The playhouse Theatre on their New Stages programme presents The Voice I Cannot Silence. Written by Ralph Newman and Greg Homann and direction by Greg Homann.
This recent multi-awarded play examines Alan Paton's life, the play denounces the injustices experienced by Alan Paton, the inequality, against humankind and the struggle to not suppress his voice.
Centre stage, level higher from the ground, a circle stage creates an office, with a table, chairs books lots of books and boxes,with a brilliant golden, aureate lighting, beautifully set up to emphasise the closeness of the story. Light indicated the change of days, moods, and style of acting.The set creates an illusion of a window to Alan Paton's soul.
In fact, I like the set because it told me more about the characters and the year it was set conversely, it appeared to be restricting to the actors' freedom and the use of space, maybe it was intentional since Alan Paton felt like a prisoner in his own home, having said that: the exits, the entrances, the fading out and the fading in became a bit redundant style maybe that was the director's intention as well.
Personal in my own two cent view, In the writing; I miss the focal point, for example, what is happening between Sponono and Alan? what is the relationship? what is the conflict? why is the boy so upset at the end? I got lost. The structure is not clear. You don't know who is telling the story, who's story is it? Is it Anne or Alan or Sponono who's eyes are we, as the audience seeing Alan's story Why is this story being told now, for who? would the play have worked with just Anne and Alan? (I apologize for the questions)
The cast is made out of Ralph Lawson as Alan Paton, Menzi Mkhwane as Sponono and a special mention to Clare Mortimer as Anne she was a light in a dark hole, what a delight to watch her deliver so truthfully and narratively well done.
However A voice I cannot silence is still playing at the playhouse. Don't take my word for it, go watch it and see for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
12-20 May 2016 Loft Theatre Playhouse
Claire Mortimer as Anne
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