The actors
were outstanding in their own rights, they showed a compact team and delivered
a strong performance. (Review by Philisiwe Twijnstra)
The French Institute of South Africa and
the Market Theatre Laboratory, with the support of Mazars, are presenting
Kwasha! Theatre Company's latest production, Rhinoceros, written by celebrated French-Romanian playwright Eugène
Ionesco, and directed by The Theatre Duo.
Rhinoceros is a play about a drunkard young man in love with his co-worker who
finds that everyone around him, even his pompous and condescending best friend,
is changing into a rhinoceros.
The idea of theatre of the absurd makes you
think and question what the play is trying to communicate. Rhinoceros is a timely, classic, witty and a nail in a foot.
With our country seemingly heading towards
the unknown socially, politically and culturally, Eugene Ionesco’s absurdist
play Rhinoceros summarizes our nation’s
innuendos and how people can easily turn into rhinoceros right in front of our
eyes and yet we stand to watch or worse left alone bickering.
This play was directed by Billy Lange and
Mahlatsi Mokgonyana from Theatre Duo. Together they created a visually
appealing play with a set and costume design by Thando Lobese. The stage
lighting designed by Mandla Mtshali had streaks of shading which grouped a
perfect menacing mood.
The highlight of the night was the performance
itself. It had a slapstick, absurd influence, with perfect physical timing and
rhythmic balance in tone and pitch. The actors were outstanding in their own
rights, they showed a compact team and delivered a strong performance.
The brilliant cast is made up of Aalliyah
Matintela, Molatelo Maffa, Sibahle Mangena, Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi, Thulisile
Nduvane and Vusi Nkwenkwezi.
Having said that, I missed actors playing
with languages: since this was a Market Theatre Lab and the French Institute
collaboration. The use of languages from the respective countries would have
made it identifiable and less foreign.
Rhinoceros has one more performance tonight (October 26) at 19h00 at The
Courtyard Theatre, DUT. Tickets R80 (R30 scholars, pensioners) available from
Alliance Française de Durban at admin@durban.alliance.org.za or 031 312 9582. - Philisiwe Twijnstra
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