IT’S ME, NOMFUNDO AT MUSHO!

Exciting premise but script needs more development and tighter focus. (Review by Maurice Kort)

Short play on a woman in search of her identity is an exciting premise but the script needs more development and tighter focus.

It’s Me, Nomfundo is performed by Silindile Ndlovu, taking on several roles, and directed by Bandile Mkhize, who also performs several characters as the story takes shape. The opening scene depicts a new Department of Home Affairs being opened by the Minister (Silindile Ndlovu), not exactly assisted by a most inept lackey (Bandile Mkhize).

There are many aspects to Nomfundo. She is abused by her boyfriend, being very much a sex object; she is the maid, Rose, at the beck and call of her very upper-class madam (Bandile Mikhize); also a mother, a wife, a prostitute, a victim, and very much in search of an identity - not helped by her consistently being denied an Identity Document by the Department of Home affairs.

There are nice performances by the two actors but there are too many characters and very few are given any chance to develop in the script, making the play rather fragmented and it lacks focus as a result. The lighting cues were not always well-handled. Adding to the confusion are the attempts of Ben to obtain an Identity Document by telephone for his twin brother, also Ben, who has been shot in a Shebeen. The idea of Nomfundo searching for an identity certainly has great potential.

It was indeed most gratifying to see an almost full house at the Catalina Theatre for this further production at the 2010 Musho Mini Festival, albeit a one-off performance. – Maurice Kort