AND THE GIRLS IN THEIR SUNDAY DRESSES

Princess Mhlongo directs excellent adaptation of Zakes Mda’s play. (Review by Sifiso Sikhakhane)

“As different or sinful as we all may be, we make sure that we all look presentable on a Sunday, because it is a holy day,” says Princess Mhlongo who directed this adaptation of Zakes Mda’s play, And the Girls in their Sunday Dresses, which appears on the Fringe Programme of this year’s National Arts Festival.

This hilarious play which had the audience in stitches throughout the show, tells the story of two women, beautifully played by Lesego Motsepe and Hlengiwe Lushaba, who meet up in a long queue of people, waiting for days to buy rice at a factory shop at a lower cost. As they share their life stories with each other, they realise they have similar stories to tell, about how they have been used by men and also the struggles they go through to get ahead in life.

After waiting for days to purchase the rice, the women decide to leave when they finally have the chance to purchase. This signifies how people, especially in South Africa, have waited for a revolution but have done nothing about it after its arrival. After being patient enough, the people have grown to accept the abuse they receive from others as a normal thing in their daily lives.
Using a lot of the actor-audience relationship and singing by the actors, the high standard of the show was maintained and it can be said that Princess Mhlongo did an excellent job, along with her strong cast, in presenting a remarkable show.

And the Girls in their Sunday Dresses was presented by the South African State Theatre in association with Tick Tock Productions. - Sifiso Sikhakhane