The Revolution is here! This piece is not
for the fainthearted. (Review by Verne Rowin Munsamy)
The Playhouse Company presents their 22nd
annual Woman's Arts Festival this month in celebration of Woman's month.
Amongst the many entrants is Confessions
Of A Blacklisted Woman, written and directed by Zimkitha Kumbaca. This
satirical look at modern black women uses many mediums such as music, poetry
and dance to show us the evolution that brings the modern woman where she is
today.
This show, like previous theatrical
interventions such as The Vagina
Monologues by Eve Enslin, takes on a radical feminist stance trying to
create a revolution and a change of mindset that might force us to accept
change when it is taking place. The Doll factory, like the play suggests,
creates and modifies women into the roles that it sees fit, namely the
pleasuring and servicing of the desires of the gentleman's club, ie patriarchy.
It questions the objectification of women by men and othering caused by women.
We are left pondering our acceptance of change that feminist struggles have
brought thus far and remarkably baring witness to the lack thereof.
The set was checkered red and black with
red infused into the costumes and the lighting drawing a strong links to
passion and anger, just what the piece demands for change to be complete. I
thought that the actresses were steady in their engagement throughout and that
the director had made some poignant choices. I did feel that the second half
dragged on a bit too long and that focus seemed to slip away towards the end
but enjoyed the fact that the piece doesn't hold back the punches.
This piece is not for the fainthearted. I
do enjoy when theatre tries to engage with important social issue and none more
important than equal rights, the freedom to be natural, a society free of rape
and a sisterhood that supports other women instead of othering them.
Confessions
Of A Blacklisted Woman runs in the Drama Theatre tonight
and tomorrow (August 17 and 18, 2018). Tickets R80. - Verne Rowin Munsamy
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