Skip to main content

Money Maker - Reloaded

What makes the world go round? Money, you'd say. Well, most of us would attest to that whether we've had money or not. Money Maker looks at the typical life of making money through the Profession of Prostitution. Typical as it looks and sounds, there's more to the womxn in this Profession. For most, we go judging as we sit mightly on our Moral Horses, throwing around comments and instructions (disguised as suggestions) on how They should have made better choices; should have asked for help; should've found a job; how they should lead their lives, and and and. 

To paraphrase the lead actor in this play, life demands you make choices - if you don't, it'll make them for you. I find more often we are caught between standardising these choices as to whether they are wrong or right. As to who is far down and out to be making certain choices and why. The play looks to answer questions that most of us have about Prostitution, and, it leaves you asking yourself if you really know, if what you know is the ultimate truth. The lead actress portrayed her character (Sis Dee) superbly as the experienced, wiser, and leader of the pack. She was there to guide her colleagues as she referred to them, in their line of work, to share their stories, and support each other. From this, one learns of how family is not limited to blood. The ladies epitomise sisterhood which is unfortunately derailed by the presence of a single man in their lives. A man who comes declaring love to the leader of the pack only to go feeding his fetishes with the rest of the house. Like in any relationship, that's bound to cause havoc.

The plot twist was unexpectedly beautYful (kudos to the writer); finding out that the man/womxn whom you've been head over heels with is actually your next of kin can send anyone to an early grave. Witnessing the audience teary, some with mixed emotions, after having laughed and judged the characters, while falling in love with some, was the ultimate show-stopper for me (the play was
guaranteed seconds!). A show about choices, survival, being, becoming; how do we not relate? Follow the show with zero expectations because some lessons are hidden in the most typical situations. Tummy aches are guaranteed from all the witty(and stupid) jokes the characters throw around.

I left wanting to know more about the Prostitution Profession. Learning. Grahamstown [Arts Festival], you're next!

Comments

  1. Kudos to the writer of this review. You put in a good word for the show in me.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE CRY OF WINNIE MANDELA: DEPARTURES. WAITINGS. RETURNS.

SHOW: The Cry of Winnie Mandela  WHERE: The Market Theatre Laboratory WHEN: 04 May 2024 DIRECTOR: Momo Matsunyane August was Women's Month in South Africa, where we commerate the brave Womxn of 1956 on the 9th who were tired of waiting.  Over the years, I have come to use the day to reflect on my own personal experiences and draw inspiration from the Womxn in my life. Ibandla lam'. 'The Cry of Winnie Mandela' adapted for stage by Alex Burger, spoiled us with songs and amongst them was this timeless hymn:  "Bohang seema, ha ba hlaha ka kgoro Jerusalema e mocha..." Those that are familiar with groups of Womxn will tell you that in their meetings, conversations can easily move from marital and relationship bliss - or bleak as is the case with the Womxn in this play - through the latest news, down to song and wailing prayers. Different emotions were invoked with each song as 'Ibandla la Bafazi Abalindileyo' took us through their jou...

FINDING ME, VIOLA DAVIS

  "My entire life had been struggle and survival. I'd been on my own since age seventeen. The fact that it was hard, shitty, was nothing new, but the biggest struggle was keeping hope and belief in myself. Then, finding an art community for support while fighting my ass off to stay alive." - Viola Davis in her book, 'Finding Me' My biggest beef with poverty is that it sets one a million steps back. Poverty and lack will have you questioning your worth even when you receive what you have tirelessly worked your ass off for. Your voice is in constant fear-mode on subjects you're well-versed on. Your confidence is almost non-existent in rooms you deem above you. Saying 'no' is not part of your vocabulary because you always consider others before you. Yet, you are capable and deserving. More than deserving. Because who, if not you? Getting out of this pit is one of the most difficult things one has to go through. Unfortunately, a majority of Bla...

NWELEZELANGA: THE STAR CHILD, Unathi Magubeni

I am a firm believer in that, what you seek, is seeking you. It’s been six years since ‘Nwelezelanga: The Star Child’ came out and in as much as I would have loved to have read it then, it wasn’t the right time. I didn’t know as much as I do now, and the answers to the questions I’m asking now, I wouldn’t have comprehended then. I wasn’t ready to receive all this light. "The wise ones usually say that there is knowing in the knowing that one doesn't know." Our protagonist – Nwelezelanga – is an albino child borne to Nokwakha, whom unfortunately, doesn’t get to raise this child that she wept for because her midwife is under the rule of an evil reign led by Lord Bubi. The midwife convinces Nokwakha that this child is a bad omen so she should be killed. After much persuasion, the exhausted and baffled mother gives up the only thing that she hoped would bring meaning to her life. And so the journey of being born again begins. The end becomes the beginning. ...