IS MY SATIRE’S NAME
THE multitalented and award-winning Daniel Mpilo Richards is delivering a knock-out performance in the multisketch satirical revue State Fracture, which is at the Baxter’s Golden Arrow Studio until August 19.
State Fracture, written by Mike van Graan, directed by Rob van Vuuren and produced by whizz producer Siv Ngesi, follows the success of Van Graan’s hit, Pay Back the Curry, which was on last year. Pay Back was headed by the same creative, producing and performing team as State Fracture.
As with Pay Back, in State Fracture Van Graan presents a penetrating and scathing satirical commentary of the fractures and ruptures in the political/social fabric of the nation using, as he puts it, “song, dance/movement and characterisation/drama”. There are side-fractures integrated into the script. For instance, President Donald Trump makes an entrance in one of the sketches as “Trumpelstiltskin”. Love it.
Pay Back was excellent – and garnered awards for Richards, including a Naledi – but State Fracture is on another level. It’s a seamless integration of text (tightly constructed, pared down and rapier-sharp); a physically charged performance and consummate direction.
State Fracture embodies the intensity of Pay Back, but there are more musical interludes, with Richards singing satirical versions of songs like Abba’s Money Money (and he plays guitar) and a poignantly mirthful rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.
After the latter, on Tuesday night, when I saw the show, two hecklers walked out. They vehemently disagreed with the anti-corruption and anti-power missives.
Richards, 25, took it in his stride and after asking if anyone else wanted to leave, he carried on – to rapturous applause. At the end, he received a standing ovation. The layering of the musical provides a release and tempers the tension of what is being relayed by the various characters in the sketches. This was used in Pay Back but it has been brought more into play in State Fracture. A tour de force.
The first major role I saw Richards take on was two years ago, performing in Die Glas Ennie Draad in the Artscape Arena. This harrowing drama examined the relationship between a gang leader and one of his highest-ranked members. It was co-written by Richards and Gantane Kusch.
At the time, Richards was 23, and a new graduate from UCT drama. I was blown away by his physically and emotionally charged performance.
When he veered into comedy and satire, I was initially surprised. It seemed to be a leap from a piece on gang culture and warfare – to mirth.
Richards: “The leap from a dark drama like Die Glas Ennie Draad to satirical comedy was more a mindset shift. It requires the same amount of focus, discipline and analysis. But doing comedy and learning from the genius that is Rob van Vuuren has equipped me with skills I can apply to any form of performance… I have come to realise how truth lies at the heart of comedy… Once I made that connection I realised that, for me, comedy was just another way of communicating truth.”
Can we expect a third instalment in the Pay Back series? Van Graan: “Yes! We’re toying with a few ideas, one of them being a more ‘international’ version – one that can travel across the continent and abroad – particularly after the great response Dan got for his performance of a few sketches in Rwanda a few weeks back. Of course, this is dependent on Dan’s interest and availability. He’s such a talent. I’ve expected him to be snapped up for other, more lucrative gigs.”
As producer, Ngesi not only watches the bottom line – getting bums on seats, paying salaries – but is passionate about using mirth to make us engage and confront ourselves: “I think South Africans are known for having a great sense of humour. We’ll make a joke of everything… I think this is how we’re able to heal and put up with so many layers of k**.”
State Fracture premiered at the recent National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and won a Standard Bank Ovation Award, and Richards won the Standard Bank Ovation Award for Stand Out Performance.
State Fracture is on at 7.30pm tonight and tomorrow. From Monday it’s on at 8.15pm. The season ends on Saturday, August 19. Tickets are R95 (Monday-Thursday) and R110 (Friday-Saturday). Discounts for block bookings. Book at Computicket/ www.computicket.com/0861 915 8000