Hoss is an extremely funny example of physical theatre which is different,
fresh and very innovative. (Review by Keith Millar)
Visiting the Witness Hilton Arts Festival
this year with their innovative and exciting production, Hoss, was the UBOM! Eastern Company Drama Company from Grahamstown.
Hoss is a history of the Eastern Cape, a family melodrama and a ghost
story all wrapped up as a good old Western movie. There are tall tales,
frontier myths, Xhosa folk law, culture clashes and an avenging angel, as the
story heads for an crazy and dramatic showdown.
A family gathers at a small trading store (or
is it a western saloon?) on a road to nowhere in Eastern Cape frontier country.
Their aim is to resolve an age-old land dispute. But the family has many
secrets and these have a way of coming out. An avenging angel stalks the land
and he is determined to have is say in the outcome of events.
UBOM! is well-known for its performance
style of high-paced comic action, and when they team up with the legendry
Andrew Buckland in Hoss, the result
is a hilarious, frantic rollercoaster of physical theatre.
Buckland devised the piece along with the
cast of Elisha Mudley, Sparky Xulu, Seneliso Dladla, Thami Baba, Megan van Wyk,
and Luvuyo Yanta. With the peerless Buckland leading the way, the company put
in energetic, enthusiastic and very entertaining performances. The musical
content in the production is also very well delivered.
Hoss is directed by Rob Murray and designed by Catherine
Jacot-Guillarmod.
Despite all the humour, Hoss delivers a message about a country
founded in strife and bloodshed and which to this day is beset by huge socio-economic
inequalities and overwhelmed by violence and crime. It is suggested that if we
have the will, anything can be overcome.
All in all, Hoss is an extremely funny example of physical theatre which is
different, fresh and very innovative. –
Keith Millar
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