adminBongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THEATRE production, Umbiko KaMadlenya kick-started the Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo on Tuesday night with celebrated playwright Cont Mhlanga describing it as captivating and a fitting start to the 10th edition of the fete. Just like this year’s Intwasa theme “Unforgettable” suggests, the play, adapted from a Ndebele novel by Mayford Sibanda, left a mark on the minds of the full house that watched at the Bulawayo Theatre.
Mhlanga commended the director Nelson Mapako, script writer and play adapter Thabani Moyo for producing a world class play in a short space of time.
“I can say I am more than impressed with what these gentlemen produced. The play was captivating as it had people glued to their seats from start to finish.
“The story was easy to follow and understand, it stirred up all human emotions,” he said.
Mhlanga said such plays could be adapted into television series that have a Zimbabwean feel and can relate to everyone in the country. He said all that was needed to make that possible was a good budget and time to shoot and edit the production.
Mhlanga said although the only blemish was costuming on one of the characters Zinkabi (played by Bathabile Dlamini), wife to Mbiko (played by Memory Kumbota), who was wearing traditional Ndebele beaded skirts and head gear, the play went well.
“Zinkabi is married to Mbiko and traditionally there is a distinct difference between a married woman and girls in terms of what they wear. However, Zinkabi looked like one of the girls on set. Apart from that the play was splendid,” he said.
Play adapter Moyo said had they had more time to rehearse, they would have come up with a better product. He said they only had 10 days to rehearse for the festival.
“We chose 10 days in August where we would meet and rehearse as a cast. The dancers would meet and rehearse alone and the actors did the same.
“The last five days were dedicated to combining the two and coming up with a full product,” said Moyo.
He said he started working on adapting the novel into a play last year and developed the script of the play from Ndebele to English this year.
The story of the two-hour play is about the crisis of succession that resulted after King Mzilikazi’s death, and how King Lobengula (played by Richard Masuku) ascended to the throne after defeating rebels led by Mbiko, son of Madlenya.
Zinkabi was introduced to challenge traditional succession laws of leadership in the Ndebele State.
When praise poets took to the stage many in the audience applauded their antics as it reminded them of how kings were praised.
The play was produced in partnership with the Bulawayo City Council and Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo director Raisdon Baya and will be shown again on the last day of the festival at the same venue.
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