Romeo, oh Romeo…
Mzamo Gcabashe walks us through Romeo’s world.
From sex to money schemes, lies and backstabbing, Mam Rebs’s (Linda Sebezo) world can get really dark. Every week The Black Door has viewers wanting more of the woman we love to hate. However, like anything in life, among darkness there is always a glimmer of light and for Mam Rebs, it’s spicy Romeo (Mzamo Gcabashe).
Romeo is Mam Rebs’s right-hand man and will do anything to protect her and their work. “He’s a strong ambitious gay guy who has a lot of family issues when it comes to acceptance, so he overcompensates at work in order to get validation,” Mzamo explains. “He does the most for Mam Rebs because she saved him from something viewers are not aware of yet but are about to find out.”
THE DARKNESS HE FACES
It’s good that Romeo has someone on his side, because his world is about to become even more complicated. He’s about to struggle financially and steal from the very hand that feeds him to help his ailing estranged mother. “It’s a human story. No matter how well accomplished you are, you will always need your mother and seek that validation,” says Mzamo.
“Romeo is still fighting for acceptance and in some way he wants to show his mother that even though she rejected him for his sexuality, he’s willing and able to take care of her.” That doesn’t mean it will be easy, says the actor, explaining that “Romeo has a bit of a wobbly when he calls his mother, she picks up and doesn’t actually say anything to him.”
“Your parents are the first people you have interactions with, so you will always care about them whether you hate or love them. Hating them also comes from a lack of love you needed or wanted from them,” says Mzamo emphasising how the character’s family dynamics portray the life of many gay men living in South Africa.
BEING HIS OWN HERO
Although Mam Rebecca is Romeo’s hero and will try to help Romeo with his situation, Romeo has had to be his own hero. “He has to constantly save himself because every time he asked for help in the past, people didn’t come through for him,” says Mzamo. “Being vulnerable and putting yourself out there is very difficult because you’re exposing your struggles, only for someone to not help you. Romeo can’t expose his weakness, especially as the manager of The Black Door. “He’s got to deal with things his way,” adds the actor, hinting that Romeo will be caught out and have to go through a rougher patch first…
PREVIOUSLY
Thenji revealed to everyone that Bra Gibb raped her, and Boniswa accused Mam Rebs of murdering her father.
IN THIS ISSUE
Mam Rebs partners up with Martha to convince Boniswa she didn’t kill Boniswa’s dad, Nomsa’s world comes crashing down after Thenji speaks her truth, and Romeo is backed into a corner by his friends. Boniswa finds companionship from someone unexpected, Nomsa faces her demons, and Short Gun and Vuvuzela wake up and try to help Romeo after blackmailing him. Thenji goes home and finds Bra Gibb fighting for his life, Boniswa comes for Mam Rebs, and Romeo finds Mam Rebs and Boniswa’s new sober companion in an intimate setting.
Boniswa’s memory makes her realise that she knows more than she thinks, Thenji tries to get closure from her dark past, and Romeo confides in Short Gun and Vuvuzela about what he’s going through. Boniswa does the unthinkable, there’s mystery to how Bra Gibb landed in hospital, and Short Gun and Velaphi come through for Romeo. Mam Rebs does all she can to get the heat off of her, Bra Gibb is exposed and humiliated, and no good deed goes unpunished for Velaphi and Short Gun. Boniswa finds herself in a dark place, Thenji’s truth pushes Velaphi to the limit, and Romeo faces rejection again. Boniswa comes back to life, Khaya gets help from Sabelo, and Romeo finds acceptance and support from someone he’s often ignored.
CAST: Boniswa Gabisile Tshabalala •Boy-Boy Nkululeko
Selepe •Bra Gibb Sello Ramalahloane •Bra Kenny Bhekumuzi Mkwanazi •Candy Melinda Lupindo •Chuma Sokhulu Thobani Nzuza •Enhle Nolwazi Kweyama •Frans Siphiwe Nkosi •Junior Sandile Mfusi •Jupiter Oscar Mgudlwa •Khaya Sokhulu
Zamani Mbatha •Malume Bulelani Kerr Nyawo •Mam Rebs (Rebecca) Mahlangu Linda Sebezo •Martha Ontiretse Radipabe
•Mvubu Sandile Dlamini •Malume Bulelani Kerr Nyawo
•Nandi Sibonginkosi Tenza •Nelly Dikeledi Modubu •Nkanyiso Mzikayise Makroti •NoCollege Babalwa Sigcau •Nolitha Sibulele Ntlebi •Nomsa Velaphi Mnisi •Ntsiki Nonhlupho Thelma Siboza
•Romeo Mzamo Gcabashe •Rosina Noluthando Dloboyi •Sabelo SK Khoza •Short Gun Kabelo Tsotetsi •Steja Kere Nyawo
•Thenjiwe Nonkululeko Mbatha •Velaphi Kwanda Manyashi
•Vuvuzela (Thulani Maestro Ntombela