Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck and Frank Opperman. (Photo: Leonie Bezuidenhout/Maroela Media)
At a small table at the Kunstekaap theater complex, Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck is greeted every now and then by all who live and breathe in the entertainment industry – clearly just as popular with her colleagues as her fans.
The Cape of Arts teems with celebrities and theatergoers during the 23rd annual Suidoosterfees, which comes to an end again on Sunday 3 May.
This year, the seasoned theater actress was again seen in her grandmother’s dress on stage, where she Grandma and the old cows touching on issues related to where she is currently in her own life.
However, the age does not bother her at all. On the contrary, she enjoys the tranquility that comes with getting older.
“That’s the one thing we all know and that is that if we are blessed, we grow old, and then we die. I wanted to adapt my shows as I get older,” says Margit to Maroela Media.
“I buried (Dowwe) Dolla, because I was done with that issues and I no longer felt like being frivolous and sucking lollipops.
“Grandma’s new theme is about the traces we leave. Every person you meet has an effect on you. Your legacy is your traces, not the everyday rush of twak.”
She and Frank Opperman also debut in the play First for everythingwhich was written by award-winning playwright Wessel Pretorius.
Margit says she finally picked up the phone and called Frank, almost three decades after she and Frank presented a large concert series together.
The time was ripe to undertake the play they had always promised each other. After all, her motto is “there is no time like the present”.
“He then said he had a fantastic idea: If Adam and Eve, the first couple in the world, lived for 900 years, how tired were they of each other?” Margit tells laughing.
The matter stands like this: Centuries after being cast out of paradise, Adam and Eve reflect on marriage. Everything had to be figured out for the first time: love, children and housekeeping. Now that the late lamb is leaving the house, Adam and Eve will soon have only each other for company. Do they see a chance for another hundred years together and will their sins spare them? After a lot of good and bad, they finally have an apple to peel with each other.
Margit loved the concept and Wessel was brought in at Frank’s request as the writer and director of the production.
“Wessel was an excellent choice as a writer, because he is an actor himself and understands how smart comedy works. Frank’s idea is fresh. It’s a new look at relationships; it’s such a tried and tested theme, but it always remains relevant.”
Frank, who has meanwhile joined Margit at the small table, tells in true Frank style – down to earth and as straight as an arrow – about an incident with his new contact lenses and complains about the rising diesel prices.
A documentary series simply titled Frank, which was produced by his son Frankie, is currently on DStv Stream and Catch Up. The series was received with great praise by viewers.
Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck and Frank Opperman. (Photo: Gys Loubser)
“People think Frank is just funny, but he is an incredibly hard worker and he will come up with thousands of ideas and try everything,” explains Margit.
“It is nice to work with him, because he is another nice human too. Down to earth, incredibly talented and I have a lot of respect for him. He has a lovely, warm spirit.”
If you have to create your own work you have to be everywhere, says Margit, who can be seen at almost every art festival in the country.
“Frank and I hope to First for everything to play in every village in the country, because we are one of the few actors who still travel. Unfortunately in our industry, if we wait for the phone to ring we are going to wait a very long time. I like theatrical work because I myself am in control of how, where and when it happens.”
According to Frank, he is now learning from Margit not to postpone anything and instead to do it immediately.
“That’s why she can do so much of what she does,” he says in his trademark raspy voice.
“She does something immediately. I learn at the age of almost sixty six a lesson, and I tell this to my wife and children too: To make your life easier, you do something immediately.
“Every thing you put off becomes a small weight, and suddenly you’re walking around with a bunch of weights. Especially in our businesswhere one sometimes walks around so loosely.
“This woman is a machine. She is smart and has the memory of an elephant.”