Karoo Moose
Tue 16 Jun 2009 – Sat 11 Jul 2009
by Lara Foot Newton
Presented by Baxter Theatre Centre, Cape Town
WATCH KAROO MOOSE TRAILER HERE
‘A gem of a play from South Africa….touching, imaginative and blessed with a unique flavour of its own. … There is spellbinding South African singing, and the movement is almost balletic. The cast play a wide variety of roles with panache but Chuma Sopotela is outstanding as Thozama, beautifully communicating the character’s pain and moments of fierce joy…. this deeply felt, constantly imaginative production richly rewards alert attention.’ ★★★★
‘Lara Foot Newton’s play is a 90-minute miracle…(she) directs her play with vigour, delicacy, and a mastery of storytelling and a sense of harsh but benevolent humour…Six actors, bristling with versatility, play all the parts telling and acting their story, and Patrick Curtis’s set uses primitive objects with beautiful sophistication. Real and magical’ ★★★★
“Karoo Moose is certainly funny (and fun), generously energetic yet also disturbing and soulful….the whole cast is strong” ★★★★
‘A vibrant and physical African export worth seeing’ ★★★★
‘Mixes African storytelling with magic realism in a way that is fresh, immediate and often delightful’
“With plenty of drumming, singing and dancing, Karoo Moose is an entertaining watch. It delivers a strong flavour of South Africa and gives feckless manhood a deserved kick up the rump….Chuma Sopotela brings lovely innocence and pride to the wronged girl, Thozama.”
‘This vibrant, powerful story of survival and redemption in the remote Karoo desert cleverly wrong-foots your initial expectations…. spine-tingling, memorable moments that pulse with theatricality’
‘It is all staged with wonderful fluency…. the actors are delightful, and the chanting and music of Bongile Mantsai irresistible’
‘Deft writing and an abundance of energetic performance’
‘An immersive, generous and soulful piece of theatre.’
‘It has been a long time since I sat down and got so glued to what was happening on the stage.’
‘Riddled with gentle irony, warm humour and tender tragedy.’
In a remote and impoverished village in the Karoo, a young girl, Thozama, struggles to survive.
A violent, terrifying incident and a chance encounter with an escaped moose change her life for ever.
A story of pain, redemption and hope, combining traditional African story-telling and magical realism.
Cast includes Zoleka Helesi, Mdu Kweyama, Bongile Mantsai, Thami Mbongo, Chuma Sopotela and Numfondo Thazibane
Creatives include Lara Foot Newton (Director), Bongile Mantsai (Music Director) and Patrick Curtis (Designer)
Winner of 14 top South African Awards, including
Best New South African Play
Best Production
