(Mthandeni
Mbambo; Sbusiso Shozi; Sello Zikalala; Sandile Dlamini; Tsallo Chokwe; Peter
Mashigo and Sabelo Makhubo. Photo by Enos Mhlongo. Missing from pic: Freedom
Mswane)
Forceful and gripping script directed and
performed with excellence. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Many South African youngsters today know very
little about UmkhontoWe Sizwe (MK). Depending on which side you were on at the
time – freedom fighters or guerrilla force - it was the armed wing of the ANC
which fought against the South African government from 1961. It suspended
operations in 1990 and was integrated into the South African National Defence
Force by 1994.
Nkosiyabona Zungu has written a forceful
and gripping script which looks at the history of MK and the physical and
psychological impact it had on those who served in it.
The play is set in a small clothing factory
in KZN which is run by four military veterans, assisted by four colleagues. They
make school uniforms. As they sew away, the veterans reminisce about their days
with MK, explaining to the younger men what it was like and how – in the new democracy
- they have now fallen from heroes to the ranks of the semi-unemployed.
As the lead character, Jobe, caustically
remarks: he was considered responsible and intelligent enough to fly a jet
plane for MK but now he can’t get a job because he doesn’t have matric.
Jobe’s unhappiness and psychological
disturbance – borne of the past and the present - is of much concern to his
friends. His children have persuaded him to see a counsellor, the idea being
that Jobe should visit the area where MK had a military camp in Angola as part
of a healing process. Jobe will have none of this but opens up his memories and
so the play progresses in a series of flashbacks.
The clever set design by Wilhelm Disbergen
features a backdrop of slatted panels (copied onto the floorcloth) which
lighting designer Kenny Bolokee uses to excellent effect. The props include a
number of slatted wooden boxes which are skilfully manoeuvred to become sewing
machine tables or houses. I loved the wooden sewing machines as well as the
vocal sound effects that accompanied their workings!
In between the serious scenes, there are
many amusing vignettes and songs. Musical director Mthandeni Mvelase has eight
fine voices to work with and Brian Mazibuko‘s choreography is carried out with
impeccable precision.
Zwelibanzi Sibiya has directed his eight-member
cast - well-known television and stage actors – to perfection. While this is a
highly disciplined ensemble piece in which every single member is excellent, stand-out
performances come from Peter Mashigo as Jobe, Sello Zikalala as his close
friend Mabutho and Sandile Dlamini as the counsellor Simo. The rest of the cast
includes Sabelo Makhubo; Tsallo Chokwe; Sbusiso Shozi; Mthandeni Mbambo and Freedom
Mswane who take on a number of roles accurately and convincingly - in fact,
this is a tour de force for them all!
My only unfavourable comment would be that
the play requires some careful pruning. It runs for close on three hours with
an interval. While the dramatic fighting scenes – which are extremely impressive
from a lighting and sound point of view – tend to lose their impact with
repeated use. I would also have liked to have seen a final response from Jobe,
coming full circle to the original basis of the play, ie: did re-visiting the
memories of MK and the Angola camp alleviate his state of mind?
I have no doubt that Long Way to Go will take its rightful place in the impressive
line-up of powerful theatre works that have dealt with the struggle to
democracy. It will be of major benefit to learners and anyone else needing to
know more about this vital element of South Africa’s history. The play ends
with a thought-provoking question to its audiences. Looking at the South Africa
of today with its challenges in government, social and environment areas – was the
much fought-for solution achieved? Did so many brave heroes die for this?
Funded by the National Lottery Distribution
Trust Fund and African Renaissance and produced by Hamashe Productions, Long Way to Go runs in the Playhouse
Loft until May 12 before moving to Johannesburg where it will run at the State
Theatre from May 22 to June 2. Booking at Computicket or at the door at each
theatre. – Caroline Smart
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