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Kumbirayi Shoniwa Entertainment Reporter
A new play hit the stage at Harare’s Reps Theatre this week exploring some pertinent issues about life. Written by Tawanda Kanengoni and directed by Leeroy Gono, “The Gods You’ve Built” is scheduled for one night and set in an abandoned toilet. Three people’s lives (Brian, Rudo and Pamhidzai) converge in a tragic and tumultuous turn of events that leaves two of them dead and one changed forever.
The play opens with Brian, a university professor, pacing in an abandoned toilet mumbling a cryptic list of names.
He is then joined by Rudo, a Catholic nun, who brings him a handgun as per his request.
Before Brian can execute his plan Pamhidzai, dressed in police garb, enters the toilet seemingly drunk and looking for a place to relieve himself.
He immediately takes issue with the fact that Rudo is in the men’s room but only to the extent of thinking that she is there as Brian’s prostitute.
After helping himself Pamhidzai notices that Brian has very elaborate tattoos of the Hindu symbol Aum.
As he tries to coax Brian into showing him all of his tattoos he discovers that the latter has a gun.
The characters in the play engage in a deep philosophical conversation about the purpose of life and the idea of God and whether there is such a thing as “God” at all.
“Higgs boson, some people call it the God particle; they say it’s literally responsible for everything. Without it we’d all never have been. No sun, no moon, no rain nothing! Imagine what that could mean, if they’re right?
“Suddenly the big bang theory becomes the big bang fact and God becomes nothing more than a random collision of particles,” bemoans one of the characters in the play.
What is the purpose and meaning of life? Is there a greater power than ourselves watching over us? When we come to the end of the line is there really a perfect way out? How far will your grief lead you down the road to self destruction?
‘‘The Gods You’ve Built” explores all these aspects of the human existence and the raw emotions that often lead us to self-destructive decisions.
The play’s cast includes Dereck Nziyakwi who has featured in several Rooftop Promotions plays including “Wedding Day”, “Dependency” and “Heal the Wounds”.
Nziyakwi has also performed in the April Theatre Festival in Zambia in a play titled “All Systems Out of Order” as well as appearances in several television, film and radio productions.
Precious Mudzingwa plays the role of Rudo the nun and brings along massive acting experience ranging from television to the stage. Her stage works include “Revolution Avenue” by Musekiwa Samuriwo directed by Leeroy Gono (Hifa 2010); “Accidental Death of an Anarchist” by Dario Fo directed by Zane Lucas (Hifa 2011); “Invisible Prison” written and directed by Raisedon Baya and “Eclipsed” written by Danai Gurira and directed by Zane Lucas (Hifa 2012) among other plays.
To complete the cast is Leeroy Gono who plays the part of Brian the University professor.
Gono has acted in various productions including “Comrades” by Augustine Strindberg and directed Patience Tawengwa, which also toured Sweden.
Other plays in which he stars are “Acting Death of an Anarchist” by Dario Fo; “Babysitting Calvin” and “Farai’s Dilemma” by Stephen Chifunyise among others.
The cast are all members of the Theory X Theatre Initiative where they graduated with flying colours after completing the three-year acting course.
The play is scheduled to be performed at this year’s Ibumba Arts Festival in Bulawayo to be held in December.
Online Reporter