SOUNDS FROM HERE

Difficult to comprehend this production of symbolism in all its aspects on a single viewing. (Review by Maurice Kort)

The Musho International Festival gives exposure to small works of one and two hander plays and is hosted by the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) in KZN at the Catalina Theatre and the BAT Centre from January 8 to 18, 2009.

Musho is a Zulu word effectively being the equivalent of "Bravo" and is used for agreement with praise singers. Continuing the trend set at the previous Musho Festivals, there is again an offering from Israel, made possible by the generous support of Tararam, the South African Israel Culture Fund and the Israeli Embassy. This prestigious festival was indeed graced by the presence of Dov Segev-Steinberg, the newly appointed Ambassador for Israel in South Africa, who has just taken up his post in Pretoria.

Sounds from Here is very much non-linear physical theatre with many layers. The concept and direction are by Dorit Weintal, an Israeli-Italian theatre director who has been working in Israel and the Netherlands as a creator and as a performer since 1998.

The actor bringing the production to life is Rasha Jahshan, a Palestinian performer from Nazareth. It is full of symbolism and attempts to portray the subconscious psychology of woman, her conflicts and difficulties in a world dominated by men and their values. It is exemplified by a Palestinian woman living in Israel but it is not a political piece and could personify a woman living anywhere. The problems faced by women are universal.

The piece can be viewed as not being specific to any time or place and moves in and out of the personal and non-personal experiences of the woman. It can be considered on many levels which the audience will see in different ways. It is indeed very difficult to comprehend all its aspects on a single viewing. Riddled with symbolism, it is very open to several interpretations, depending on the viewer and his or her thoughts and experiences.

By means of her words and movements, against a complicated soundtrack and with the aid of video footage, her life, desires, dreams, fears, conflicts, challenges, rebukes, ambivalence, tears and yearnings for emancipation from the constraining chains of life as a woman are portrayed. This is exemplified by the long chain of lights attached to her wrist and the knots she ties in a sheet and later tries to untie. The play is very much a metaphor for the struggle and conflicts in life and the essence of womanhood. Great stress is placed on childbirth and the struggle of having to bring a child into this harsh world.

The huge clash of cultures is exemplified by the conflict of an Arab woman smoking a cigarette in front of her father, or sleeping with her boyfriend. This scene was not directed well as the dialogue was split between Rasha Jahshan at the back of the theatre and video footage on the screen on stage and it was extremely difficult to follow both, hear all the dialogue and read the subtitles. Much of the script by Rasha Jahshan was in Arabic with a voice-over in English by Dorit Weintal. This was far too soft and was very difficult to hear, most of it being inaudible. The sound needed to be turned up considerably. Much of the conflict arising from changing cultures was therefore lost.

Indicating the resulting torture of these conflicts was Rasha Jahshan spinning out of control and wanting out, exacerbated by women being brain washed by societies' "norms". There is also the symbolism of a woman being treated as a puppet on a string by the string puppet in the video paralleling the action of the woman in the flesh and the scene where dolls are being placed in the sand.

Each of the plays at the Musho Festival has two performances and those of Sounds from Here are on January 13 and January 14, both at 20h00 at the Catalina Theatre (Wilson’s Wharf). Tickets R50 (R25 students and Old Age Pensioners) with season tickets at R200 for five shows. For more information visit the web site www.mushofestival.co.za and to book tickets contact the Catalina Theatre on 031 305 6889. – Maurice Kort