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Godwin Muzari : Arts Editor
Rooftop Promotions could not live up to excitement and high expectations that preceded the re-opening of Theatre in the Park when they staged a 2003 play that has no relevance to current events. While it is vital to mirror historical events through plays, the staging of “Super Patriots and Morons” at the new Theatre in the Park venue on Wednesday evening was mistimed.Historical plays have been staged over the years across the world, but most theatre followers that attended the show openly exhibited they expected something better and current.
After so much hype about the opening of the new venue, fans of the creative genre anticipated a vibrant and thought-provoking play to celebrate the return of the important Harare Gardens theatre hub in style.
Taking people back to the days of fuel and food shortages through “Super Patriots and Morons” was a wrong strategy for the anticipated big announcement of a long-awaited new theatre season.
And some fans voiced their disgruntlement in a post-play discussion when they suggested updating the play to current relevance could have made the re-opening production better.
Rooftop director Daves Guzha’s explanation that the choice of the play was meant to show theatre buffs what they missed when the production was banned in 2004 was not convincing.
Even actor Jasen Mphepo’s assertion that the shortages and queues portrayed in the play were translatable to the current cash crisis was not accepted by the audience.
It would not be erroneous to suggest that the choice of “Super Patriots and Morons” exposed local theatre practitioners’ obsession with political controversy, which has dealt a huge blow to themes exploring imperative social issues in most of their productions.
It was a good idea to have theatre gurus like Guzha, Mphepo, O’brien Mudyiwenyama, Manlda Moyo and Eunice Tava on stage for a production to celebrate the return of Theatre in the Park, but a play exploring current social issues would have made more impact.
The theme on corruption – as shown through a scene of people in a food queue trying to bribe the suppliers – could have been easily given a current face to portray rampant corruption at various levels in the current society.
The issue of abuse of women – as portrayed when a man refuses to apologise after deliberately pushing a pregnant woman in a queue – could have been explored in a better way through scenes that resonate with present-day situations.
Even unemployment and survival tactics that are shown in “Super Patriots and Morons” would have been explored in thought-provoking scenes with a 2016 face.
However, the actors should be commended for delivering a flawless act in their outdated production.
The cast exhibited great talents that have made them household names in theatre.
“Super Patriots and Morons” revolves around struggles of a pregnant woman (Tava) who tries to mobilise other citizens including a university graduate (Mphepo) and a teacher (Moyo) to rise against the government at the face of shortages of basic goods.
The leader of the government (Guzha) and his aide (Mudyiwenyama) fail to agree on how to handle the situation as tension rises until the aide quits his job, leaving his master exposed.
The play opened a season that is expected to see new productions premièring every 10 days. Rooftop Promotions should be commended for bringing back Theatre in the Park, which is known for developing theatre talent and giving a platform for practitioners to showcase their skills. The new state-of-the-art venue is expected to develop the arts beyond theatre as it would offer various services including an arts library and a film section upon its completion in June The venue has already hosted a photographic exhibition while its celebratory event titled “Jakwara” that was held recently featured various art genres.
Online Reporter