An irrepressible drag artist's life is turned upside down by an HIV diagnosis and a strikingly handsome German plumber.
Let There Be Sparkle is a good-natured, irreverent theatrical comedy that playfully explores the idea that deep within each of us lies something good and beautiful striving to emerge.
At its centre is Geraldine/AKA Belinda Butterfly, an outrageous and exuberant drag artist with an insatiable appetite for life, a unique understanding of the world and a profound love of the arts. When Geraldine's flourishing career is interrupted by a new HIV diagnosis and the unexpected arrival of a strikingly handsome German plumber, he faces both crisis and temptation with humour and remarkable grace.
Beneath its comedy lies a story of transformation. Exploring friendship, love and self-acceptance, the play celebrates the joy of queer community and the human capacity to become something more extraordinary than we imagined possible.
A staged reading of the play under its original title “Madame Butterfly and the German Plumber” was presented at the Alexander Bar & Theatre under the direction of Wessel Pretorius.
The cast featured Riaan Visman as Geraldine, Chris Adrian Fisher as James, Kiroshan Naidoo as Dr Ravesh Moodley, and Pascaul Wakefield as the German Plumber.
An audacious, outrageous drag artist. Just on the Afrikaans side of the cultural spectrum. Mixed race. Sharp, opinionated and exuberant with a great lust for love and life. A natural performer with a deep love of the arts and all things arty. Sings, dances and looks sensational in a dress.
Geraldine's best friend and housemate. A sexy male stripper. An excellent dancer and gymnast who incorporates acrobatic moves into his strip routine. Warm, open-hearted and full of life.
Very attractive. A plumber who dreams of becoming a performer. Has a fine singing voice and a passion for opera. Dances, can sing in German and wears stylish boiler suits.
An attractive, seductive dancer and poet who James brings home from the club. Intelligent, thoughtful and quietly sensual.
JAMES
So don’t tell me - now you love Jesus?
GERALDINE
Now! I’ve always loved Jesus.
JAMES
You really love Jesus?
GERALDINE
Yes – of course. You know, it must have been fantastic being one of his disciples and hanging out with him in the desert - you could just say, “Hey let’s have some wine” and there it is or like, “Hey has anybody got any weed?”
Geraldine makes a magician’s flourish with his hand.
JAMES
Ah fuck. Geraldine - you have no idea what he was like.
GERALDINE
So what, I got pictures.
