The Not The Grahamstown Festival is
currently running at the Catalina Theatre at Wilson’s Wharf in Durban. The
purpose of this initiative is to offer Durban audiences the opportunity to
preview some of the local productions which will be travelling to the National
Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July.
One such
production is She Put The ‘I’ In Punchline.
Presented by Scruffy Session Productions this one woman show is written and
performed by Kamini Govender. Recently having completed her Masters Degree in
Drama at UKZN, Govender has created a pleasing work which is clever, insightful
and most of all funny.
She
analyses her conflicted identity as a young South African Indian woman who has
a Tamil father, a Hindi mother and was educated at a private catholic school. Against
this background, she pokes gentle fun at her own personal history and at many of
the social issues which are an inherent part of Durban’s colourful Indian
community such as the caste system and skin tone.
She also
discusses many other topics such as radio stations, drama school, political
claptrap, modern art, boyfriends, using Cosmo magazine as a guide to attract
men and life in general. Her observations are astute, witty and entertaining. There
are a few rather serious and wistful moments in the show when she discusses weighty
issues like oppression and woman abuse.
Govender
is a personable and attractive young woman. She does not deliver her material
in the style of a stand-up comedian but is rather physical in her presentation
as she moves about the stage.
If She Put The ‘I’ In Punchline is an
indication of the quality of production travelling to the NAF in Grahamstown,
then Durban will make a meaningful contribution to this celebration of arts and
culture.
Not
The Grahamstown Festival will be presenting productions from June 20 to 22 and from June 27 to
29. Tickets R60 (R120 show and dinner at John Dory's or Spur) and R40 for
pensioners, students and for block bookings. Booking is at Computicket. Further
information from the box office on 031 837 5999.
For
regular updates on the shows that are on at Catalina Theatre, visit www.catalinatheatre.com
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