Photos by Giovanni Sicrelli
Nomhle Nkonyeni as Mama (right) and Mzwakhe Mdidimba as Tata.
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All families - whether they be in North America,
Europe or Asia - have danger zones, areas that are best
avoided for the sake of tranquility. In "The Return," a
South African family tears down tne barriers of its dan
ger zone to reveaf past hurts and new ground
that they'd never treaded before.
Written by Fatima Dike and presented b
Artscape in association with the Siyasanga
Cape Town Theatre Company (both based
in South Africa), "The Return" is the only /
international production at this year's
National Black Theatre Festival. The play
revolves around the Somdaka family, I
which makes its home in Langa, Cape \
Town, South Africa's oldest black town- ^
ship. Buntu Somdaka returns to his par
ent s modest home after nearly two
decades in exile: he brinqs with him his beau
tiful African-American wife, Isis. There is tension ^ ?
right away as the traditional African values that
Buntu's parents embrace contradicts the lifestyle of
Buntu and Iris, both high-power professionals.
But there is an even bigger can of worms that is
opened. The death of Buntu's younger brother has
never really been addressed by the family. Questions
remain about whether he truly died a hero in tne strug
gle against apartheid.
The talented cast includes famed veteran actress
Nomhle Nkonyeni, as well as Mzwakhe Mdidimba,
Aug. 4 at 6 pm.
Aug. 5 at 3 S B p.m.
Aug. 6 at B p.m.
at Arts Council Theater
\ Ticket Price: *37 J
Pakamisa Zwedala, Astara Mwakalumbwa and Nobuhle
Ketelo. Roy Sargeant is the director. Sargeant, a for
mer theatre professor, is well-known as a producer and
director of radio shows, films, television shows and
stage productions. He is the co-founder of the
renowned South Africa's National Arts Festival.
Sargeant also co-founded the Siyasanga Cape
own Theatre Company in 200Z with play
wright Dike. Sargeant is the theatre compa
ny s artistic director.
I Dike is a legendary playwright, poet,
story-teller ana teacner in South Africa.
Early in her career, she received the 1 979
Papillion Rising Star Award, and has since
penned 1 0 plays that have been staged
throughout Africa and beyond. Between
2003 and 2004, she was involved in a cul
/ lurai excnange wun me Arrican-American
Theatre Project of the Universityof Louisville.
? ^ The production The Middle Passage emerged
from that collaboration. Dike is slated to receive a
Living Legend Award at this year's National Black
Theatre Festival.
Dicky Longhurst is "The Return" set and costume
designer. The lighting design is by Alfred Rietmann, and
the music selection is by Mbulelo Samby. Jerome
Chapman is the stage manager.
- The Chronicle
Pakamisa Zwedala