Resurrecting Albert

Theatre
Production: Woza Albert
Date: 17 April
Guest: Connie Sedumedi


Sweat drips from his beard -- he spits as he speaks -- his pot-belly is exposed -- in-fact, less than twenty minutes ago, he and his friend or partner-in-crime showed us their asses. Yep - they turned around, bent over and then pulled down their pants and slapped their own butt cheeks before pulling up their pants back on.

You may expect disgust or maybe even irritation to be the audience's reaction, but nope, the total opposite is the case.
As Mncedisi Shabangu and Hamilton Dlamini take on the intimate Laager Theatre stage at the Newtown based Market Theatre, there's very little anyone can do to dispute the fact that they have their audience wrapped around their little fingers.

I'm sitting in the crowd watching silently, touched by the brilliant work of art crafted right before my eyes. So good are these actors, I keep on wondering - whenever I can that is - 'why are they not rich?'.

The two seamlessly drift from one character to another, only with the assistance of light and costumes. They do it so well, I literally forget about every other character I've seen them play outside of this room.
This historical two-hander has landed in perfect hands, I keep thinking.

Woza Albert is a story about the coming of Jesus Christ to South Africa during the apartheid era.
Using every imaginable character that would have existed in those days - Shabangu and Dlamini tell textured and layered tales of a darker South Africa.
Using an invisible news crew to find out from most South African what their feelings and anticipations are regarding the coming of Morena to South Africa. The story goes from rural KZN, via Soweto street corners, through the famous Albert Street in Johannesburg's CBD to work places and prison wards. Morena is setswana for Christ, and this is the term used by all South Africans to refer to Jesus in the play. In more ways than one - the word carries the story. It is the thread that connects the simple desires people have, it is the point where beliefs are either confirmed or denied. And whether one believes in the coming of Morena or doesn't - everyone has an opinion about the coming.

The question of why the piece is titled WOZA ALBERT keeps on coming to mind - and I search for an answer, I wonder 'could it be related to the Albert Street scene'?

As the play progresses - a scene that is set on a hawkers street corner introduces a young boy who is taking care of his mother's business for the day. Soft and slow the boy speaks to an arrogant customer who keeps on questioning the meat he's selling. The boy keeps on fanning off interrupting flies when the famous TV crew arrives and asks him what he's going to ask 'Morena' for when he comes to SA? The poor boy, played by Dlamini, expresses how education is the one and only thing he dreams of getting, "sub A" he says and that sends the audience into mixed reactions, laughter, sadness and "shame". My guest - Connie Sedumedi, after laughing, looks at me in the eyes and a 'WOW' slips out of her mouth. There's no doubt that she's feeling the piece and the work of Shabangu and Dlamini.

Towards the end - Morena, who finally and unexpectedly makes an appearance, answers my BIG question. I still have no idea if he gets around to granting people their simple but desperate wishes. But, he does make zulu boy's wish come true - he brings all the fallen struggle heroes back to life, the first one he calls back to the land of the breathing is Chief Albert Luthuli.
"Woza Albert" Morena calls him to life and then goes on to the Ngoyis, Sobukwes and others.

There are scenes and bits that remind you of how exaggerated theatre can be. Like the train ride that sees the characters bouncing up and down in their make-shift benches mimicking the sound of a train engine. But then again - how does one display that kind of setting without props, sound effects and visual assistance?

From how the sweaty, spitty and heavy looking Shabangu carries his weight throughout the play with grace and talent to how the limp mastering Dlamini switches moods in the room with ease - this one is a must see.

As the audience gives a heartfelt standing ovation to the twosome - they give each other a hug......need I say more?

On our way out - my guest tells me of how moved she is by Mncedisi Shabangu, she calls him "a good actor", she goes on to remind me of how good Shabangu and Dlamini were and tells me how impressed she is by the fact that they never forget what character they were playing at any given moment.
She then goes on to relate a story about her father-in-law and his experience on Albert Street back in the days of Apartheid. A story that has both of us laughing

This is the story of Woza Albert through my eyes.
I am Tumi Sedumedi and I love and live for the arts.

The Market Theatre run recently came to an end.
Woza Albert will be on stage at the Bush Fire Arts Festival in Swaziland next month.

For more info, facts and a historical background on Woza Albert visit:
http://markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/woza-albert