30 - Wednesday, May 20, 1992 - North Shore News Black and white world My Children! My Africa! Vancouver Playhouse, Directed by john Cooper, To May 3¢. Phone 873-3311. here’s no doubt — Athol Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! packs an emotional punch. But only the figu- rative kind, not the fist of the zevolution. The play is a sort of conundrum: how can African blacks achieve freedom and still live in harmony with whites? Through his characters, Fugard sugeests two solutions: the humanist way of education (as embodied in the teacher Mr. M); and the revolutionist way {as acted out by his prize student (Thami Mbikwana). The drama is really an extended polemic which leaves the audience to ponder the effec- tiveness of each position. The action opens with a debate. Thami (Michael Edwards) is ver- bally battling his opponent, a white girl named Isabel from a neighboring school (Megan Leitch). Using Mr. M as his mouthpiece, Fugard gets a bit didactic here with lines such as, “In a debate Barbara Black THEATRE REVIEW the opposing parties receive equal time and consideration,” and the end of the debate: “They (au- dience) had to listen intelligently.’’ Fugard creates a sort of Brechtian distancing, impelling the audience to watch with their brains as well as with their hearts. While Tharai argues for the rec- 4 Photo submitted ognition of traditional African values, his opponent points out that thet argument is “used by those whe want to hold back Africa.” She wins the debate. This is quite a long play, with extensive monologues in which the three main characters stand alone on the stage delivering their perspective on the African situa- tion as it stems from their personal beliefs, delusions, biases. Wendell Wright's monologue was particularly moving (partly because his character is the most endearing) and received applause. Also, most reasonable people like us want to sympathize with an essentially humanist, non-violent position like Mr. 4's. He is a self-described Contucian. This means he uelieves in the perfectablility of man through learning, and in the human potential for goodness. This is what we all want to believe in. But Fugard asks, does it work? (the age-old question.) Mr. M lives in a two-room world — the classroom and his bachelor apartment. He does not see himself as part of a political group, but rather as an individual in a spiritual process. Personal righteousness may be effective, but it is a stow process, and it only works if everybody does the same. In the end, Mr. M is com- promised, both by working within the corrupt education system as a teacher, and by his commitment to non-violence. Thami; on the other hand, ref- uses to be further compromised by the values of white society. For him, violent action is a legitimate way for blacks to express their in- tegrity. Mr. M's dream of seeing Isabel and Thami as a blac!-white team in an English literature debate is noble in intent, but for Thami to See Metal page 42 NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge DRAMA AND music studenis cf Seycove Secondary (in- cluding Aura Benwick, left, and Nicole Taytor) are presenting a talent revue tonight and Friday night at the Deep Cove Cul- tural Centre. The students promise a fun evening that in- cludes performances in mime, dance, comedy and song under the direction of teachers Suzanne Timothy and Mark Steffans. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. event are available at the door. A DEBATE across racial boundaries...(ieft to right) Michael Ed- wards, Wendell W. Wright ard Megan Leitch star in the Van- couver Playhouse’s My Children! My Africa!l, a powerfui drama by Athol Fugard running to May 30. Tokyo Disneyland Park: Oriental Land Co. is seeking the following performers for ; ) g ; : Dancers . § , Singers Who Dance umimner Cooldown Musical Theatre Performers Pop/Top 40 Singers Ragtime Pianist 6 or 8 months in Tokyo, Japan from September 1992 to June 1993. Length of contract varies based on show assignment, Salary, per diem, air transportation and American style accommodations provided. 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