WISH YOU WERE (T)HERE
Engela Britz – Alexander Bar, Café and Theater, 76 Strand street, Cape Town – 27 September 2014
This show forms part of the first-time-ever Cape Town Fringe Festival which is taking place in the Mother City this year. Written, produced and performed by Dinah Eppel and directed by Tossie van Tonder it tells the story of a white woman’s journey to becoming Xhosa. After being infected with HIV, Mama Dinah decides to live her life to the full and goes on a journey with friends from Langa and Observatory to experience the new democratic South Africa. They visit the V&A Waterfront, hang out at a jazz club in Mannenberg, listen to Mathlathini and the Mahotella Queens and she learns to toyi-toyi and to be a Xhosa mama and beauty queen.
Outrageously funny and at all times completely understandable, Mama Dinah switches between equally fluent isiXhosa and English to tell her story. However, the audience never forgets that while it is humorous, it is also absolutely serious and tells the story of forgiveness, acceptance, fun and community. It was a humbling experience for a young person such as myself to see the accumulation of a life’s experiences and stories in such an intimate venue. At times, the stiff material of her skirt grazed against my feet, and a pause for a sip of water added to the authenticity. Dinah Eppel is a genuinely gifted storyteller and entertainer, and will engage you in her performance such that you will never forget it.
