A duel that engages and absorbs theatre-loving audiences spiritually, physically and emotionally as the forces of evil and good try to outwit one another, premieres at Harare’s Theatre in The Park on May 28, 2008. The play, a heart-wrenching production titled Sahwira: The Spirit of Friendship, may be described as the stuff legends are made of. OGOVA ONDEGO writes.
This play brings Vhitori Entertainment and its team of director Elton Mjanana and producer Silvanos Mudzvova to the Theatre in The Park where they last worked together in the acidic and head-turning Final Push.
Written and directed by Elton Mjanana, the play serves as a reminder to the public that true to its meaning it takes a good to do nothing for evil to triumph as it evolves over a period of ten years beginning in 1988 to present day. This is a four-man production and Tafadzwa Muzondo, Blessing Hungwe, Judith Tsoka and Privillage Mutendera star in the debut of this play.
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The cast is a good mix of young celebrated theatre practitioners. Tafadzwa Muzondo has been on the theatre scene since the 1990’s doing mostly industrial theatre with a focus on health and safety. He is also the founder and director of the Edzai Isu Theatre Company and will be remembered for the award winning “All Systems Out of Order” in which Tafadzwa Muzondo wrote, produced and acted.
While Blessing Hungwe might be new to main-stream theatre, he is already a National Arts Merit Award (NAMA)-winning actor for his role in Madam Speaker Sir 2, while Privillage Mutendera is famous for her two-hander productions under her co-owned production house Sister Sister Productions. Judith Tsoka is also a Nama Award Nominee for best actress for her role in Madam Speaker Sir 2, but has done Theatre for Development Programmes for many years.
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The play takes a meditative look into the events of the past decade and the way the people have been affected and infected. It chronicles their trials, tribulations and above all this it pays homage to a special person who has made a difference in dealing with issues of the human sprit true to its spiritual drive.
This play is produced by Vhitori Entertainment’s Silvanos Mudzvozva and shows at Theatre in the Park from May 28 to June 7, 2008. There are two shows per day at 1:00pm and 5:30pm. No shows on Mondays and Sundays.
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Coming after The Two Leaders I Know by Daves Guzha (May 14-24, 2008), it appears Zimbabwean artists have chosen to redeem their nation from the political malaise that have plagued them by delving in contemporary political issues.
The Press Release sent out by Rooftop Promotions in early May 2008 said of The Two Leaders creator: “Daves Guzha’s life and work is informed by the wars, sanctions, food shortages, price controls etc experienced under the rule of the two leaders who have been in power during his lifetime. Ian Douglas Smith and Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe. He tells his story in this one-man stage production that is both sharply satirical and a moving personal evaluation of political consequences.”
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One wonders how these artists are getting away with overt political issues if, indeed, the Mugabe regime is as evil as presented by the mass media.
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Or are these artists created by politicians to sanitise the image of Robert Gabriel Mugabe? Then how can one explain the fact that the plays attract full houses as The Two Leaders I Know is said to have done during the Harare International Festival of Art (HIFA) on May 1 and 3, 2008 prompting the Rooftops Promotions manager, O’Brian Mudyiwenyama, to comment: “Since the play was very well received during HIFA I believe it is important that we continue with the show immediately while everyone is still talking about it and the memory of the play is fresh in peoples minds.
As is the routine with most Rooftop Promotions Productions, The Two Leaders I Know will embark on a National Tour after its Theatre in the Park showing.”
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In The Two Leaders I Know, that incorporates elements like dance, poetry and multimedia that easily entice crowds, 40-year-old Guzha “remembers the contribution of his parents to the liberation struggle and to his own personal development” through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy.