Thinus Ferreira
Any time is a good time for a tea party and that is exactly what kykNET (DStv 144) did at Welgemeend in Cape Town for the media launch of its latest Afrikaans drama series, Appels en Tee (Apples and Tea) starting on Tuesday 21 October at 20:00.
It's been a very long time since a South African TV channel - anyone - did something a little bit different, and more distinct, than the all-the-same, general media launch for a new TV show and kykNET hit it out of the tea garden park with its beautiful, intimate, well-organised and colourful Appels en Tee high tea event.
At the upmarket venue, the cast, creatives and producers mingled together with media, where kykNET (correctly and smartly!) screened two episodes to show the media the content, while two Q&A sessions took place - one after each of the episodes.
Tea flowed - together with (of course) wine as well as sparkling wine on offer - as guests munched on delectables ranging from chocolate and dessert later, to various sandwiches, cheeses, savouries and waiters carrying around trays with tasties by the crate-full.
kykNET gave the media a high-gloss brochure about Appels en Tee that contains episode synopses for the 10-episode series, a breakdown of the story, a credit list of who worked on it, as well as character bios and actor breakdowns - with photos - so you know immediately who plays what character and who the characters are.
Tina Kruger is the executive producer and head writer of Appels en Tee, with Berdene Burger as director, producer and writer. Gita Fourie was the third writer, with Sunel Haasbroek as cinematographer.
The Appels en Tee main cast includes Diaan Lawrenson, Ivan Zimmermann, Jacques Erasmus, Ian Roberts, Tinarie van Wyk Loots, Neels van Jaarsveld, Rika Sennet and Bianca Langedyk, as well as Moses Williams, Vilje Maritz, Julia Marone, Beata Bena, Sibongile Mlambo and Marlo Minnaar.
Appels en Tee is an Afrikaans family drama (with English subtitles) fully centred around female characters and anchored in the two main characters of Lisa (Diaan Lawrenson) and Henriette (Tinarie van Wyk Loots), who share some tragic secret from their past that, in a sense, destroyed their lives and caused an end to their friendship.
What this tragic and fateful "we will never speak about this" incident and secret from the past is, is slowly revealed through flashbacks to 1998 as Henriette and her family (who are in a financial crisis after having lost their farm) coincidentally end up at the home of Lisa 27 years later.
Appels en Tee is also a multi-generational drama series.
Besides the tension-filled current and past friendship dynamic between Lisa and Henriette, as well as the tension-filled relationships both of them have with their husbands, there are also grandparents on both sides, as well as kids on both sides, who interact with emotional (romantic?) entanglements that ensue.
Produced by Meerfout Films, Appels en Tee looks very similar to the recently released Afrikaans drama series Tuiskoms - also a family drama series. Appels en Tee was filmed in Hoekwil with beautiful cinematography.
Also notable: The inclusion of a deaf character, Annie, played by Bianca Langedyk (who isn't deaf) but learnt sign language for the role.
