(Sechaba Morojele, Litha
Bam & Michelle Douglas)
Director, cast and design team do full justice to Mike van
Graan’s skilfully-written Green Man Flashing. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Mike van Green is an award-winning writer of note and
deservedly so. He’s provocative, pulls no punches, has his finger on the pulse
of South African politics and is not afraid to state his opinions.
I first saw his Green
Man Flashing some years ago so was looking forward to its revival which had
performances at the 2018 Hilton Arts Festival. I wasn’t disappointed. Directed
by Malcolm Purkey with set and lighting design by Denis Hutchinson, it featured
an excellent cast comprising Michelle Douglas, Kate Liquorish, Litha Bam, Sechaba
Morojele and David Dennis.
The title of the play makes reference to the sign at traffic
lights or pedestrian crossings indicating that it is safe to walk across the
road. But the problem is – if there is a vehicle hurtling towards you, do you
stop ... or obey the green man, ie authority?
The set comprises panels of anti-apartheid-themed posters
behind a white settee and armchair. The play is set in 1999, six weeks before
the country’s second elections, and moves through flashbacks and current scenes
which challenge one’s focus but add to the dramatic value.
Gabby (Michelle Douglas) is a personal assistant to a black
government minister. She was married to Aaron (Litha Bam) who works for the ANC
in a high-profile protection capacity. The play picks up where she claims she
has been raped by her boss who has an impeccable track record and this
situation would cause considerable political repercussions should it become
public.
Aaron tries to dissuade her from revealing her situation and
offers a job outside of South Africa anywhere in the world at any of the
embassies in return for her silence. However, her friend Anna (Kate Liquorish)
who is also a lawyer, doggedly urges Gabby to stick to her guns and go ahead.
Also in the picture are Inspector Abrahams (David Dennis),
an apartheid-era cop, and Nasty Luthando (Sechaba Morojele) who is another VIP
protector. Luthando threatens Gabby and the upshot of the argument is that he
is shot dead. Whose fault was it? This is explored through Anna’s
cross-examination of Abrahams in court.
The great thing about the Hilton Arts Festival is that it
gives discerning KZN theatre audiences the opportunity to see artists of high
calibre such as these.
Director, cast and design team do full justice to Mike van
Graan’s skilfully written play. Don’t miss this one if it comes your way! –
Caroline Smart
“Green Man Flashing”
is now a prescribed school text work.
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