Poor script spoils drama competition
Chippa Legodimo | Tuesday July 15, 2014 12:14
While some individuals demonstrated good talent in their portrayal of different characters, there was a clear lack of creativity on the part of the scriptwriter. The play lacked proper sequencing, which resulted in some unprecedented vacuums. Viewers would be left hanging as lines ended abruptly.
Chobe Arts Group did well in interpreting the difficult script yet their performance left one feeling they could have been more creative. One viewer complained after the performances: “They should have given a theme and guidelines and see if the actors would stick to that line.
“We cannot see who is more creative because the groups are repeating the same words and names over and over again. The events are all the same for all the groups,” he said. Former journalist and arts critic Modirwa Kekwaletswe shares the same sentiments. Kekwaletse concurs that the script lacked zeal and that groups should have been left to explore and interpret the theme and concept their own way. “I am not an expert in drama, but I noticed that the script was not strong to start with.
The groups should have been left to interpret the concept in their own way as long as they followed the same direction and do not deviate from the theme. The actors did their best under the circumstances,” Kekwaletswe said. At the beginning of the play a young woman’s passion for drama is met with little enthusiasm by her grandfather who is a farm labourer. It turns out the old man is in fact afraid that his ‘bass’ would not approve of the idea of the young woman travelling to Jwaneng for the drama competition. His fears are confirmed when the ruthless ‘master’ overhears their conversation about the coming competition and makes it clear such would only happen ‘over his dead body.
He is later riled to discover that the young woman has gone against his orders. Together with the old man he follows the young ‘would-be actress’ to Jwaneng. While on stage the young soul is shocked to see ‘bass’ in the audience and although she fears the worst she still manages to complete her play. Out of the blue the farmer embraces her and colleagues. This is where the viewer is left in the lurch trying to piece together where it all ends.
Two prominent events in this drama compete for dominance. The abusive manner of some farmers is a reflection of wanting total control of their workers and their families. Also the failure by some families to support their children’s talents and passions is due to some stereotypes such as ‘this is not a proper career’.