The Sunday News
A COUPLE of weeks ago the Zimbabwe Theatre Association (Zita) started its decentralisation programmme aimed at taking good theatre to the people. The focus and emphasis being on good theatre. The project came after the realisation that nothing much is happening in our theatres as plays are not touring anymore. The new project will see several theatre pieces taking to the road in a planned tour of four cities — Mutare, Masvingo, Bulawayo and Gweru.
Local theatre producers, especially those with good products on their hands, must see this new development as a good opportunity to take their plays to the people. My immediate advice to producers is to try and engage Zita through its co-ordinator Mgcini Nyoni, and get into the tour circuit.
Washington Junction is a play by Tafadzwa Muzondo and features the talents of Daniel Maphosa and Evangelista Mwatse. The play was the first on the tour circuit.
Having missed the play at last year’s edition of Harare International Festival of the Arts (Hifa), I could not miss it when it came to Bulawayo. And I am very glad I did not miss it.
The effortless acting exhibited by the trio of Muzondo, Mwatse and Maphosa was worth every moment. Rarely have I witnessed something that is mature and thought provoking.
After the show I remember talking to a friend, a veteran actor, and agreeing that experience makes theatre beautiful and watchable. Unfortunately, the best actors in the region tend to “retire” too early — before they reach their full potential.
Washington Junction is a political play — although it would have worked much better as just a human story. At least that is what I felt after watching the play.
It is the story of Washington, a former jailbird who gets a second chance and starts a small business of washing cars. Washington owns the car wash and has big dreams of one day turning it into a car sales business but, unfortunately, fate has other plans for him.
As the play unfolds it turns out that his benefactor, a local politician, has other plans for Washington whom he is using as a political thug. The play is set towards a general election in Zimbabwe.
The play, probably inspired by Langston Hughes’ famous poem “A dream deferred” is multi-layered. It tackles several themes.
Corruption. The violent nature of Zimbabwean politics where youths are used to perpetrate violence on rivals.
Women and citizen empowerment. Political as it might be the play is laden with humour that one would be forgiven if they classified it as a comedy. The beauty of the humour is in that it is not forced upon the audience to elicit cheap laughs. It is subtle and sometimes hidden under beautiful lines that only the intelligent audience member can get.
Amphora, who returned to the stage after a long time of pursuing administrative interest at Savannah Trust, lit up the stage with his double roles as both the old, powerful, rich and corrupt politician, Mr Sugar and his intelligent and yet mentally challenged son.
Maphosa played the later role so convincingly that one almost believed he was mentally challenged himself.
Mwatse did not disappoint either. She is one of the top female theatre artistes in the country. Her performance in this play proves it.
The direction of the play was on point too. Like all good plays Washington Junction had its curves. I loved the technique of using music to introduce different invisible characters that passed by the car wash. Even though invisible Muzondo, as Washington, made the audience see these characters.
Most memorable of all were the Rastaman and the Christian woman who passed by.
Patience Tavengwa must be commended for a good job on directing the piece. The only disappointing thing about that evening was the audience. Only a handful turned up to watch the play. Many theatre enthusiasts who did not attend later complained about the way the performance was publicised — mostly through social media. We hope this will improve as we wait for the next play on the circuit.
About Family Voices
Family Voices are surely a group to watch. The a capella group’s vocal power and beauty defies description. Last week they mesmerised audiences at their fundraising event held at a local hotel. The group is preparing for their upcoming album launch that rumour has it that it will be graced by celebrities from the South African soapie, Muvhango. Guest performance of the night by Kelvin Gudu, of the Matonto and Tombofara fame, made the event extra special. Arts Focus wishes the group the best on the album launch.
