August 4, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
WHAT better way to celebrate a month dedicated to women than to watch the hilarious Shreds and Dreams, a play with an all-women cast now on at the Market Theatre complex in Newtown.
Written by Bongi Ndaba, it explores the lives of three young black women living in a flat in Yeoville. Lefika, played by Generations star Bawinile Ntshaba, has been thrown out of her house by her mother-in-law. The old woman has accused her of destroying her son's marriage by not bearing him any children.
She throws a tantrum when Lefika suggests her son go for a medical check up.
Away from her "ordinary" husband and the traditional world she was brought up in, Lefika discovers her true self as an assertive, intelligent woman with ambitions in the business world.
Though the world out there is full of challenges, she overcomes these and prepares to graduate with a diploma in business management.
Her dream of a memorable graduation is upset, however, when her graduation gown arrives from the tailor in shreds, thanks to Yoliswa's bungling.
Yoliswa is a beautiful woman who believes her body is her greatest asset. Played by Busi Lurayi, Yoliswa loves men's attention, which she believes is her ticket to a luxurious lifestyle.
Sadly, she discovers life is not all about netting affluent men to pay her rent when she ends up bruised and grieved after a boyfriend's wife assaults her.
Chubby Nontobeko loves stuffing herself with her unique peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Uneducated and married off at 14 as the seventh wife of a man old enough to be her grandfather, Nontobeko survives by manning public phones in the streets of Yeoville.
She has no self-esteem and her only comfort is her sandwiches. Nontobeko is played by Portia Gumede.
Despite their differences, the three women learn that their relationship has developed into something beyond friendship - they have become a family.
Part of Transnet's 2005 Women in Arts Festival, Shreds and Dreams returns to the Market Theatre after running in The Barney Simon New Writing Season in 2004.
It boasts an all-female creative team, from author, director and designers to the stage manager. The play is directed by Clare Stopford and the stage manager is Motlalepula Makhate.
Shreds and Dreams is on at the Laager Theatre in the Market Theatre complex until 21 August every Tuesday to Sunday. Performances start at 8.15pm. The Sunday shows start at 3.15pm.
For more information, contact the Market Theatre publicity department on 011 832 1641.
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