Go back

Cadre is an award-winning play about struggle during the apartheid

Arts
EIC
EIC
1 min.
0
1311
Photo courtesy of The Cultch.

In early February, it struck me that I had been in Vancouver for three years and had been blessed with the opportunities of attending myriad shows, but none of these had been from my home continent of Africa. When I had the opportunity to see the Canadian premiere of the award-winning Cadre by South African playwright Omphile Molusi, I realized the wait was worth it — I was treated to a show that was well written, soulfully performed, and wittily choreographed.

As I entered The Cultch and made my way to my seat, I noticed that there was a young African man on stage, walking around calmly. He was bouncing his head slowly up and down the theatre, looking at everyone who entered. Every now and then, he made an adjustment to the set, fixing an unsatisfactory angle of the props. This instantly made me assume that he was a perfectionist. As the show went on, I realized that his perfectionism paid off splendidly.

Photo courtesy of The Cultch.
Photo courtesy of The Cultch.

The performance started with a powerful monologue by Gregory, played by Omphile Molusi. He is joined by two multi-character players, Fezile Mpela and Lillian Tshabalala. The story begins in the mid 1960s and continues until the end of apartheid before bringing us back to 2015.

It was a powerful performance by the actors on a simple, almost minimalist stage. I loved how the entrances and exits were portrayed through a draped clothesline. I also appreciated the continuity of having Gregory in the same clothes through four decades while the other characters changed swiftly in and out with the help of simple costumes.

Molusi’s captivating storytelling ability carries this play forward while his talented co-stars go through many character changes and do so creatively. The play is about the struggle of life, love, and loss during apartheid. It has a wonderful comedic element that made the audience laugh childishly at its most heartwarming moments

This was Molusi’s first time in Vancouver, and I hope he comes back again soon with another production, if not the same Cadre.

Was this article helpful?
0
0

Block title

New immunotherapy treatment provides hope for aggressive cancer

News Peak Web -
By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are often recognized as the three most common forms of cancer treatment. Sometimes, the latter two approaches become no longer effective when cancers become drug resistant, allowing the cells to further spread. At the University of Calgary, however, promising developments in immunotherapy intervention seek to provide alternative treatment when common therapies are not viable.  Cells continually divide to replenish dying cells, but certain gene mutations can create cancer cells, which divide and spread in an uncontrolled manner. The human body naturally defends itself from cancerous cells, though sometimes they can “hide from the immune system and avoid being destroyed,” according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Immunotherapy seeks to help strengthen the ability to recognize and fight...

Read Next

Block title

New immunotherapy treatment provides hope for aggressive cancer

News Peak Web -
By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are often recognized as the three most common forms of cancer treatment. Sometimes, the latter two approaches become no longer effective when cancers become drug resistant, allowing the cells to further spread. At the University of Calgary, however, promising developments in immunotherapy intervention seek to provide alternative treatment when common therapies are not viable.  Cells continually divide to replenish dying cells, but certain gene mutations can create cancer cells, which divide and spread in an uncontrolled manner. The human body naturally defends itself from cancerous cells, though sometimes they can “hide from the immune system and avoid being destroyed,” according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Immunotherapy seeks to help strengthen the ability to recognize and fight...

Block title

New immunotherapy treatment provides hope for aggressive cancer

News Peak Web -
By: Lucaiah Smith-Miodownik, News Writer Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are often recognized as the three most common forms of cancer treatment. Sometimes, the latter two approaches become no longer effective when cancers become drug resistant, allowing the cells to further spread. At the University of Calgary, however, promising developments in immunotherapy intervention seek to provide alternative treatment when common therapies are not viable.  Cells continually divide to replenish dying cells, but certain gene mutations can create cancer cells, which divide and spread in an uncontrolled manner. The human body naturally defends itself from cancerous cells, though sometimes they can “hide from the immune system and avoid being destroyed,” according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Immunotherapy seeks to help strengthen the ability to recognize and fight...

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society

Simon Fraser University’s independent student newspaper since 1965.

For advertising inquiries: [email protected]
For promotional inquiries: [email protected]

© The Peak Publications Society