Posts

Keketso and Dorothy read through the 3rd draft of my play “Two Women” this weekend. It’s finally getting into some decent shape (after frantic rewrites over the weekend.)  I keep telling myself I should be better at this, faster, smarter, less prone to the mistakes and habits I keep falling into. But so it goes . . .

Interesting as the drafts are getting better the play becomes more controversial – people have stronger feelings about the characters and what should happens to them.  “No, she shouldn’t leave!”  “No, she can’t die like that!”  Being a writer is kind of amazing – I’ve birthed two new begins into the world that now have to make their way.

The play will premiere in South Africa in July, 2015

Some unnamed celebrity is trying to take us down by opening a rival club on the same night! (think rhymes with “my sweetie” or “eat more wheaties.”)

We’re doing a tribute to the late great singer Lebo Mathosa.  Our rivals have done a flier, reprinted ours (on right) and added the caption.  The battle is on!!!!!

 

 

I forgot the beauty of Johannesburg in spring  . . .

 

We opened the club a couple weeks ago – I’m still recovering.

On the one hand it was great – 300+ people showed up, a beautiful space, really nice vibe, a mix South African and other African guests.  My favorites were the Congolese diamond traders that showed up early and didn’t speak English but kept changing US$100 bills with me – the new ones I had never seen before and thankfully were not counterfeit.

On the other hand it was a rough – alcohol stolen, we lost money because not enough people came and they didn’t drink enough, some of us worked our asses off while it seemed the bartenders thought their job was just to keep oiling their chests and do a police uniform dance/strip tease that went on for a very long time.

We’ll see how the next one goes . . . .

 

 

We are are opening Friday Night: V2 – Vula Vala – (open/close in Zulu) – the 2 Virtues.  How did this happen?  See you there.

 

My class had it’s final showcase a couple days ago.  14 students all reading bits of their work.  We did it in a friend’s bar in the afternoon. I found it awkward and at moments wonderful, tedious with bits of brilliant. The director reminded me this is a showcase: the good, bad, and the ugly.  In any case, I still love the students.

 

 

I held a play reading at my house a few nights ago – a 1st draft of a new play. I came in very excited because a small group of us had read the play through a couple days before and it seemed great, full of promise. We did the reading at my house and I afterwards wanted to crawl under a rock.

To be fair there were powerful elements to the piece – it is the story of an aging white  South African woman and a Zulu woman that takes care of her. There are funny moments, touching moments, moments of truth and beauty . . . some people were very moved.

But there are big problems with the piece – it showed up in the audiences reactions. It’s not clear whose story it is and what it is about. Is the piece about aging? the love between the two women? The racism/inequality in their relationship?  All these elements are swirling around. People resonated with some parts, didn’t with others. Perhaps in part because it was such a varied group of readers and listener.

I love opening myself up to dialogue and input – this is why I write – to connect. I also find it so jarring sometimes – pulled (drawn and quartered?) by conflicting wishes and desires in others and ultimately in myself. I know this is part of the process – I love it, but I also sometimes find it hard, hard, hard  . . . .

Been teaching playwriting for the past few weeks. The Market Theatre Laboratory.

Students great: motivated, smart, huge gaps – sometimes a struggle, creative. It has been a pleasure and I’ve learned a ton.

Final showcase: 12th of September.