|
With marimbas and township percussion replacing the orchestra, The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo got standing ovations in England and Ireland. Now it's at the Market Theatre - and all shows are free.
In the Magic Flute, the Impempe Yomlingo company replaces Mozart's orchestrations with marimbas
AN African version of Mozart's beloved The Magic Flute opened at the Market Theatre on Friday, 31 October, to a standing ovation from the audience.
Starring Pauline Malefane of U-Carmen eKhayelitsha fame, the production is a scintillating rendition of Mozart's opera set in a South African township. And to make it even more enticing, all the shows are free.
Adapted and directed by Mark Dornford-May, and produced and presented by Eric Abraham, The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo, comprises a cast of 35 performers from Cape Town's Khayelitsha township.
It is an emotional and uplifting version of Mozart's hugely popular work. The storyline is adventurous and the orchestral accompaniment is replaced by marimbas, drums and township percussion, bringing a fresh perspective to this heart-warming tale of love, adventure and reconciliation.
Tamino, a young traveller, is passing through the realm of the Queen of the Night, pursued by a fire-breathing beast. A terrified Tamino feints; but the Three Ladies - soldiers of the queen - hear his cries and spear the beast. Seeing how handsome the young man is, they go to tell their queen what happened.
Meanwhile, Papageno, the bird-catcher, is trying to lure birds into his net using his whistle. But as Tamino regains consciousness, the birds are scared away. Papageno is a natural improviser and claims credit for killing the fire-breathing beast.
The Three Ladies appear and punish Papageno for his lie by locking his mouth with a padlock. They show Tamino a picture of the queen's daughter, Pamina, whom they say has been kidnapped by an evil man - Sarastro.
The Queen of the Night appears and bids the frightened Tamino keep his promise to rescue Pamina. To help him, he is given a Magic Flute. Papageno is freed and instructed to help Tamino. He is given a set of Magic Bells which, together with the Magic Flute, have the power to help their owners and to change evil into good.
Tamino and Papageno go about their quest and discover that Sarastro is not as evil as has been said. Papageno manages to rescue Pamina from the evil Monostatos and he shows her Tamino's portrait. Pamina, in turn, falls in love with Tamino.
In the end, despite the Queen of the Night's refusal to reconcile, Sarastro offers her the hand of forgiveness for trying to have him killed.
The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo has had seasons in Cape Town; London, England; and Dublin, Ireland, before its Market Theatre run.
After its world premier at Cape Town's Baxter Theatre in 2007, The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo moved to London's Young Vic Theatre and later to the Duke of York in the West End, playing to media acclaim, sold-out houses and standing ovations. It arrives at the Market following a run at the celebrated Dublin Theatre Festival in early October.
It wowed London audiences, where its West End transfer won Best Musical Revival at the 2008 Laurence Olivier Awards.
Performed in English, Xhosa and Tswana, The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo, is an Isango Portbello production. Additional words and music are by Mandisi Dyantyis, Mbali Kgosidintsi, Pauline Malefane and Nolufefe Mtshabe, with lighting by Mannie Manim and choreography by Lungelo Ngamlana.
The Magic Flute - Impempe Yomlingo runs for a limited season at the Market Theatre's Main Stage from 29 October to 30 November 2008.
All shows are free; simply phone the theatre on 011 832 1641 to book your seat. For more information, contact the Market Theatre publicity department on 011 832 1641.
Related stories:
|
