THE RETURN OF THE CAVEMAN
By Daniel Dercksen

Daniel E. Dercksen talks to Tim Plewman about being Tim Plewman, The Caveman, and now, an ageing vampire in the musical comedy Fangs, opening at the Baxter Theatre on October 20, 2006.

When you hear the name Tim Plewman you immediately think of Defending The Caveman, a show that has been running to sell-out performances throughout South Africa the past nine years.

It is obvious to assume that he is aware of the impact he has had as a performer and that he has become a household name.

"I do not think that I am "world famous"," says Plewman.  "I know for a fact that there is a tribe in the Amazon who has not heard of me, I know this because they sent me an E-Mail saying we have never heard of you."

He regards fame as "recognition of something". For him it is his illustrious career of thirty years in show business. 

"It's wonderful to know that my efforts have meant something to so many people and I am always amazed at the generosity and kindness of the public.  Fame has given me the opportunity to meet and talk to all kinds of people and that in itself is a huge gift."

Following his nine years of starring in Defending the Caveman, he took up the director's chair for the musical comedy Fangs, a rock musical that originated in the 70s and has now been updated and rewritten by Plewman and Bill Flynn.

This hilarious vampire story stars Bill Flynn as vampire hunting police sergeant, Tobie Cronje as an off-the-wall psychiatrist, and Michael Richard the zany Elvis-impersonating bloodsucker Suckula. 

Plewman was at college studying graphic art when he first encountered the wonderfully bizarre world of Fangs.

"I landed the job of box office ticket seller and coffee bar server at the Arena Theatre in Rosebank, which was where the original "Fangs" was born," says Plewman. " I served coffee to the cast (who would politely call me, "Hey you!") and was roped into silk screening T-shirts for the cast and crew.  It was a wonderful time and stood me in good stead when we decided to do the Re-Vamp."

As if directing the show is not enough, Plewman will be playing the role of Suckula later on in the run.

"It is great fun.  A middle-aged vampire losing his teeth and going through a midlife crisis, desperately looking for a new identity and flying as well.  Need I  say more?"

Why did he leave the cave?

It was time," says Plewman. "I think the decision to stop was helped along when, one evening after the show, I was in the pub and a group of newly weds approached me and asked if I felt the same way about things when I was young, then proceeded to call me Mr. Plewman, Oom and Sir. It was time to find a new challenge.  Hello, "Fangs - The Musical Comedy".

Plewman's talent as performer, director and writer knows no limitations.  How does he regard himself?

"Being in showbiz in South Africa is tough, especially if you are English-speaking," he says. "If you are Afrikaans-speaking, there is a niche audience who support Afrikaans and truly enjoy going to shows performed in their home language, and quite rightly so.  Afrikaans shows compete with other Afrikaans shows. If you are Zulu or Xhosa or any other local language you have a built-in audience who want to hear their own language.  If you are English-speaking, you compete with England, America, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking productions.  It's tough!."

We know him at the Caveman, but who is the real Tim Plewman?
"How does one answer this question? Boy, that is a tough one," says Plewman. " Who is the real Tim Plewman?   Well…a husband, father, actor, writer, director, producer, in charge of taking out the garbage and cleaning up dog  poo, and general fix it man; a dedicated sports fanatic, TV watcher and smoker  who spends a lot of time standing outside with fellow addicts enjoying the benefits of tobacco…Who is the real Tim Plewman?  When I have time to think,  my wife will let you know."
"All of us are natural performers, the need to tell and listen to stories is in our genes.  Personally, I was lucky enough to make it my living," says Plewman.
"Where dose talent come from? I'm tempted to say -"from the top draw," - but in all honesty, I do not know.  My father was a professor, my mother a top computer wiz and I am an actor, writer and director. Personally, I think they got the best end of the deal. "
Plewman's career basically started out as a joke. A friend suggested that they join a dance class to meet girls.
"We were the only two straight men in a room full of fantastic looking, scantily dressed, passionate girls.   I was addicted within two classes.  As a laugh, I went to an audition (for the original production of Chicago) and (blow me down!), I got into the chorus.  It was great!!  Now I was being paid to be with a chorus of gorgeous looking, scantily clad girls! Then a strange thing happened.  On the first performance, I walked on stage and felt like I had come home.  That was it.  I was completely engrossed and passionate about performing."

When he is not performing he does a lot of work with mentally disadvantaged people at Logwood Ranch, "an island of peace for it's residence and offers them a chance to have a worthwhile life filled with social activity and comradeship."

"Interacting with these incredible people has taught me so much," says Plewman.  "Bringing joy into peoples lives is what makes me tick, it heals, nurtures and lifts the spirit and being in the theatre enables me to that. I see the struggle they go through to be understood and to find acceptance in society.  I see the challenges they face to achieve what we take for granted, and I feel blessed."

"I read an interesting article on inspiration," Plewman concludes.  "Basically, it said that inspiration is mostly driven by desperation.  I'm desperately hoping that is not true.  I am inspired by the grit and determination of South Africans."

Copyright © 2006 Daniel E. Dercksen
Published with Permission in Weekend Argus, October 15, 2006

QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH TIM PLEWMAN

I think by now everyone in the world knows the name Tim Plewman? How do you feel about being so famous? What does fame mean to you?
I do not think that I am "world famous".  I know for a fact that there is a tribe in the Amazon who has not heard of me, I know this because they sent me an E-Mail saying we have never heard of you.
Fame is recognition of something, in my case recognition of thirty years in show biz. It's wonderful to know that my efforts have meant something to so many people and I am always amazed at the generosity and kindness of the public.  Fame has given me the opportunity to meet and talk to all kinds of people and that in it's self is a huge gift. 
I was at Newlands watching the cricket, a pal who had season tickets had invited me along for the day, (thanks again, Frank.) No sooner than we had sat down when someone thrust a cell phone at me and said - "Howzit Tim, talk to my wife, she won't believe me that you here." -  Priceless.   

