(Shaun Acker
& Pieter Bosch Botha)
(Review from the
artSMart team covering the 2014 Witness Hilton Arts Festival which ran at
Hilton College from September 19 to 21)
Marvellously crafted work with realistic characters and dialogue that
is completely genuine. (Review by Keith Millar)
Civil Parting is a bitingly
funny comedy/drama about a relationship which has turned sour.
Glenn (Shaun Acker) and Jean-Pierre (Pieter Bosch Botha) have been
married for seven years but now their union has broken down and they are
spitting up.
The play starts when they meet in the offices of the lawyer who they
hope will facilitate their divorce. Both are professional people and respected
members of society so they hope to keep the proceedings as amicable as
possible.
The lawyer has been delayed and his secretary is out so the two are
left alone in the office. Their awkward conversation soon leads to accusations
and squabbling as the hurt and unhappiness over their failed relationship
bubble to the surface. As the cracks in their feigned civility widen, they
become increasingly acrimonious and hostile towards each other until the story
rushes to a surprising conclusion.
Sounds like serious stuff. But writer Nicholas Spagnoletti - who also
penned the wonderful London Road a few years ago – uses brilliant and
rather acerbic humour along with insight and sensitivity to tell this rather painful
story. It is a marvellously crafted work with realistic characters and dialogue
that is completely genuine.
Shaun Acker plays Glenn as a fabulously camp and flamboyant character.
He gives an outstanding and memorable performance in the role.
Jean-Pierre, played by Pieter Bosch Botha, is a more serious, down to
earth character who is the complete opposite to the rather over-the-top Glenn.
Botha also puts in a notable performance. The director of the production is
Zanne Solomon.
It matters not at jot
that the characters in Civil Parting
are gay men. This is a story about a relationship which has run its course and
as such could be applicable to anyone. What it does is pose questions about
what happens when romance dies and a relationship comes to an end.
Is a truly Civil Parting ever possible? – Keith Millar
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