A night at the theatre
on Tom's Excellent Adventure (Zambia), 02/Dec/2008 06:47, 34 days ago
This week we’ve put the brakes on partying and have booked tickets to the Lusaka playhouse, which as the end of our road. The play is called “Kiss the Hangman” and was written by a Zambian from the Southern Province about 10yrs ago. In typical Zambian style we had to sit through interminable speeches, theMayor’s being a particular gem. He was trying to say let’s restore the theatre to its former glory but only managed to say that this place is a real dump compared to 15yrs ago and take forever saying it. On a brighter note we all sang the national anthem which is well cool and as the Zambians are great singers our out of tune warbling were well and truly countered. It’s a two hander between the hangman and his hangee (What do you call the object of a hangman’s labours?). I think it’s meant to be a metaphor for the troubles in Africa but it was a bit difficult to follow, no-one heresits in hushed silence during the play. Not only do phones go off people answer them, have a natter, pass them on to their mates for a bit more of a chat and eventually ring off, equally if they enjoy a bit they’ll guffaw& laugh or have another chat about the merits of the scene, line etc. This gives the place more the feel of a gig rather than a play which is great fun but it does make it difficult to keep up. The basic premise: It’s the victims last night and he’s talking to the Hangman (Represents the State) who wants him to confess his crimes, the victim (Represents all who challenge the state) refuses to as he believes his committed no crime. The hangman treats him badly (Beatings, ritual humiliations etc) and even tries to trick him into confessing by disguising himself as a clergyman. The victim survives his ordeals and his last act is to forgive the hangman for what he’s done and is about to do, kissing his feet to prove his. The old hang man can’t cope with this and becomes, I believe the Americans callit “Conflicted”. Clearly he can’t hang the man so puts him under house arrest whilst he decides what do next. Exeunt stage left. It was thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking, as the only “Muzungo” there we were invited to meet the cast afterwards but blessedly not the Mayor.