The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Leisure Reporter
THE local production Shak’n Not Stirred, which was staged in Bulawayo towards the end of April and early May this year, could likely be one of the best productions to emerge in the city in a long time.
The play, written by Mandy Mash, explores the intense experiences of women from all walks of life, yet not necessarily pitying them, as expected from most plays reiterating the tales of women.
The play was staged at the Robert Sibson Hall situated at the Zimbabwe Music Academy at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds.
Mash’s play, although having been staged before, not in Zimbabwe, is a humour filled attempt to explore the complex minds of women and men in society.
“My first production was a Tribute to the King of Pop and I also worked on some Valentine Day’s shows before I wrote my first Shak’n Not Stirred. The whole concept of SNS is to put every kind of woman in one room on one stage and just allow them to justify themselves and give their friends and the audience an understanding of why they are the way they are.
“I don’t want people to get the wrong idea. This is not one of those shows where we hear the pity story and the woman once again talks equal rights and all that (not that I do or don’t agree with any of that) but I try to be as real as possible in this show,” said Mash.
She said her mandate was to tell real life stories in an endevour to assist some women in understanding their predicaments in life, concerning their relationships.
“I want to tell it like it is so sometimes it means that some women need to be put in their place, some need to accept responsibility for their messy life and some are truly just vain annoying people who should not be given the time of day. SNS has a lot of humour, a lot of talent and entertainment but as the cast will tell you underneath all that laughter and naughtiness, sass, attitude and entertainment is some serious, brutal reality. But when it’s packaged in the way that it is in this musical production it’s a lot easier to understand and handle,” she said.
Mash mentioned that she wrote three other Shak’n Not Stirred plays, which were performed in Botswana.
“I’ve written three Shak’’n Not Stirred shows before this one. All three were performed in Botswana, spread out over the past six years. This fourth one will be the first one in Zimbabwe. I am so excited because I have wanted to do this here, back home, for so many years. The reason I am so artistic and daring in my industry is truly because of the environment I grew up in . . . so I knew that this is a community who would appreciate what I’m trying to do,” she said.
She said the cast was a marvellous and very talented one.
“The cast are very strong! I could not be happier. Trish Pullen, who is a dancer, along with Lavona Staal. Then I have Seagirl and Ntomby (the twins) who are a triple threat really — they dance, act and sing circles round most people. Qeqe, who recently won a Nama; I am truly honoured and humbled that she would join my production. I grew up with Soraya Carvalho, we actually went to the same high school and attended the same Latin American and ballroom dance group after school.
“I met Zami who is also a studied actress and this talent she has to just dive into her character is truly awesome. Yes, I have boys in the show too. They need a voice representing them on that stage too – trust me. Contrary to popular belief women aren’t always right so sometimes it’s important to have some men there to get some truth into the situation,” she said.
