(Jemma Khan. Pic
by Nardus Engelbrecht)
An enjoyable and different
piece of theatre. (Review by Keith Millar)
In Bocca Al Lupo translates from Italian to “into the
mouth of the wolf” and is used to wish a performer good luck, much the same way
as “break a leg” is used in English.
The phrase is pretty apt going by the story told by
actress Jemma Khan about her rather befuddling experiences during her sojourn
in Japan and Ireland where she spent time after completing her drama studies.
One thing she did learn in Japan, that has led to
considerable success in her life, is the ancient Japanese form of street
theatre called Kamishibai. Literally meaning paper-drama, it uses beautifully
illustrated panels, which are revealed one at a time from a wooden box, to help
the narrator to tell a story.
On her return to South Africa, she and her
collaborator Gwydion Beynon used
this style of theatre to develop the global cult hit production, The Epicene Butcher and Other Stories for
Consenting Adults. She followed this up with the award winning We Didn't Come to Hell for the Croissants. Then to complete
her trilogy of Kamishibai productions she created In Bocca Al Lupo which
was seen at the Hilton Arts Festival this year.
In In Bocca Al Lupo, Khan moves away from the format of relating
several different stories and instead tells her own story about a rather
turbulent period in her life.
She reveals that after
completing her degree she decided not to follow the usual route of a drama
graduate which is along the lines of - get degree - get agent - develop eating
disorder - become estate agent. Instead, she decided to travel overseas to
“find herself”.
She spent two difficult
years teaching English in Japan and then followed a rather dead beat, dope-loving
boyfriend to Ireland, before returning home and to the success of the Epicene Butcher.
It is a deeply personal,
warts and all story which is both disturbing and heart-warming and, at times,
very funny. Jemma Khan is a gifted actress and story-teller and she holds her
audience intrigued and transfixed from beginning to end.
She not only wrote the
script but also painted all the panels for this production. There are four
different frames which are used to reveal the many panels during the story and
Khan is very adept at coordinating this operation while telling the story
without a hesitation or lapse in concentration.
The production is
excellently illustrated with sound effects and music. There are over 140
play-in cues in the script and this technical feat was achieved without an
error. Quite an achievement, despite the help of a computer programme.
In Bocca Al Lupo Is an enjoyable and
different piece of theatre. It would be relished by those who enjoy something
out of the mainstream. – Keith Millar
For more information on the annual Hilton Arts Festival
visit https://www.hiltonfestival.co.za
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