(Sivani
Chinappan)
Polart Productions presents A Cookie in the Kitchen, a poignant one-hander
written and directed by Vivian Moodley, produced by Pranesh Maharaj. To be
presented at Catalina Theatre, Wilson’s Wharf the play features Sivani
Chinappan in her debut theatrical role.
A
Cookie in the Kitchen is the third production for
2014 from busy Durban independent repertory theatre production company, Polart
Productions, which has recently staged the super-successful Bhagwan gave me this Life and Late night with Mohammed Rafi.
After Cookie,
two more productions are in the pipeline: Beggar
with Tom Dennen and They Don’t Come By
Here No More... a two hander with Sam Marais and Anesh Dusrath.
“There are dozens of productions (or movies
or novels for that matter) which look at the male narrative, but not as many
good contemporary productions which look at life from the particular world-view
of a strong female central character,” says Vivian Moodley. “Sure we can look back
to the timeless sentiments of Jane Austen, or accessible UK productions like
Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine and
Educating Rita, but we are aware that
in South Africa (as in many other places in the world) there are issues and
dynamics of particular relevance to women. We wanted to tell their story and
let their voice be heard.”
Sivani Chinappan is a BA
Drama-English-Legal Studies graduate from UKZN, currently studying LLB (UKZN).
She is a South Indian classical dancer who graduated in Bharatanathyam in 2003
under well-known South African exponent, Kumari Ambigay, and furthered her studies
annually in Chennai India. She choreographed Ronnie Govender's Botoo, staged at the Playhouse Theatre.
She teaches Speech and Drama for Helen O'Grady Drama Academy and performs as
Pinky in Lotus Fm's Radio Drama, Sunshine
Mall.
Vivian Moodley explains: “Cookie holds her
breath and prods along with her chores in the kitchen; knowing and not knowing
how the day would end. But she makes sense of it. She makes sense of who she
is, what she is and where she finds herself. She reminisces about her previous
life; the life when a girl had less to care about and was more cared for; the
time before she became a wife. She remembers the bonds she shared with her
immediate family; especially the women, who would give her a glimpse of what
was to come....”
A
Cookie in the Kitchen runs nightly from March 24
until 31 at 19h00 at Catalina Theatre, Wilson’s Wharf. Seating is reserved. Booking
through Computicket; or phone 0861 915 8000 or book online at www.computicket.com
Posts
