KAPUT & THE EATERY

Grahamstown: July 4, 2012 – Review by Keith Millar

The Framework Theatre Company from Johannesburg has taken over the Drill Hall venue for the duration of the 2012 National Arts Festival. Their concept was to stage their five productions daily, conduct workshops and run a restaurant/bar called The Eatery offering basic meals and drinks to their audiences.

As The Eatery was widely advertised as being open daily from 11h00, I decided to check it out prior to attending Kaput at 12h00. What a disappointment. The Eatery was closed and no-one knew why or when it would open again. This left more than one theatregoer a little disgruntled and slightly hungry.

Despite this, seeing Kaput was well worth the visit to the Drill Hall. It is an unusual, evocative, funny and moving production. The action is set at the seafront home and barbershop of two brothers who live an idyllic life somewhere on the Mediterranean. What is different is that the roles of the brothers are played by girls.

Helen Iskander as Georges and Taryn Bennet as Raphael are brilliant in these roles. They manage to maintain their femininity while capturing all nuances and macho swagger of two young men on the make.

Georges, the more conservative of the two brothers, worships the town beauty from afar and goes through the agonies which many young men would understand as they try to pluck up the courage to make the first phone call.

Raphael, on the other hand, is far more outgoing and spends his time clubbing and chasing girls. He has some very funny moments trying out his pick-up lines on young ladies in the audience. Into the idyllic lives of these brothers comes tragedy in the form of a war and, later, a catastrophic oil slick which changes their lives forever.

Elements of puppet theatre, mime and the clever use of music and sound effects help move the story along. Directed by James Cuningham, Kaput is an emotive and memorable piece of theatre and is well worth visiting.

Kaput is on at the Drill Hall at 12h00 daily. Just remember that The Eatery is kaput for lunch! - Keith Millar