HIGH HEELS... WITH BALLS
DIRECTOR: Thabiso Radebe
CAST: Thabiso Radebe, Nomandla Mchunu and Thuso Mathe
VENUE: The Catalina Theatre
UNTIL: Friday
RATING: ****
FROM his choice of title, to the detail in his script, to the perfectly chosen elements used to enhance the theatrical experience of his play, it was evident that Thabiso Radebe’s work, High Heels… With Balls, was no fly-by-night project.
Through the main character, Asiphe, Radebe tells the heart-wrenching story of one young man’s journey towards self-acceptance – an end difficult to reach when you are faced with intolerance, prejudice and violence just because of your sexual preference that goes against the “norm”.
Radebe creatively and skilfully grasps the audience with a gripping story, with a twist, while enlightening us about some very real and harsh truths about homophobia.
From a young boy Asiphe is shunned by his father and labelled a curse.
His only ally is his mother, a woman driven to suicide due to domestic abuse.
“I have been f****d by 365 men…” is one of Asiphe’s opening statements as he begins to tell us his story.
From the outset, you get a sense that writer/director Radebe means business.
Asiphe proceeds to give the audience blow-by-blow accounts of incidents from his past. From coming home to finding his drunken father naked, lying on top of his dead mother; to how he fled to the streets where he was first forced to perform sexual acts on “buyers” (clients); to brutal incidents of rape during his time working the streets as a male prostitute.
He even talks of his gay lover who was killed because of his sexual orientation.
The overview I’ve given above may sound in-your-face but it is fitting because what unfolds on stage is a bold statement.
Radebe pulls no punches in delivering this piece.
The content of this play is very adult, but not in a raunchy, perverse sense. Rather, I believe, how Radebe chose to portray this piece is neccessary for it to be effective.
On a number of occasions I found myself in shock at the scenes unravelling before us, but there was nothing negative about my experience.
I expect some people to find the content a bit much, but personally I feel it’s about time we stop pussy-footing around issues of homophobia, domestic violence, sexual abuse and rape – and in his piece, Radebe indirectly also highlights the latter issues, making the subject matter very well rounded and not just about homophobia.
The danger of being exposed to regular news reports or stories of homophobia and sexual violence is that we hear of it so often that there’s the risk that we become desensitised to it.
Through his depiction of the sexual violence and homophobia suffered by Asiphe, Radebe lets the audience see and experience first hand what it may be like to be on the other side of the “story”.
He provides a harsh but necessary emotional jolt on such matters.
His script is an intimate mix of narration and poetry, which gives it more depth. His passionate, moving performance compliments his writing and gives Asiphe’s story life.
There were no frills on the simple set. The stage is strewn with laundry, a symbolic mess that surrounds Asiphe and one he is in constant agony about cleaning up and clearing out. Two other characters accompany Radebe on stage – Asiphe’s dead mother and simultaneous symbolic conscience, played by Nomandla Mchunu and a time-keeper figure, played by Thuso Mathe and symbolic of things not changing over time.
Both actors deserve kudos for their supporting roles.
Mathe was more of an unspoken presence, but effective nonetheless, while Mchunu potrayed her characters with great zeal.
While the lighting and sound technician/s need to polish their act, slight blunders on opening night in these areas could not detract from the gravitas of the main event. This is due to a consuming script and storyline and excellent performances from Radebe and his colleagues.
Whether you are homosexual, lesbian or “straight”, seeing this play is a must.
The same applies if you are an open or closet homophobic.
Be prepared to be schooled in the mentioned issues on a more emotional level.
Offering no frills, High Heels… With Balls is the product of one man holding up a mirror to society.
How what is reflected is interpreted in this piece is really up to each individual.
•To run until November 2, tickets are R60. To book, call the Catalina Theatre Box Office on 031 305 6889 or www.strictly tickets.com
Warning: This show is not for children due to the adult content and violence.