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Generosity of spirit triumphs over meanness in the Market Theatre's magical production of The Jungle Book; it's a dose of good medicine in these tough times.
Lindiwe Matshikiza is the Mother Wolf
KIDS are in for a treat at the Market Theatre, where a magical production of The Jungle Book is on stage at the Laager Theatre.
Set in a jungle filled with animals, ladders, ropes, and trampolines, The Jungle Book is a beautiful piece of physical theatre that integrates African and Indian traditions.
Told in a simple but riveting manner by a diverse troupe of experienced actors and dancers, the play was largely summed up by the constant giggles, oohs and aahs from the younger members of the audience at the opening night on Wednesday, 15 October.
One eight-year-old said the play was "funny and adventurous".
On entering the theatre, the audience gets to "feel" the jungle; they can wander through it, touch the exotic vegetation and inhale the sweet smell of the fertile earth under their feet.
Adapted by Craig Higginson and Tim Supple from Rudyard Kipling's classic tales, The Jungle Book features Vinshanti Arumugam as Mowgli; Antony Coleman as Shere Khan, Brother Wolf, Aketa, Chil, Monkey and Priest; and Lindiwe Matshikiza as Chiki, Mother Wolf, Monkey and Singer.
The experienced and funny Mncedisi Shabangu plays the part of Baloo and Husband; Mongi Mthombeni plays Kaa, Father Wolf, Monkey and Buldeo; and Faniswa Yisa takes on the roles of Bagheera, Messua and Wailing Woman.
The jungle tale is told with flashes of humour, wit and flair. A "man cub" by the name of Mowgli strays into the jungle and is adopted by a pack of wolfs. However, a tussle ensues over whether the little human being should be eaten or adopted and taught the life of the jungle.
Mowgli is taken in by Mother Wolf who raises him as one of her own. He strikes up a firm friendship with the panther, Bagheera, and the caring bear, Baloo. However, the man cub is still regarded as an outsider by some jungle dwellers.
"The old tiger", Shere Khan, in particular has a perpetual score to settle with Mowgli and constantly watches him with blazing eyes, patiently waiting to make his move and eat the child.
Then there are the mischievous but harmless monkeys that irritate Bagheera and Baloo no end by stealing Mowgli. With the help of Kaa the python, Mowgli is rescued and taken to safety by his friends.
This prank finally prompts Bagheera and Baloo to persuade Mowgli to go back to the village, where his kind live.
Allegory
What follows is a riveting allegory that shows us how our family may not always be those who look like us, but those who love and care for us - at the end of the story Mowgli, after being treated unkindly by the village folk, returns to the jungle to rejoin his true friends.
Mowgli is the 'man cub' that wonders off into the jungle
Higginson says putting together the play has been a strange experience.
"The government has been in a state of turmoil. Several members of our creative team have been crippled by the sudden loss of close family members. Yet the room in which we have worked has been characterised by laughter and lightness, a will-to-innocence."
The success of bringing the play to the stage is also largely because of its storyline, where the intrinsically good, or the intrinsically generous in spirit, overcome the intrinsically mean-spirited, those who would prefer to divide and rule, and subjugate those who do not "fit in", Higginson explains.
"In its style and content, this production is a celebration of our rich diversity. We will continue to give space to this spirit and this philosophy while there is air in our lungs."
The Jungle Book is a fun-filled production for the whole family. The music, by Neill Solomon, is captivating - especially the eerie but rhythmic mbira in the background that fits in splendidly with the jungle environment.
The play is on at the Laager Theatre, at the Market Theatre complex in Newtown, until 30 November. Performances are on Tuesdays to Fridays at 11am, on Saturdays at 3pm and 6pm, and on Sundays at 3.15pm.
For more information, contact the Market Theatre publicity department on 011 832 1641.
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