FROM BUSH TO COUNTRY

Musho Festival review by Thomie Holtzhausen.

With the help of his ancestral spirit guide and a good dose of “rooibos” tea in a cooldrink bottle, a historian played by the very talented Arifani Moyo, embarks on a journey through times gone by in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.

An amazingly clever concept, fresh and real to African soil, the gifted Moyo enthrals his audience from the word go. His slight initial nervousness with the who’s who of Durban theatre goers on the opening night of the Musho Festival disappeared quickly. Due the irritating extractor fan or air-conditioning system that does not aid productions of this nature in the Catalina, Moyo initially was not as audible as one would like. The story-line, excellent directing and his superb portrayal of a variety of colourful characters, however, had the audiences dead silent and focussed on the production and we could drift off into his world.

Director Le Cordeur cleverly uses the stage, encircled with books ranging from philosophical, political and other African commentaries, to create a focus on the history of Zimbabwe and its people. He utilises the costume, a suit, worn by Moyo, superbly and theatrically as a variety of props.

Sadly the play wraps up too quickly into a charismatic calling to the people of Africa to make a difference. Personally I would have loved to see a more contemporary look into the Zimbabwe of today as well without being clichéd and serving as a multi-cultural warning to audiences to be aware of atrocities committed in the name of ideologies. The play certainly offers a fresh approach true to Africa to carry a more universal message. - Thomie Holtzhausen