(Wiseman Mncube as Bro Six Two. Photo by Val Adamson)Mlambo/Mncube team pulls in the laughs at Stable Theatre. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Currently running at Stable Theatre for a short season is Meet Bro Six Two, written and directed by Samson M Mlambo and featuring Wiseman Mncube.
At the outset, I have to admit to a vested interest as Mlambo and Mncube were one of my voice (speech) students in this year’s Playhouse Community Arts Festival. I was impressed at the time by their commitment and focus and this professionalism is evident in their work.
In her artSMart review of Meet Bro Six Two at this year’s Musho Festival, Philisiwe Sithole acknowledged Mncube’s excellent performance and the rest of her comments are as follows:
“Meet Bro Six Two is a hard-hitting play that looks head-on at the stark realities of unemployment. The protagonist of this tragi-comic piece takes his name from the number of the street in the township where he lives (it also happens to be his favourite gambling number).
“As the story unfolds, we learn he grew up in poverty in a rural area where he stole farm produce in order to survive. After finding employment, he gets framed by a policeman and loses his job. Forced back into a position of poverty and hunger, he takes to crime as he seeks revenge.
“Meet Bra Six Two is about a young ordinary man justifying why he continues to deal in crime and break the law. He believes it is merely because the country is filled with corruption, and one finds ways to survive. So why is he judged?
“It was a joy to watch this masterpiece. Wiseman Mncube is an excellent actor. He clearly paints beautiful characters distinctively in posture, tone and accents. He creatively uses mime and sound to enhance the story and illusion. The play is influenced by the genre of poor theatre (ie minimum set and costumes with actors making any relevant sound effects). “
Performing at Musho at the Catalina and for the 2012 Community Arts Festival performances in the Playhouse Loft, Mncube now faces a new challenge with the much wider – and higher – stage of Stable Theatre which requires stronger projection and more controlled articulation.
He generates much laughter from the audience with Mlambo’s highly amusing script. It is well deserved that he received the Best Actor/Performer and Standing Ovation awards at this year’s annual Musho Festival.
The Mlambo/Mncube team has very strong potential and I look forward to their future work. This one-man one act show should be supported - you’ll be highly entertained in the process.
Meet Bro Six Two has only two more performances at Stable Theatre on July 21 at 19h00 and on July 22 at 14h00. Tickets R30. Bookings through Stable Theatre on 031 309 2513. – Caroline Smart
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