WHERE THE RAINBOW FALLS

Els De Bundel and Richard Bodkin put in good performances in NAF drama prompted by true life macabre family drama. (Review by Caroline Smart)

Produced by Lemontone Productions, Where the Rainbow Falls is written by Ismail Mahomed, the National Arts Festival’s new director, but produced at the festival by an independent theatre company - lest there be any talk of nepotism!

The stage is simply set with a chair, a rocking chair, a small trunk, a table with mugs, milk and sugar. A rudimentary home-made violin forms part of the props. We are in the middle of a drought on a farm, the crop has failed and the future looks bleak. The notice board at the entrance says: “Welkom op Liefdesland” - although there’s not much in the way of love here.

We meet a young man and a woman and the script is skilfully crafted so that it is some time before we finally understand their relationship.

They both carry secrets – she hides her rosary and bible in a trunk away from his prying eyes. There’s also a stash of money there so we get the feeling that it will be used for a long-awaited escape. Ever-optimistic, despite the fact that he has shunned religion and burnt all the bibles in the house, he keeps insisting that the rains will come and everything will get back to normal. But what is normal? Some secrets are very dark and unnatural. And then it starts to rain …

Els De Bundel and Richard Bodkin (who also directed the play) put in good performances in this edgy play which was the runner-up of the 2000 Pansa Playwriting Award. Ismail Mahomed was prompted to write the script by a true life macabre family drama that shocked South Africa in 2001. Where the Rainbow Falls has performances until July 8. – Caroline Smart