Thoughts about 'ZemQadini'
by
Philisiwe Twijnstra
Watching last night's show made me realise that casting plays a pivotal role. You need an actor that will carry a story from the beginning to the end.This is what I appreciated with Msimango's work, he casted beautiful strong actors that complimented each other, both different from each other but they work well together like a tea in a pot.
Bhekani Shabalala, proves to be a treasure to keep, when I see him on stage, I always feel I want to join him. Bongani Mbatha does not fall short behind as well, one of the hard working theatre makers I have ever met. I could write so much about the actors'techniques, the actors'skill but watching them is more rewarding, so go witness it for yourself.
The premiering night of ZemQadini last night at SquareSpace Theatre, gave me exciting and satisfactory feelings which I appreciated.
The play is written and directed by Sboniso Msimango ZemQadini is a story that explores teachings of masculine behaviour to young black boys in rural and urban black communities in a post-apartheid context. What it means to be a man in a family and in a community - is one of the important questions that is posed by the story.
One brother is blind the other cousin brother can't walk and he is mute. Somehow they need each to survive, the play opens up with the blind brother doing his laundry, and the other brother lies down in bed not moving not talking.
The story is a story within a story- the blind brother redundantly tells about the conflict that erupted the war into their families and how both cousins from both rivals became each others' survival kit.
The set is simple,upstage centre there is a bed and stage left center there is a chair and they use props to help change characters.
The play was good, but it has so many rooms to develop, few things could make the play even heart cuttingly stronger, already the concept of the story is quite interesting if not intriguing.
The script has loopholes, the conflict and structure needs reworking.
Msimango proves to have a nag to write neat dialogue but sometimes we get thrown in beautiful lines and forgetting the conflict, the structure that would help with the anti-climax.
We need to pay more attention to writing and taking time to re-writing plays, and this means having a culture of mentoring plays. I strongly think the script needs more drafts.
I felt that it was a bit to much to use live musicians, it didn't help the play instead it felt like a second play. My suggestion would be trust the actors, use the actors body let them be the story. We need two of them on stage kuphela!
The story is a story within a story- the blind brother redundantly tells about the conflict that erupted the war into their families and how both cousins from both rivals became each others' survival kit.
The set is simple,upstage centre there is a bed and stage left center there is a chair and they use props to help change characters.
The play was good, but it has so many rooms to develop, few things could make the play even heart cuttingly stronger, already the concept of the story is quite interesting if not intriguing.
The script has loopholes, the conflict and structure needs reworking.
Msimango proves to have a nag to write neat dialogue but sometimes we get thrown in beautiful lines and forgetting the conflict, the structure that would help with the anti-climax.
We need to pay more attention to writing and taking time to re-writing plays, and this means having a culture of mentoring plays. I strongly think the script needs more drafts.
I felt that it was a bit to much to use live musicians, it didn't help the play instead it felt like a second play. My suggestion would be trust the actors, use the actors body let them be the story. We need two of them on stage kuphela!
I know as theatre makers we get caught up in trying to be fresh but sometimes the piece works well in its simplest form. No gimmicks, No drums just the actor's voice and body. Trust that more.
I urge Durbanites to watch the play, it was refreshing to see actors playing and diving. Durban needs this, the play is 50 minutes long. Well done to everyone involve.
Tickets R60
31 May - 02 June
Square Space Theatre
18:00
I urge Durbanites to watch the play, it was refreshing to see actors playing and diving. Durban needs this, the play is 50 minutes long. Well done to everyone involve.
Tickets R60
31 May - 02 June
Square Space Theatre
18:00
No comments:
Post a Comment