Thoughts on Fudukazi

Thoughts By Philisiwe Twijnstra 

The art of storytelling is a highly respected medium around the continent of Africa, a  ritual that carves a path for a child to  continue imagining. I grew up listening to this legendary voice on Radio Zulu. Now, my daughter who is five years old had a chance to watch  and listen to Mama Gcina Mhlophe  and her artistic team, opening a pot of stories and magic.  

Indeed this is a great way to fuel the holiday spirit. 

Fudukazi’s Magic, based on the widely published children’s book of the same   title.  Fudukazi’s Magic is a play for the young once complimented by songs and percussions  and drums written and directed, by Mama Gcina Mhlophe. 

The play is set in the African bush, Fudukazi’s Magic features three singer-actors alongside  Gcina Mhlophe, Khwezi Becker and Nkosingiphile Mpanza  and two musicians Victor Sithole and Njabulo Shabalala. 

They tell the tale of a Queen Mother  tortoise which, while interacting with other creatures of the bush, uses magic to transform duller looking animals by adding a rainbow of colours to their coats. But there is one animal that was not kind; which was the a Hyena, whom was selfish and unkind. When the Hyena saw that everyone was colourful and beautiful.  The hyena went to Queen Mother Tortoise to  demand her to make him  more beautiful but because his heart was unkind. The magic from Queen Mother Tortoise made the hyena ugly  because he was mean. 

The set was comfortable as you enter the grand foyer of the playhouse; the stage is set up with a huge tortoise draped and adorned in vibrant colourful fabrics and further down  stage the musician set is ready to set the mood of  Fudukazi’s Magic. They’d set pillows in front of the chairs for the little ones. The room was filled with little laughs and adorable screams: as the actors told the story of Fudukazi’s Magic through their catchy melodies. What was most effective was that; Mama Gcina Mhlophe  has a beautiful presence, commanding energy  and her spellbinding focus  was supported by bringing a great balance of  talented actors  in their own right to make us laugh and enjoy—what kind hearts can do. 

Having said that, I do feel that the  script was jarring  at some point, and the play didn’t need sound amplification. The actors are trained to use their voices especially for this  type of theatre style. The sound amplification broke the intimacy  of the play, this includes the projection at the back. It took away the magic of storytelling. The notion that simplicity is best epitomize my thoughts about the production.  

Performances of Fudukazi’s Magic are scheduled for 10am daily from Tuesday to Friday, November 26 to 30; as well as at 2pm on Saturday, November 30; and thereafter at 2pm daily from Tuesday to Saturday, December 3 to 7.