Indeed this is a great way to fuel the holiday spirit. (Review by
Philisiwe Twijnstra)
The art of storytelling
is a highly respected medium around the continent of Africa, a ritual that
carves a path for a child to continue imagining. I grew up listening to this
legendary voice on Radio Zulu. Now, my daughter, who is five years old, had a
chance to watch and listen to Mama Gcina Mhlophe and her artistic team, opening
a pot of stories and magic.
Indeed this is a great
way to fuel the holiday spirit.
Fudukazi’s Magic, based on the widely published children’s book of
the same title. Fudukazi’s Magic is a
play for the young ones, complimented by songs and percussion and drums
written and directed, by Mama Gcina Mhlophe.
The play is set in the
African bus and features three singer-actors alongside Gcina Mhlophe, Khwezi Becker
and Nkosingiphile Mpanza and two musicians Victor Sithole and Njabulo
Shabalala.
They tell the tale of a
Queen Mother tortoise which, while interacting with other creatures of the
bush, uses magic to transform duller looking animals by adding a rainbow of
colours to their coats. But there is one animal that was not kind; which was
the Hyena, who was selfish and unkind. When the Hyena saw that everyone was
colourful and beautiful, the hyena went to Queen Mother Tortoise to demand her
to make him more beautiful. However, because his heart was unkind, the magic
from Queen Mother Tortoise made the hyena ugly because he was mean.
The set was comfortable
as you enter the Grand Foyer of the Playhouse; the stage is set up with a huge
tortoise draped and adorned in vibrant colourful fabrics and further downstage
the musician set is ready to set the mood of Fudukazi’s Magic. They’d set pillows in front of the chairs for the
little ones. The room was filled with little laughs and adorable screams: as
the actors told the story of Fudukazi’s magic through their catchy melodies.
What was most effective was that Mama Gcina Mhlophe has a beautiful presence,
commanding energy and her spellbinding focus was supported by bringing a great
balance of talented actors in their own right to make us laugh and enjoy - what
kind hearts can do.
Having said that, I do
feel that the script was jarring at some point, and the play didn’t need sound
amplification. The actors are trained to use their voices especially for this
type of theatre style. The sound amplification broke the intimacy of the play
and this includes the projection at the back. It took away the magic of
storytelling. The notion that simplicity is best epitomises my thoughts about
the production.
Performances of Fudukazi’s
Magic will run next week daily at 14h00 from Tuesday to Saturday, December
3 to 7, 2019.
Tickets R50 if bought in
advance and R65 at the door. Book at the Playhouse box-office – phone 031 369
9596/40 – or online and at Pick N pay outlets via WebTickets (the customer
support line is 086 111 0005). – Philisiwe Twijnstra
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