In a series of punchy and finely crafted vignettes, Rhodes Drama Department’s Tender explores issues of personal and cultural identity in a relevant and entertaining way.
Devised by MA student Madele Vermaak, the play was recently screened at Best of Fest – a showcase of pieces from the 2012 National Arts Festival.
In a series of punchy and finely crafted vignettes, Rhodes Drama Department’s Tender explores issues of personal and cultural identity in a relevant and entertaining way.
Devised by MA student Madele Vermaak, the play was recently screened at Best of Fest – a showcase of pieces from the 2012 National Arts Festival.
One of the brave scripting choices was the use of multiple languages – this might be essential for an exploration of South African culture, but makes it difficult for all audience members follow.
The vignettes were punchy and finely crafted. One entertaining scene began with a reference to Jane Alexander’s The Butcher Boys. With hands on crotches, puckered lips and wiggling eyebrows, the three women acting as boys, discuss the art of wooing women across cultural divides.
Another standout scene was Robert Haxton’s monologue. Frank and hilarious, the entire speech was delivered sitting on a chair, sipping a glass of wine and smoking a cigarette – stark naked. The 7 de Laan spoof is also worth mentioning.
As a typical soapie scene plays out in Afrikaans, it is translated by other cast members into English and Sign Language. The use of crude gestures and deadpan expressions reduced the audience to hysterics
The use of song and rhythmic vocal effects went some way to unify the vignettes but they remained too separate to form a cohesive whole. The fractured nature of the piece might however be a comment on the multi-faceted and contradictory nature of modern identity.
The piece does well to expose the underbelly of cultural identity in South Africa and the intimacies of its character’s struggles.
