Omnipotent grip of corruption’s fist

GREEN MAN FLASHING. Written by Mike van Graan. Directed by Hennie van Greunen. Set design Greg Karvellas. With Anthea Thompson, Susan Danford, Thami Mbongo, Charlton George and Wiseman Sithole. Artscape Arena at 7.30pm on Monday and Tuesday, thereafter at 8.15pm until June 23. ASTRID STARK reviews.

IT HAS been a long time since an injustice inflicted on a character left me feeling this outraged. Accomplished actress Anthea Thompson’s character Gabby is the protagonist whose circumstances left me feeling quite provoked.

That I am a woman, and one of the key topics being rape, probably fuelled my fury even more. Mike van Graan’s razor-sharp writing and relentlessly paced plot certainly contributed.

Gabby is the white personal assistant to a prominent black minister with an impressive anti-apartheid struggle record.

One dark night he rapes her, or “allegedly” rapes her, depending on which side of the fence you are most comfortable on.

Her ex-husband, who is the ruling party’s smooth-talking crack filler, is sent to dissuade her from pressing charges,which would obviously be damaging to the party’s reputation, especially considering that it is only six weeks before the country’s next election.

However, this is only the basic plot. There are lots of sub-plots that add to Gabby’s dilemma as the complicated relationships and situations are laid bare by the actors.

The story is presented as an edgy courtroom drama/thriller with a strong and unique South African flavour. The dialogue is snappy, and pared down to the very fine bone of necessity. Images projected onto a screen create a modern feel.

Greg Karvellas’s atmospheric lighting and sparse, but effective set design add to the slick and at times claustrophobic feel of the play. Green Man Flashing gives stalwart crime drama television shows such as CSI a good run for their money.

It is not fair to try and single out a performance, or actor, as the entire cast is clearly committed and skilled. Performances are honest and brutal, but without unnecessary melodrama.

When Van Graan’s production opened in 2004 it was considered ground-breaking, brave and relevant, especially in the light of the President Jacob Zuma corruption affair and “alleged” – there is that word again – rape case which followed shortly after the play’s release.

Today the characters and their situations are as fitting as ever.

Gender-based violence is still one of our biggest scourges, as is the HIV and Aids infection rate, especially among women.

On the one hand you have Gabby presented with an opportunity to lay bare the violent sexual act which has been committed against her and to give thousands of women a voice. On the other hand you have the men who selflessly saved thousands, maybe millions, of lives from apartheid’s oppression.

And then there is the omnipotent fist of corruption which, today, is holding our country in a deadlock by threatening to impoverish the state coffers and by bringing service delivery grinding to a halt.

Fortunately, Van Graan’s play does not preach to its audience, or force us to pick sides.

Rather, it allows us to grapple with the issues at hand, given our own circumstances or point of view.

This multi-award winning performance will move to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown from July 2 to 7.

l Tickets are R50 to R85. To book, call Computicket at 0861 915 0000, or 021 421 7695.