LONDON ROAD

Grahamstown: July 6, 2012 – Review by Keith Millar

Would you like to see a grown man cry? Take him to see the remarkable production, London Road. This is a very poignant and moving play, which is at the same time heart-warming and heartrending.

It is the story of two lonely women from very diverse backgrounds who live in a block of flats in London Road, Sea Point. On the face of it, they have little in common. Rosa Kaplowitz is an elderly Jewish widow whose children have emigrated to Australia. In her loneliness she has become a busybody and occupies her time by becoming involved in everyone business.

Stella is an illegal immigrant from Nigeria who has been abandoned in Cape Town by her husband. She lives in a converted storeroom in the block of flats and deals in drugs in order to afford the exorbitant rent charged by her landlord.

After Stella’s room is robbed, the two women meet and their lives are drawn together. Over a period of time they form a deep and warn friendship and learn to rely totally on one another.

Cape Town actresses Robyn Scott and Ntombi Makhutshi are outstanding in the roles of Rosa and Stella.

Makhutshi puts in a beautifully restrained performance as the marginalized and exploited Nigerian woman and is the perfect foil for Scott’s larger than life Rosa. Hers is a passionate, mesmerising and loving performance. It is filled with pathos and humour. Playing a woman much older than herself Robyn Scott breathes life into this character, makes the audience love her and empathise with her situation. I stand in awe of this brilliant performance.

Very clever use is made of a basic set which consists of a table and two chairs. All the props are kept in the drawers of the table and are brought out by the actors as needed to change the scenes.

London Road is a multi-award winning play, including the Standard Bank Golden Ovation Award at the 2010 festival. It was masterfully written by Nicholas Spagnoletti and was skilfully directed by Lara Bye. Thursday’s performance was a full house and it is sold out for the rest of the festival. However, if you ever get the chance to see this tender and uplifting production don’t miss it. Just remember, take tissues! - Keith Millar