Why did you move out of the 'Cave'?
It was time.  When we started the show 9 years ago it was a small show, but we worked incredibly hard over a period of a year to get it right and slowly the show took off. Personally, I had the time of my life doing the show, it was 9 years of pure joy.  I think the decision to stop was helped along when, one evening after the show, I was in the pub and a group of newly weds approached me and asked if I felt the same way about things when I was young,  then proceeded to call me Mr. Plewman, Oom and Sir.   Now after over 1500 performances the show has become a legend and can carry on with younger actors.  The work of creating the character and establishing the level and energy of performance to suit a South African audience is now part and parcel of "DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN".
It was time to find a new challenge.  Hello, "FANGS - The Musical Comedy".

Your talent as performer, director and writer knows no limitations. How do you regard yourself?
After a question like that, I must say I'm feeling much better about myself now! Being in showbiz in South Africa is tough, especially if you are English-speaking.  Let me explain: --   If you are Afrikaans-speaking, there is a niche audience who support Afrikaans and truly enjoy going to shows performed in their home language, and quite rightly so.  Afrikaans shows compete with other Afrikaans shows. If you are Zulu or Xhosa or any other local language you have a built-in audience who want to hear their own language.  If you are English-speaking, you compete with England, America, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking productions.  It's tough! In order to survive you must do everything.  My lodestone is the realization that talent is not geographic and boy, do we have talent in S.A.  The short answer is, I see myself as a survivor in one of the toughest showbiz regions of the world.

I was fortunate to have seen many performances of the very first performance of Fangs in the mid seventies? Is this your first encounter or were you also hooked from the first time you saw it?
"FANGS - The Musical Comedy". .. Just the title is enough to make me smile!  Of course, the current production is "FANGS, the Re-Vamp".
Yes, the original '70s production hooked me.  I was at college studying graphic art and working at night to pay my way.  Luckily, I landed the job of box office ticket seller and coffee bar server at the Arena Theatre in Rosebank, which was where the original "FANGS" was born.
I served coffee to the cast (who would politely call me, "Hey you!") and was roped into silk screening T-shirts for the cast and crew.  It was a wonderful time and stood me in good stead when we decided to do the Re-Vamp.
Not only did I get to design the "FANGS" logo, direct, produce and re-write the script and lyrics for the show, but I got to call Bill Flynn, Tobie Cronje and Michael Richard "Hey you!" on a number of occasions.

What attracted you to Fangs?
It is unlike any other show I have seen or done in 30 years of showbiz - what a          joy, what a show - what fun!!  It's zany, off-the-wall and is making mirth from a  subject of legendary terror.

Playing Suckula an ageing vampire is fun. Do you agree? Why?
Yes, it is great fun.  A middle-aged vampire losing his teeth and going through a midlife crisis, desperately looking for a new identity and flying as well.  Need I  say more?

Who is the real Tim Plewman?
Who is the real Tim Plewman?  How does one answer this question? Boy, that is  a tough one.  Who is the real Tim Plewman?   Well…a husband, father, actor,  writer, director, producer, in charge of taking out the garbage and cleaning up dog  poo, and general fix it man; a dedicated sports fanatic, TV watcher and smoker  who spends a lot of time standing outside with fellow addicts enjoying the  benefits of tobacco…Who is the real Tim Plewman?  When I have time to think,  my wife will let you know.

Where do you find your inspiration?
I read an interesting article on inspiration.  Basically, it said that inspiration is  mostly driven by desperation.  I'm desperately hoping that is not true.  I am  inspired by the grit and determination of South Africans.

What makes you tick?
I do a lot of work with mentally disadvantaged people.  I see the struggle they go  through to be understood and to find acceptance in society.  I see the challenges  they face to achieve what we take for granted, and I feel blessed.
I am involved in a wonderful home for the mentally disadvantaged called Logwood Ranch, it is an island of peace for it's residence and offers them a chance to have a worthwhile life filled with social activity and comradeship. I don't know that this is right for an interview, but interacting with these incredible people has taught me so much. Bringing joy into peoples lives is what makes me tick, It heals, nurtures and lifts the spirit and being in the theatre enables me to that.

Where did it all start? Your passion for performing.
It started when a friend suggested we go to dance classes, basically to meet girls.   It was great!  We were the only two straight men in a room full of fantastic  looking, scantily dressed, passionate girls.   I was addicted within two classes.   As a laugh, I went to an audition and (blow me down!), I got into the chorus (the original production of Chicago).  It  was great!!  Now I was being paid to be with a chorus of gorgeous looking,  scantily clad girls!  Then a strange thing happened.  On the first performance, I walked on stage and  felt like I had come home.  That was it.  I was completely engrossed and  passionate about performing.

Have you always been performer? As A child? Where does your gift/ talent come from?
All of us are natural performers, the need to tell and listen to stories is in our genes. Personally, I was lucky enough to make it my living. Where dose talent come from? I'm tempted to say -"from the top draw," - but in all honesty, I do not know. My father was a professor, my mother a top computer wiz and I am an actor, writer and director. Personally, I think they got the best end of the deal.

Your advice for those who would like to become an actor/ performer, and enter the world of theatre?
Study and have a fall back plan. In theatre you find out if you have any talent in your twenty's, you hone that talent and make a name for your self in your thirty's and then if you are lucky you make some money in your forty's and fifty's. If you don't have that sort of determination, a back up plan is essential!

Do you have any specific projects after Fangs?
Future plans are kept very quiet in show biz, mostly because if you say what they are, someone else will do it before you.

Copyright © 2006 Daniel E. Dercksen