"Verwagtings" [boodskap #113606] |
Vr, 23 Maart 2007 20:15 |
Moira de Swardt
Boodskappe: 41 Geregistreer: Mei 2006
Karma: 0
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Interestingly, Wits, not UJ, formerly known as RAU, is the university
playing host to "Verwagtings", a new Afrikaans play written by Deirdre
Venter and directed by André Stoltz.
This is a most interesting work. Focusing, as might be expected (bad pun)
on two pregnant women, one the abandoned owner of a farm, the other the
household help whose husband is in prison, this play looks at womanhood and
how women exist not just as women but as people within their societies.
With an earthy simplicity, this work breaks through language and racial
barriers in the curious way in which women are sometime women first and only
then ethnic and racial creatures. It is in the relationships between the
women that the interest in this work lies. The actual plot moves slowly
until shortly before the end when the mystery one knew existed is suitably
and plausibly explained.
The play stars Renate Stuurman whose character name eludes me, Elton Landrew
as Martinus, Louise Make as Miriam and Deidre Venter as Magadeleen. The
characters were finely drawn and beautifully portrayed. I entered into the
authenticity of the work, never doubting that such relationships could exist
regardless of the era in which the play is set.
Unfortunately the run is too short to make the play eligible for Naledis
otherwise it would be eligible for "Best New South African Play". The sets
were excellent, the costumes appropriate and the props scene enhancing, and
one was in no doubt that one was in the home of an impoverished farmer or
'bywoner', with my inaccurate guess having been the latter.
Downstairs Theatre; 21 - 24 March @ 20h00
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