(Shona Johnson, Sivani
Chinnapan & Maeshni Naicker)
Sisters doing it for themselves in rip-roaring very
light-hearted comedy (Review by Priya Dala)
Mystic Twisters,
written and directed by the acclaimed Clinton Marius, is a rip-roaring very
light-hearted comedy that is best taken with an ice cold drink (of water).
Three sisters, finding themselves orphaned by the death of
their mother try to brainstorm ideas on making ends meet. They stumble and
fumble into a plan to go into the business of fortune telling, after a comedy
of errors. Kantha, the bossy oldest, played by Maeshni Naicker convinces Kogie,
the dizzy beautiful middle sister (played by Sivani Chinnapan), of her ability
to see into the future after her high school Valentine crush never came back
fulfilling her defeatist prophecy that he would never come back. The youngest
sister, Sushila played by Shona Johnson flutters around her bossy sisters like
a sane Cinderella, and prophesies that this much desired Valentine, Leshav,
will indeed come back. But, no one listens to Sushila.
Kantha and Kogie treat the adopted Sushila as a drudge, and
refuse to listen to her good ideas. Kogie reluctantly believes that she is
psychic and is thrown into a consultation with her first client, a role of an
old woman with daughter-in-law trouble played by Jackson. Chinnapan, whose
acting I had enjoyed in the serious drama A
Cookie in the Kitchen launches into a witty banter of a consultation, using
names of movies to answer the client’s queries for psychic guidance. Strange
that a ditzy gal who gets all her words mixed up is eloquent enough to remember
the names and contexts of at least 15 movies – but then, this is not a play
that one asks too many questions over. It is what it is.
Naicker plays a dual role, taking on the task of playing the
dreamboat Leshav, and it is here that her comedic talents come well to the
fore. She is delightful in showing Leshav’s cocky shyness, and his obvious
devotion to the pretty Kogie.
Yet, it is the Cinderella that steals the show. Jackson, as
the little unwanted Sushi, is the most endearing of them all. Her little aside
commentary is highly amplified, but it works. Her singing voice is strong, and
well utilised. A rendition of I Put A
Spell On You was a nod to the style of Nina Simone, and the mournful Annie
Lennox piece Why was attempted with
some success. Tough reach, though, to take on Nina and Annie. Jackson did her
best.
The show is bound to have a repeat run sometime. Go and have
a laugh. Take your sisters along and don’t think too much.
Mystic Twisters had its premiere season at Sibaya’s iZulu Theatre on May 13 and 14. – Priya Dala
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