MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! at Marin Theatre Company

(L to R) Thami (Lloyd Roberson II), Mr. M (L. Peter Callender) listen to Isabel (Laura Morache)

MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! by Athol Fugard. Directed by Josh Costello. Marin Theatre Company, 397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley 94941. www.marintheatre.org or call 415.388.5208.

January 15 through February 8, 2009

APARTHEID: (ə-pärt'hīt', -hāt') An official policy of racial segregation.

You may have difficulty pronouncing the word “apartheid” but you will have an eye-opening, heart-wrenching experience watching its devastating effect on the political/social structure of South Africa as portrayed by Antole Fugard’s My Children! My Africa! This three-character play is a stunning microcosm symbolic of the destructive forces being unleashed by the pent-up emotions of the suppressed black majority. It is given a dramatic production by the Marin Theatre Company.

Fugard uses the separation of educational standards as the crux of this specific play. Mr. M (L. Peter Callender) is an old idealistic black teacher dedicated to a concept of gradual change through education as opposed to “freedom now” uprisings of young “comrades” who undertake strikes and riots to attain equality with the white ruling minority. Thami (Lloyd Roberson II), a brilliant black teenager, is his pride and joy that he uses to exemplify the value of education to attain ones goals. Into this setting, a segregated black school, enters Isabel (Laura Morache) a white prep student with budding empathy for the plight of blacks. The youngsters engage in a formal interracial debate about the traditional role of women that is the start of a friendship although he lives in slum area known as “the Location” and she in an upscale enclave.

As the young friendship blossoms and Mr. M’s spirits soar to see partial fruition of his cherished hopes, the uprising in the world outside the classroom begins to take over. Thami is torn between the pull of his angry comrades and the pressure of Mr. M and the intrusion of Isabelle. Although the conclusions are predicable, L. Peter Callender’s mesmerizing voice and dynamic stage actions creates a shattering theatrical evening. The performances of Morache and Roberson are no match for Callender’s histrionics but they add nuance to their turn on stage giving realism to their characters and are more than sounding boards for the words of Mr. M.

The play is not as well constructed as Fugard’s Blood Knot, Master Harold and the Boys, or Sizwe Banzi is Dead. The author relies on lengthy monologs addressed to the audience to fill in background information about each of the characters and to verbalize internal conflict. As directed by Josh Costello, on Eric Sinkkomen’s mood evocating corrugated metal and scrap lumber classroom set, it is easy to overlook any weakness in the script with the exception of allowing Isabelle to orate the ultimate note of hope as the lights fade to out.

Fugard is white, born of Afrikaner-British parents, and My Children! My Africa! , premiered in 1989 before the abolishment of apartheid, is an excellent example of Fugard’s reputation as a playwright whose plays have influenced the world to disavow South Africa’s political/social systems. If this is your first Fugard play, use it as a stepping stone to visit any other performances of his plays. Running time 2 hours and 40 minutes with one intermission.

Kedar K. Adour, MD

Courtesy of TheatreWorldInternetMagazine.com