former creative director of acclaimed theatre company The Space Behind The Couch. Beren’s experience with puppetry, visual theatre, and comedy made him the perfect addition to the Little Kitten production team. The play stars highly acclaimed actor Claire Watling as the therapist, and Jessica herself, debuting her new drag character Lady Anjelica MacDeath. Not only does Lady Anjelica wow us with her fabulous costumes and insights about death, she even performs a new musical number by the cabaret superstar Godfrey Johnson.

Dandelions and Stones will be on at Alexander Bar from the 29th of Jan to the 3rd of Feb at 7pm, with additional 4pm matinees on the 3rd and 4th of Feb. Bookings are now open and there is a discount if you book online!

alexanderbar.co.za/show/Dandelions_and_Stones

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb