National Arts Festival

Grahamstown is a small town, defined as a city based on an antiquated English law that says that all a city needs is a cathedral and a university. The university of course is Rhodes, best known for its world-renowned journalism department. The cathedral is also impressive, though not on an international scale. But what Grahamstown is probably best known for is its role as the host of the annual National Arts Festival.

Come the end of June, every available space is transformed into either a miniature theatre or a temporary art gallery. Thespians, and other artists, descend on the town, followed by hordes of South Africans looking for their annual dose of culture. Little white-faced boys appear on every street corner in the guise of mimes. Stalls spring up like weeds and traffic diversions abound, converting two-way streets into one-ways and mystifying the town's residents.

It is impossible to see every show and the publication "Cue" attempts to give guidance, chock full as it is of reviews and feature articles. Unfortunately, the standard of the publication seems somewhat haphazard, with every reviewer having their own way of seeing things, and no attempt at a ratings system is provided. The result is that one has to search through the publication cover-to-cover attempting to choke some help out of this stone. It's better than nothing, but considering the overwhelming array of offerings, it leaves a lot to be desired.

A proposed ratings system could work something like this:
1 Star - Don't Waste Your Money
2 Star - Not a Complete Waste of Money
3 Star - See it, if it's in your Sphere of Interest
4 Star - Recommended
5 Star - It should be Mandatory for all Festival Participants

As a demonstration, six reviews for shows performed this year will be given below:

Wild and Fragrant - 2 Star
Description: A one-woman collage of Herman Charles Bosman's works and life story.
Review: This is not the first Herman Charles Bosman collage in which this actress has performed, but it is not her best either. While the acting is good, if a bit dull as the main character in every story is the same, the selection for this year is poor. Considering the broad range of work left by Bosman, this shows leaves something to be desired. Bosman fans will enjoy the final story in the collage.

Mark Sampson Feels Funny - 3 Star
Description: A one-man comedy show about life's snakes and ladders.
Review: Last time, it was his children that inspired him; this time it is father's death. Unlike most comedy shows, Mark Sampson's contain a story and a message, but this certainly doesn't undermine their humour. While it probably should not have been billed as a family show, people who enjoyed his previous show will not be disappointed.

Australia VS South Africa - 3 Star
Description: Two comedy duos team up to compare and contrast these two great sporting nations.
Review: A delightful and amusing romp, with excellent characters, an entertaining plot and outstanding mime- and sound-work. The only niggle with this show is that if you don't know much about sport, the humour will be lost on you (but then, how many South Africans does that apply to?).

Under the Stars, Above the Tree - 2 Star
Description: A fantastical coming of age tale about a boy climbing to the top of the tree covering the world.
Review: The visual effects for this production are impressive, providing a compelling setting. The concept is original, and the acting is reasonable. The story seems aimed at children, along the lines of Aesop's Fable and other such moral-communicating tales. The problem is that the main character is a boy trying to reach the top of the tree so that his grandfather can die in peace knowing someone has seen the sky, and this is not a convincing motivation for a child. While adults may see the force of going to extreme lengths to allow a suffering relative to die in peace, children are unlikely to appreciate it.

Puck's Story - 4 Star
Description: A one-hour version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" where the audience follow the story around the vast garden at Crossways.
Review: This is a skilfully-edited and well-crafted version of the Bard's Tale. The use of space, with the audience constantly having to move around the garden with the actors, is excellent. The twin pillars of the story, Puck and Bottom, hold up their ends brilliantly with many of the other actors giving sterling performances. The only problem with this play is that it is being performed in the middle of winter.

Butlers and Brandy - 4 Star
Description: A murder mystery where the audience chooses what happens next.
Review: It's not often the audience gets to decide where the story goes, but that is exactly what happens in this cunning whodunnit. The actors, most of whom take on multiple roles, all compete to be the most loathsome, as the audience decides who to kill off. The butler holds the story together, guiding the audience through the twists, the turns and the votes. All of the acting is top-notch, and the visual and sound effects are delightful.