[caption id="attachment_39583" align="alignright" width="300"] BLINDED BY FATE: David Dennis plays the title role in 'Oedipus @ Koo-Nu'[/caption]
OEDIPUS @ KOO-NU by Greg Homann, at Rhodes Theatre until tomorrow. Reviewed by Gillian McAinsh.
WHETHER or not you are familiar with the Oedipus legend from the plays of Sophocles thousands of years ago, it is hard not to see the parallels between ancient Greek tragedy and South Africa's current political intrigues in Oedipus @ Koo-Nu.
After all, the recent history of unseemly squabbles in the Mandela family, bickering both before and after the burial of the much-loved late Nelson Mandela, is so clearly echoed in this story of frail old Oedipus and his desire to choose his own last resting place.
Standard Bank Young Artist for theatre Greg Homann presents Oedipus @ Koo-Nu in classic form for the festival, with traditional circular stage and chorus commenting on the action, complete with tiny play within a play to frame the whole.
The background is filled with blood and murder: in the original story, Oedipus blinded himself after unwittingly killing his father and marrying his mother. The future also is soaked in misery for his devoted daughter Antigone. This present play, however, deals with Oedipus and Antigone travelling to find all his children before he dies.
Legend has it that where Oedipus is buried "the land will be forever blessed" by protection from foes. And, you would have to be as blind as Oedipus not to see that in the case of Qunu post-December 2013 there most certainly will be "blessings" for the keeper of the gravesite.
Homann adds in other wonderfully current scandals such as the fake interpreter, Zuma's fire-pool and more – the satire is unmissable, cutting close to the political bone. He leavens this by twisting the traditional role of the chorus to humorous effect, commenting on its own role as a dramatic device. "I must leave now," the Chorus of One says to Antigone, "I have a costume change", much to the mirth of the audience.
The casting of David Dennis as Oedipus is inspired, as is making noble Theseus a Winnie-esque (or is it a Graca-ious?) female figure.
Masasa Mbangeni, a past student of his, plays Antigone with a heroic spirit, and comedian Tumi Morake makes a meal of her dual roles in the chorus and as Theseus. Glen Biderman-Pam is a suitably oily Uncle Creon, and Ameera Patel the city-wise sister.
The cast is helped on its way by a fairly barren yet effective set, where former kings sit on toilet seats, and lighting and sound effects where thunder and lightning signal epic events.
How fitting to reinterpret this gory legend for South Africa. Neither politics nor the nature of man seems to have changed in millennia.