Bruce Dennill
All content by Bruce Dennill first published on pARTicipate, republished with permission.
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By BRUCE DENNILL
Van Wyk: The Storyteller Of Riverlea / Directed by Christo Davids / Mannie Manim Theatre, Market Theatre Complex, Newtown, Johannesburg
The late Chris Van Wyk was a prolific and respected writer, author, poet and editor, esteemed for acumen and much loved for his good humour, approachability and skill as a raconteur. Actor Zane Meas knew Van Wyk well, having been inspired at high school after gaining acclaim for performing an adaptation of a short story called Flats (which forms a segment of this play).
Meas penned Van Wyk: The Storyteller Of Riverlea as a tribute to both his friend and Van Wyk the political commentator and activist. On tht first score, the piece is a lyrical, well-acted success. Director and set designer Christo Davids has given Meas a sort of playground of the mind to move around in – a painted map on the floor; a representation of the golden mine dump around which Riverlea, the poor Johannesburg suburb in which Van Wyk grew up,…
To read the complete pARTicipate review visit http://www.brucedennill.co.za/theatre-review-van-wyk-the-storyteller-of-riverlea-a-raconteur-remembered-or-from-the-page-to-the-stage/
