Adventurous theatre lovers in the Mother City are about to experience an explosive re-interpretation of some familiar Cape colonial history in an outrageous, new comic play premiering at the Artscape Arena in mid-March, and it’s the perfect alternative outing.
Welcome to the world of Contested Bodies, or Doctor James Barry, Lord Charles Somerset and I.
Contested Bodies concludes the Abrahamse and Meyer Summer Season, which kicked off in November 2021 with an acclaimed staging of Yukio Mishima’s The Lady Aoi and continued through February with a sold-out Tennessee Williams’ repertory of A Streetcar Named Desire and One Arm.
Almost seven years to the day after political activist, Chumani Maxwele flung human excrement at the statue of British Imperialist Cecil John Rhodes. Abrahamse and Meyer will do some faeces flinging of their own in their latest “outrage for the stage” – a thrilling, provocative entertainment that is likely to be the most controversial and contested play of the year.
Contested Bodies explores themes of power, race, gender identity and masculinity (toxic and otherwise).
“The play centres on the relationship between the acclaimed surgeon, Doctor James Barry, his African manservant, John and the (then) Governor of the Cape Colony, Lord Charles Henry Somerset. Barry lived his entire adult life as a man but was named Margret Ann at birth and was known as a female in childhood. Barry’s biological sex only became widely known to the public and his colleagues after his death in 1865,” say Abrahamse and Meyer Productions of the play’s focus.
“In Contested Bodies, things get ‘down and dirty’ in the Governor’s residence when the three men decide, as part of their evening’s entertainment, to enact a lewd and lascivious play penned by the ultimate libertine and provocateur, the salacious Marquis de Sade. The enactment of the De Sade play reveals many unspoken truths and recalibrates the men’s friendship and relationship with each other,” they add.
This “comedy-of-very-bad-manners” stars Matthew Baldwin as the tempestuous Doctor James Barry, Marcel Meyer as his good friend, Lord Charles Somerset, and introduces local audiences to the up-and-coming young actor, Lungile Lallie as Barry’s trusted manservant, John.
Apart from being shocking and sensational, Contested Bodies promises to be a stunning, visual feast with a sumptuous scenic design by director Fred Abrahamse, detailed period costumes by Marcel Meyer, and moody lighting by award-winning, Faheem Bardien.
Details:
Please note that Contested Bodies is strictly intended for adult audiences only and carries an 18+ age restriction. The play contains scenes with strong language, nudity, violence, prejudice, and sex [SL/N/P/S].
- Date: 16 March – 2 April 2022
- Time: Evening performances start at 6pm with matinees at 3pm.
- Location: Artscape Arena
- Tickets: Tickets range from R50 – R250 and bookings are open at Computicket, Shoprite, Checkers outlets. You can also book at Computicket online, or Artscape Dial-a-Seat on 021 421 7695.
- Bonus: There are discounts for students/scholars, pensioners, and block bookings of 10 or more, however these are only available at the Artscape Box Office.
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Picture: Supplied
