Remember "Semi-Soet"? That 2012 Afrikaans rom-com that gave us Jaci and JP, a fake relationship, a wine farm, plenty of romantic drama and, of course, that Speedo scene?
Well, the story has already made its way to the stage as "Semi-Soet – The Musical" and, after a sold-out Pretoria run, it is heading to Johannesburg, where it will run at the Teatro at Montecasino from September, 4 to 27.
Additional weekend performances have already been added to accommodate demand for tickets.
Anel Alexander and Bobby van Jaarsveld return as Jaci van Jaarsveld and JP Basson, the characters they played in the original film. They are joined by Zöricke Snyman and Philip Schnetler, both of whom received Naledi nominations for the production, as well as Nadia Beukes.
Based on the popular South African romantic comedy, the musical follows Jaci and JP as they pretend to be the perfect couple, only to discover that keeping emotions out of the arrangement is easier said than done.
The stage adaptation brings the familiar story together with Afrikaans music, choreography and live theatre, with music by Johan Vorster and Jacomien de Wet.
For its Joburg run, the production has been adapted specifically for the Teatro, with larger-scale visuals, new creative elements, a bigger cast and new songs.
"Rehearsals for the production’s return are in full swing," said Vorster of Inhoud Huis Musiek, adding that the Teatro production has been designed to be "bigger and better" and will include new creative elements, larger-scale visuals, brand-new songs and surprises.
Among the new material is "Rek Strek Baba" by Marcelle Peach, which has already been released on digital platforms.
For Alexander, who has portrayed Jaci in both the film and the musical, the stage production has offered a different way to revisit a character audiences have known for more than a decade.
"In my 25 years as an actress, I have never had so much fun on stage as I did during 'Semi-Soet – The Musical'," she said.
She said the production gives audiences a chance to take a break from everyday pressures, with people laughing "from start to finish" during the Pretoria run.
The move to the Teatro also marks a significant step for the production, taking it from its Pretoria run to a larger venue and a wider Gauteng audience.
Salet Smith, manager of AfriForum Teater, says the response to the first run confirmed that the story continues to resonate with audiences.
"The Teatro now offers us the opportunity to build on that success and present the production on a larger scale and to a broader Gauteng audience," she said.
For Jacomien de Wet of Inhoud Huis Musiek, the return of an Afrikaans production to the Teatro after more than 10 years is significant in its own right.
"We are incredibly grateful for the excitement surrounding the return of an Afrikaans production to the Teatro at Montecasino after more than 10 years," she says.
Fourteen years after the film first introduced audiences to Jaci and JP, their story is getting another turn on stage.
bernelee.vollmer@nationalmg.co.za