Nu-Breed will present Lihle Dhlomo’s Last Cow Standing featuring Menzi Mkhwane
at Catalina Theatre this week
The story tells how the inhabitants of a
community experience the plight of their most valued resources – their hundreds
of thousands-strong herds of cows. A strange sickness mysteriously infects them,
killing countless numbers over the years; reducing them to a smaller number. The
last few remaining are now surviving by the skin of their teeth.
The elders and high sanuses of the Kingdom
believe that god Gwande has struck them with a curse while others have taken it
upon themselves to suggest sacrificing the cows. The King is convinced and
decrees that every home in the kingdom should hand over their healthy cows to
be kept in the royal kraal in preparation for the big sacrifice. This big
sacrifice is believed to bring the entire herd back.
However, if the few that are left are
slaughtered; there might be great consequences to bear. What if none of them
ever return? How would the people plough the land, milk and feed themselves? Many
people feel caught between obeying the king and protecting their last cows.
From this entire calamity emerges a young
boy called Samira who is chosen to save the dying herds. Samira’s grandmother
tells him to go to the land of the King. He must speak to him and convince him
to change this decree before all the cows disappear for good.
Samira sets off on an epic journey, leaving
his region, travelling to the north where the King resides. But how will he get
the chance to be in the presence of the King whom only the trusted elders speak
to. How will he even see the king who has not stepped out to see the people in 20
years...? What would he say... or how would he say it? … and who would listen
or even allow him to utter the words he must utter as a last hope to save the
beasts that have been feeding his forefathers for hundreds of years?
Samira must find out as he embarks on this adventurous
journey that will take him through many difficult obstacles where even strange
mythical creatures will test his bravery and turn the boy into a man. Hopefully,
a man who will save his people from the greatest loss they could ever
experience.
The
Last Cow Standing runs at Catalina Theatre from June
5 to 15 with performances at 15h00 and 19h00. Booking is at Computicket. For
more information visit www.catalinatheatre.com
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