NO COMPLAINTS – NEW DAY, NEW DAWN. Inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days. Written and Directed by Carlo Daniels. Sound Design by Shane Jacobs. Set and Lighting Design by Themba Stewart. Performed by Donnay Arendse, Siphenathi Mayekiso, Beviol Swartz and Tshegofatso Mabutla. Theatre Arts.
MEGAN CHORITZ reviews
Carlo Daniels has used his emerging director’s bursary to create this wonderful adaptation of a Samuel Beckett classic. Happy Days is a perfect example of absurdist theatre and this production, while deviant from the original in so many ways, still manages to be solidly true to the absurdist style, but makes it more exciting, funny, emotional and engaging.
The stage is set in between three sides of audience, and the incredibly effective set, with hanging frames, an upside-down bed, and tons of scrunched up brown paper is quite breath-taking when entering the Theatre Arts.
And then the performers inhabit this set (designed by Themba Stewart) and magic happens. Carlo has stretched and twisted, and pulled and pushed the text of the original, making a clowning, physical theatre-based performance that is heightened, strange and quite wonderful. Wendy, the one half of the couple is played by three actresses, reflecting the different facets of a single woman. Beviol is grounded, older, rougher Wendy. Tshegofatso is cheeky, clever, thinking Wendy, and Donnay portrays the seductress, lady, romantic Wendy. Wanda is played with such extraordinary charm and skill by the fabulous Siphenati Mayekiso. He grows and blooms every time I see him.
Fresh and original
Wendy is trapped in this endlessly repetitive relationship, where every day is the same only more, and Wanda sleeps it all away. But her frustration escalates, and stakes are raised, and we see this reflected in three different ways. It’s amazing to watch; sometimes I was whiplashing between performers.
I found this production exciting, and fresh and original and funny and sad. It has a very short run, so make sure you get to one of the performances this week.
What: No Complaints – New Day, New Dawn
Where: Theatre Arts, Observatory. Check out times on www.theatrearts.co.za because of load shedding, and you can book on the site too.
When: Sunday 20 – Friday 25 November 2022
WS
