Stanley Makuwe’s play, The New Road, which runs at Theatre in the Park until 24th October will have you falling off your seat with laughter. Michael Kudakwashe, Tafadzwa Muzondo and Eunice Tava deliver brilliant performances and tackle serious themes in a rib-cracking humorous manner.

Left: Tafadzwa Muzondo plays the gay Sammy in the play.

The synopsis of the play written by Rooftop Promotions, the producers of the play, says that The New Road is a “suspense-filled drama…” They are wrong. Suspense is not what I would call any of the feelings created or emotions stirred by this play. Anticipation perhaps. Expectation. Hope- and yes, humour.

Two brothers, who have been in London for 20 years decide to return home to Zimbabwe after they come face to face with the reality that life in the United Kingdom has brought them little but indebtedness.

The older brother, homosexual Sammy, is apprehensive as he is afraid that in “backward Zimbabwe” he will be victimised for his sexual orientation. The younger brother, James is eager to get back to Zimbabwe and see their mother who he hasn’t seen in 10 years and Sammy in 20 and to start a new life away from the debt of London.

^ Upon returning to Zimbabwe the brothers are shocked by the level of dilapidation of the infrastructure. "You could fit a hotel into that pothole," comments James.

So they journey back home to their past and a future that is built upon a new road passing through their rural village. A road that ironically has destroyed part of that past they have such fond memories of.

The aforementioned synopsis of this play also says “The story is told with a gentle humour…” Wrong again. There is nothing gentle about the humour in this play. My ribs were painful when I walked out. Raucous. That’s the word. Raucous humour.

^ Hug me. James on the right is averse to contact by his gay brother.

Michael Kudakwashe plays James, Tafadzwa Muzondo is Sammy and Eunice Tava is a Taxi driver, an old man in the city, an old woman in the village, a policeman among other roles. The one thing that didn’t gel was Tafadzwa Muzondos’ attempt at putting on an accent. He plays the gay part convincingly but the accent bit lets him down. However, after the first few scenes you will be taken away by the great acting and taken in by the story of Sammy and James’ journey to the new road.

The New Road was produced and directed by Daves Guzha.

- By Fungai Tichawangana

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More Info:
The New Road runs until 24th October
Venue: Theatre in the Park, Harare Gardens, Julius Nyerere Way
Contact: Rooftop Promotions, 3 Wimbledon Drive, Eastlea, Harare, Tel: +263 4 791894, 797233

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Biggie   |2009-10-16 06:58:20 Tafadzwa acts the gay dude really convincingly. Great acting all round. This one must do the tour circuit. Well done to Rooftop. Reply 0   0

kay man  - Michael is Brilliant   |2009-10-18 09:47:06 Michael Kudakwashe is totally brilliantly funny. Such wonderful acting. He made me laugh over and over. Eunice Tava and Tafadzwa Muzondo are also outstanding. Eunice switches between the different roles effortlessly. Reply 0   0

Jaleel   |2009-10-19 02:05:39 Is it not amazing that in a community that is as homophobic as Zimbabwe we can have plays like this being not only put on, but appreciated as well. Reply 0   0

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