(Tafi Hanes & Nqobile Mthemba. Pic by Val
Adamson)
Co-directors
Roel Twijnstra and
Jerry Pooe have created a hard-working and energetic team drawn from varied
levels of ability and experience to present the first musical adaptation of
Peter Abrahams’ ground-breaking novel, Mine
Boy.
Mine Boy is a collaboration between the Wushwini Arts
and Heritage Centre, the drama department of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard
College campus and Stable Theatre. The cast is made up of independent artistes,
members of Eager Artists and UKZN students.
Written in
1949, it was one of the first books to look at the conditions of blacks in South
Africa a year after racial segregation was introduced. Roel Twijnstra, who is
also in charge of set and costume design, adapted the novel and has portrayed
the humour, noise, chaos, anger, passion and resilience of the times.
The
leading character is Xuma who leaves his home to travel south to Johannesburg
to find work. He is unfamiliar about city ways but soon learns what it means to
have a black skin. He is taken in by a shebeen queen, Leah, who steers him towards
her niece, Eliza. Forming a love triangle is the loyal Maisy.
Xuma
finds work on the mines. He is good at his job and builds up an amicable relationship
with his boss. A mine disaster unites one and all in a fever of resistance.
Heading
the cast as Xuma and Leah are Tafi Hanes and Philisiwe Twijnstra who both
deliver consistently strong and articulate performances. Philisiwe is
particularly memorable in this role which reveals her skills as an actress,
singer and dancer.
In a production that has some highly dramatic effects, other
notable performances come from Sxaxa Henema, Chuma Mapoma, Nqobile Mthemba
and Chris du Plessis. There are some vibrant dance sequences choreographed by Sifiso Majola together
with the cast. Design and video projections are by Doung Jahangeer, photographs
by Dean Hutton.
Most
theatre venues have their challenges, especial those which have been converted
into performance spaces - ie too big, too small, too wide – all of which impact
on the acoustic value. Stable Theatre is a former disused electrical warehouse turned
into a theatre space by the late Kessie Govender. The roof is extremely high
and the walls are bare brick, all of which impacts on the acoustics.
Performers
need to take this into consideration and ensure that their diction is clear and
projected, which wasn’t always the case in Mine
Boy. Another problem is that while the vocalised reactions from the
ensemble are full of energy, they often drown the speech of those performers
carrying important dialogue.
The
actors also need to “find the light” – in terms of placing themselves or lifting
their faces to the available light otherwise facial expressions and moods are
lost.
Mine Boy runs at Stable Theatre with performances
for the public tonight (June 21) at 19h00, tomorrow (June 22) at 15h00 and June
24 at 19h00.
Performances
for schools take place on June 23 at 10h00 and 12h00 and June 24 at 10h00. Tickets
R50 (R35pp for schools).
All
bookings are through Stable Theatre on 031 309 2513 (office hours) and tickets
will also be available at the door. – Caroline Smart
Performances at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre will run from September 26 to October 5. This production of Mine Boy is
made possible through generous support from: KZN-DAC, City of Ethekwini, UKZN and Santam.
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