Jitters as Getrude Munhamo acts her debut script
By Silence Charumbira
Showbiz Editor
It was all jitters as Getrude Vimbai Munhamo featured in her own play Lamentations @12 that is currently running at Theatre in the Park in Harare.
The play is Munhamo’s debut play but she apparently did better in writing than acting.
In the initial phases of the play that she co-starred with Dalma Chiwereva, she had a difficult time keeping up with the emotions that her words were actually depicting only calming her nerves well into the play.
Chiwereva on the other hand gave her a difficult time delivering a near flawless act often leaving the audience in tatters before Munhamo eased up to recover.
In one scene she acts the role of a disabled teacher, she comes in limping on her left leg, sits down and ends up limping on the right end through-out the rest of the scene.
In the discussion after the play she conceded she was nervous.
“I feel excited and nervous at the same time,” she told the audience.
The play explores the several abuses that the girl child is exposed in various spheres of life.
What comes in worrying is the directing that risks losing the audience with multiple flashbacks and flash forwards while on a number of occasions actors had to clear props thereby defying the whole purpose of having a simple set.
That the play is a two hander, changing over scenes and costumes also leaves gaps as the cast juggles between multiple roles.
However it is the reverting yet touching story line which sifts through the various cruelties that girls are exposed to in various circumstances among them the Gukurahundi atrocities somewhat covers for the few loop holes.
What the director also does well is properly envisage the several abuses while at the same time satisfying themes like, education health, religion and social life.
Ultimately Munhamo’s debut is a great first effort that points to a bright future.
The play is directed by Rooftop Promotions boss Daves Guzha.