FATHER MICHAEL’S LOTTERY

Multi media dance play based Johan Steyn’s book for The Theatre – St Anne’s College

The Theatre – St Anne’s College in association with Alexandra High School is to present Father Michael’s Lottery, a multi media dance play based on the book by Johan Steyn

Father Michael’s Lottery: A Multi Media Dance Play is presented by kind permission of UKZN Press and Johan Steyn. It is written and directed by Lynn Chemaly with choreography by Bonwa Mbontsi and technical direction by Mike Wiblin.

The doctors and nurses at a small hospital in an African town are fighting the uphill battle against the AIDS pandemic, made worse by the interventions of Holmes, the budget-conscious hospital superintendent, and his bungling sidekick, Thunderbird. The rebellious Doctor Morgan, with the help of his colleagues, thwart every new rule in their quest to save patients, most of whom are dying because they lack the resources to buy back their lives with overpriced ARVs. When funds are needed for a kidney transplant for one of the town’s community members, Morgan conspires with Father Michael; Dorcas, the shebeen queen; and Rachel, the high class whore, to make the local rich businessman, Mr. B, organize a Beerfest to pay for the operation. The story speaks to the power of community in a humanitarian struggle to change attitudes and support each other.

Johan Steyn wrote the novel at a time when antiretroviral drugs were available only to the privileged few. Since then, there has been some progress, but in many parts of Africa and the world, the conditions outlined in the story still prevail for the majority of people living with HIV/Aids. The AIDS pandemic has only served to highlight the divide between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, and the reality of this is that those who can’t afford medical care are being left out in the cold. Father Michael’s Lottery depicts the complex human relationship of AIDS with a moving combination of compassion, humour and defiant indignation. Above all, it asserts the value of attempting to preserve life in the face of near-certain death.

In adapting the story into a Multi Media Danceplay, the production aims to highlight the humanity of the characters and their relationships through the choreography, while disseminating information and building the story through multi media. It promises to be an interesting production from the point that it combines the stylistic aspects of dance choreography, dance theatre, acting, music, narrated soundtracks and textual information on one platform.

Father Michael’s Lottery will take place March from 16 to 20 at 19h30 at The Theatre – St Anne’s College in Hilton. Tickets R40 (R30 concessions) booked on 033 343 3300.

Published by UKZN Press, Father Michael’s Lottery by Johan Steyn is an excellent read - ISBN 1-86914-073-7