(Pic: Mpume Mthombeni, who alternates in the role with Thuli Zuma)Skilfully directed and designed production well worth a second visit. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Written and designed by Neil Coppen and skillfully directed by Karen Logan, Tin Bucket Drum has garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim – and rightly so – since it was first produced in 2006. Recently opened at Catalina Theatre, this revival production will go on to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year.
The story resonates on two levels. At its most basic, it’s about a little girl born with an unstoppable catchy rhythm in her heart and the people she meets in her short journey of life. Banished with the instruction that she must “crush the unlawful rhythms” in the baby’s soul, the mother ends up in a tin-mining community in a deprived area where it hasn’t rained for many years. Every year, the children of this community take their buckets and hang them on the baobab tree outside the Tin Bucket Village to catch the rain as it falls. However, the rain never comes and the buckets simply tinkle in the breeze.
On the play’s more thought-provoking level, the unstoppable rhythm of the girl’s heart represents the individual’s right to speak their mind without fear. However, this kind of behaviour is forbidden in the restrictive society in which she grows up, a society ruled by a dictator – the Silent Governor – who refuses to recognise freedom of speech. This is far too often the case where those in power have their own self-serving agendas and these are seldom for the benefit of their communities.
Mpume Mthombeni, alternating in the role with Thuli Zuma, brings her powerful and versatile dramatic talents to Nomvula as well as the numerous other characters she is required to play. She’s enchanting as the little girl, gentle and caring as the mother, fearsome as the arrogant dictator and poignant as the old man whose hands and feet were broken by the ruling powers for daring to use his drum and flagrantly flaunting the ban on dancing.
With her infectious energy, Mpume presents a compelling performance and there are some delightful scenes: when Nomvula discovers the percussive values of a knife and fork; as the gossipy neighbours popping out of windows or behind doors, or as the headmistress indicating with satisfaction that the school noted no report of “rhythmic disturbance” from the child.
The play is presented with sensitive percussion accompaniment by Wake Mahlobo whose movements are so well-controlled that he never draws focus from the performer. With beautiful lighting effects, the screens allow transitions from shadow puppetry to a single room with bare walls and a small window.
This is a production which bears a second visit and I would urge you to see both Mpume Mthombeni and Thuli Zuma as they each bring their individual talents to the production.
Performances at the Catalina are from May 12 to 25 at 11h00 daily with evening performances at 20h00 from Thursday to Saturday (Sundays at 18h00). The production is an excellent choice for students from Grade 6 to 12. Bookings through Thandeka on 031 305 6889 or online on www.strictlytickets.com
Tickets R70 (R50 students & pensioners) with school block bookings at R40 per scholar (1 ticket free for the teacher for every 10 booked) and R40 for scholars for the 11h00 performances from Monday to Friday. – Caroline Smart
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