(Yugan
Naidoo, Satchu Annamalai and Warrick Frank)
An experience not to be missed! (Review by John
Harley)
First performed in 1974, Stablexpense makes a biting comment of
the fact that the Durban Municipality of the time allocated more money to the
building of a stable for a horse than it did to one of the new low-cost houses
for Indians in Chatsworth after their eviction from areas rezoned for whites
only.
The plot is not as simple as all that,
though. It explores a wide range of racial issues prominent in the time in a
very effective, subtle and sometimes deeply covert manner, highlighting this
frightening period of our South African history even more.
Co-directed by Caroline Smart and Jayashree
Govender (Kessie Govender’s widow), Stable Theatre’s production is presented in
a simple, unpretentious way, allowing the plot to unfold almost gently, yet
leading to a most dramatic climax.
The performances are most convincing, with
Vadi (Satchu Annamalai) and Marnie (Yugan Naidoo) as the central characters,
leading the way with utmost energy and verve. The rest of the cast includes Naren
Sunker, Warrick Frank and Samantha Govender.
I do have a few reservations regarding
slight language barriers that made me miss several vital (I think) dramatic
moments. The dialect, accents and colloquialisms did at times leave me rather
stranded. Several times the (mostly Indian) audience would burst into laughter and
I just could not catch on.
The staging was careful and for the most
effective; yet I felt at times it was a bit too careful ("tight") and
inhibited the flow towards the final moments of the play!
Careful, too, of linear/flat staging - use
the depth of the stage more. Balance is also important. For the most, only the one
side of the stage was used which tends to constrict dynamic, three-dimensional
floor patterns that create interest for the audience.
I enjoyed the story-telling format of the
play a lot and I think the production works well - most relevant theatre; or,
as Peter Brook would say, 'most immediate'!
The programme is also really fabulous,
beautifully printed with a great deal of background information on the context
of the play and its author Kessie Govender.
All in all an experience not to be missed!
Stablexpense has been funded by the National Arts
Council with support funding from the KZN Performing Arts Trust and runs
at Stable Theatre at 115 Johannes Nkosi Street until November 30. Tickets R50
(R40 pensioners/students/scholars) booked through Computicket. For block
bookings (R40pp for more than 10) contact Stable Theatre on 031 309 2513 or
email stabletheatre@telkomsa.net or csmart@iafrica.com – John Harley
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