Presented by Spotlight Theatre Company Inc.
Reviewed Wednesday 9th November 2011
http://www.spotlighttheatre.info/1_23_Current-Production.html
Venue: The Arch, Holden Street Theatres, Holden Street, Hindmarsh
Season: 8pm nightly to Sat 11th October
Duration: 50min incl interval
Tickets: adult $18/conc or group $15
Bookings: Venuetix 8225 8888 or call Tony Moore on 0400 579 530
James Majur had never even seen a play before he decided to write this one. Although that inexperience shows in the writing it can be overlooked, as this is his response to one of the inequalities and violations of human rights still occurring in Africa, where women are still treated as possessions of men.
Mary is fifteen years old, has just completed her year 11 examinations with excellent results and is looking forward to year 12 and going on to university. Her mother, Mama Mary, is justly proud of her. Suddenly, everything changes when the Chief tells Mary's father, the indolent and drunken Baba Mary, that he wants to take Mary as his wife. Baba Mary is thrilled, since the Chief will then be his son-in-law and his status and wealth will increase. There is conflict between Baba Mary and his wife and daughter over his decision to give Mary to the Chief. All that he can see is the immediate improvement to his situations and the arguments of the women that Mary's education and ultimate career would be of greater value fall on deaf ears.
With Baba Mary procrastinating over a wedding date, the Chief eventually loses patience and arrives at their hut. He hands over a bundle of money to Baba Mary, taking Mary away with him without the bother of marrying her. Baba Mary is overjoyed but Mama Mary points out that the money will all soon be gone on alcohol and he will be exactly as he was before, but without a daughter. The cash in his hands is all that he can see. Mary eventually escapes from the palace, is rescued by the United Nations, and relocated to Australia.
Not only is the Chief shown as corrupt, abusing his wealth and power, but also hypocritical, purchasing Mary and ending her education shortly after giving a speech to the villagers on the importance of education and announcing a new school and hospital that he is having built, to western standards.
Shannon Gray as Mary, Benoit Auberger as Baba Mary, Awit Kuac as Mama Mary and Cherian Philipose as Chief Akol perform as an ensemble, each closely working with the others. There is some good work from all four and the occasional missed line from lack of projection can be overlooked as this is a community theatre piece with an important message about human rights and inequality. The message is clearly presented in this moving piece.
Tony Moore's direction helps them to bring out the emotional traumas of the women believably and highlights the lack of sensitivity of the men.
The set is simple, but effective, with the mud hut where Mary and her family live depicted on one side of the stage and the Chief's luxurious palace on the other side. Slides are projected at the rear to reinforce the locations, although the occasional late entry raised a few unintended laughs, rather spoiling the mood. This closes on Saturday, so hurry to get a ticket.
Reviewed by Barry Lenny, Arts Editor, Glam Adelaide.
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