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Acclaimed novelist and playwright James Baldwin knew a thing or two about being judged – not only was he black, he was gay as well. That combination certainly didn’t go down too well in 1950s and 1960s America. So he was well poised to write about his observations of an African-American community that was looked down on for being poor and, ironically, in turn looked down on those in their ranks who did not conform to their notion of piety.
It’s a potent and powerful slice of theatre, although a tad long at over 90 minutes without a break. Nonetheless, the performers keep us engrossed, aided by the expert direction of James Ngcobo, who has adapted the play into a South African setting.
Ilse Klink plays Pastor Margaret, a strict and unbending holy woman who heads up a congregation whose lives revolve around their faith as a refuge from the social problems that beset them. But when her prodigal husband (Elton Landrew) pitches up, at death’s door, and her skeletons come tumbling out of the cupboard, her flock starts turning on her.
The play suggests that holiness does not necessarily equate to goodness; that one can be devout but when mixed with self-loathing, that faith is empty and meaningless. The charismatic church serves as a microcosm of society, where people have hidden agendas and present very different private and public faces.
Thoughtful, intelligent, subtle and at times startling, The Amen Corner is a must-see for those who enjoy a substantial drama.
LAAGER AT THE MARKET THEATRE, UNTIL FEBRUARY 17
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Acclaimed novelist and playwright James Baldwin knew a thing or two about being judged – not only was he black, he was gay as well. That combination certainly didn’t go down too well in 1950s and 1960s America. So he was well poised to write about his observations of an African-American community that was looked down on for being poor and, ironically, in turn looked down on those in their ranks who did not conform to their notion of piety.
It’s a potent and powerful slice of theatre, although a tad long at over 90 minutes without a break. Nonetheless, the performers keep us engrossed, aided by the expert direction of James Ngcobo, who has adapted the play into a South African setting.
Ilse Klink plays Pastor Margaret, a strict and unbending holy woman who heads up a congregation whose lives revolve around their faith as a refuge from the social problems that beset them. But when her prodigal husband (Elton Landrew) pitches up, at death’s door, and her skeletons come tumbling out of the cupboard, her flock starts turning on her.
The play suggests that holiness does not necessarily equate to goodness; that one can be devout but when mixed with self-loathing, that faith is empty and meaningless. The charismatic church serves as a microcosm of society, where people have hidden agendas and present very different private and public faces.
Thoughtful, intelligent, subtle and at times startling, The Amen Corner is a must-see for those who enjoy a substantial drama.
LAAGER AT THE MARKET THEATRE, UNTIL FEBRUARY 17