Represent Recommends: Blood Orange
Blood Orange is the story of a boy’s journey toward manhood. Blacklaw weaves all the usual trials and rites of passage that go with growing up; with the realities of our childhood in the apartheid era. Our protagonist is able to tell his story against this backdrop of conflict, thus commenting on and often making light of the darkness of our past. The story is bitter-sweet, much like the fruit from which it takes its name.
The partnership of Grieg Coetzee and Craig Morris is remarkable. Each of these very skilled theatre practitioners are storytellers, one verbal and one physical. This results in a performance that is multi-faceted and thick with detail.
Craig Morris changes character with ease, and throughout the narrative we are introduced to many characters, yet each is distinct in accent, posture and characterisation. With Craig, only one performer is needed as opposed to a cast of hundreds. His physicalisation creates such imagery, just when you think his vocabulary of facial expressions have dried up – along comes another wonderfully vivid character. One that we can recognise… we know someone like that!
As if that weren’t enough, there are these startling moments when we are reminded of Craig’s astounding dance abilities as he portrays feelings though his movement. He is only aided by the use of shadows and 4 tyres – ingeniously utilised.
The piece is memory inducing and thought provoking and a testimony to the old adage ‘A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down’.
An hour and a half on stage, alone and he holds us in the palm of his hands and on his every word for, every minute.
GO AND SEE BLOOD ORANGE!!!
BLOOD ORANGE
An adaptation of Troy Blacklaws’ novel of the same name
The Market Theatre and Untouchable Productions presents
22 January – 17 February 2008 (Tues – Sat 20h15; Sun 15h15)
BUY TWO TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
Available from Wed, 23 January – Wed, 30 January 2008 (ex. Tues, 29 Jan)
Tickets must be purchased from the Market Theatre Box Office. Call 011 832 1641.
Performed by Craig Morris Directed by Greig Coetzee
Debra Fleminger
