The Currency to make Maitisong festival debut
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday April 13, 2018 12:57
The Currency, which was launched in Francistown late last year, will be showcased this evening at 5:30pm in Gaborone. The play features two award-winning Batswana actors namely Kwenze Mnguni and Thembani Mpapho. It is a story of betrayal, love, greed and the power that comes with money. The play reveals what separates the rich and the poor. Based on real-life issues we face daily, the play is provocative and educational for all.
The play is about two friends who started working together. However, just like any other strong relationship, one friend always covered for his lazy friend who kept on absconding work and either made excuses not to work and always asked his friend to cover for him with the excuse that he was sick.
Being the good friend he was, his friend always protected him because he did not want him to lose his job, since he knew that he was sick and was a family man. Despite his friend’s loyalty, continuous support and advise, when he got paid he went on a drinking spree completely neglecting his wife and children.
A few months later, his friend saw an advert asking the community to apply for a tender to supply the community with water. He asked him to join him and tried their luck for a business opportunity, but he laughed. He mocked his friend saying he was too ambitious and a dreamer. He dismissed the proposal. After a while his friend decided to go solo on the business and as time passed by he prospered. He ended up building an empire. His business became a multimillion-pula enterprise. He even got married and had children.
As for the lazy friend, he lost everything. His wife divorced him and took away their children. He lost his job and was kicked out of the house he was renting. Whenever he tried looking for a job, he was kicked out because of his inappropriate behaviour.
He tried going to church but nothing worked until he decided to track down his friend. He was surprised to see him as a fine, successful businessman. He pleaded for a job in an upper position, but his friend refused. As he still loved him, his friend offered him a job as a cleaner. That did not sit well with him. He felt betrayed and undermined. Everyday jealousy crept in his heart and he ended up killing his loyal friend.
The Currency is an 80-minute long play scripted in English. Its tickets would be sold at P100 person and P50 for students and pensioners. It will be showcased at the Maitisong Amphitheatre.