Little gem of a production is delightful, poignant, insightful and very,
very funny. (Review by Keith Millar)
Hamish Kyd is a force of nature. Alone on the Playhouse Drama stage
without any set or props he keeps his audience entertained, very amused, moved
- and even a little educated - as he performs his little gem of a production Knowing You ... Knowing Me.
This delightful, poignant, insightful and very, very funny work is about
Lenny Stalk, who is a down-to-earth and honest tradesman. He has raised his son
Otis single-handedly after the death of his wife.
Otis is a creative fashion design student and a respectful and loving
son. Then circumstances conspire to force Otis to announce that he is gay. Lenny
is devastated. The concept of a gay son is completely foreign to the life he
knows and understands.
He will go to any ends to, as he says, “un-gay” his son.
The play starts with Lenny (Kyd) kneeling on stage praying to his God.
He is asking for a solution to the perceived problem he has with his son. God
appoints a group of angels (the audience) to hear Lenny’s story and offer him
advice.
Lenny relates hilarious tales of growing up in Sydenham. He tells of his
marriage and love for his wife and of her death while giving birth to Otis. He
also reveals that he himself did not followed the conventional path in matters
of the heart. He eventually comes to the realisation that he will have to
follow the advice he had often given his son. That is, “to go to that place
deep in your soul, and ask the little voice for an answer”.
In the end the audience is left with food for thought on issues such as
tolerance, understanding and compassion.
South Africa’s various cultures are unquestionably rich in character and
personality. In Knowing You ... Knowing Me we
are given a loving and insightful glimpse into the coloured communities of
Durban. While humour is Kyd’s vehicle, it is never disrespectful and the many
colourful characters he describes are brought to life through his words.
Hamish Kyd is a veteran community activist, playwright, actor, producer,
director and author. His work has been produced on many occasions on the stages
of Durban as well as on radio and television. In 2009 he was a recipient of the
Living Legend Award from the Ethekwini Municipality for his contribution to
arts and culture in KZN.
He brings all this experience to bear in a sublime performance as Lenny
Stalk in Knowing You Knowing Me. Direction
is by Hamish’s daughter Leveen Kyd, musical direction by Dawn Gaillard and musical
arrangements are by Chris Ruiters.
In keeping with Kyd’s community theatre involvement, this production is
been presented as a fundraiser by Durban’s St Theresa’s R.C. Primary School. It
is also serving as a launch for Kyd’s third book which is based on the play,
and is also titled Knowing You ... Knowing Me.
Copies of the book will be on sale in the Playhouse foyer and part of the
proceeds will also go to St Theresa’s Primary School.
Knowing You ... Knowing
Me is
entertaining, warm and thought-provoking theatre by a master of the craft.
Don’t miss it.
It runs
in the Playhouse Drama until July 28 at 19h30. Booking is at Computicket. –
Keith Millar
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