February 18, 2005
By Ndaba Dlamini
A CHAIR, a coat hanger and a stool in front of a mirror-less mirror, and the stage is set. Enter the vivacious Miss Kwa Kwa, beauty pageant winner and superstar. Now sit tight for a lesson in superstardom, "an insight into how to become a somebody when you are a nobody".
Talking in a posh, private school accent, Miss Kwa Kwa takes the audience on a marathon tour of her rise to superstardom, from her humble homeland to the City of Gold, in the highly entertaining "Miss Kwa Kwa: Traditional Weapon" on at the Market Theatre until 20 March.
Miss Kwa Kwa is frank, lacking the sophisticated and academic capabilities prerequisite in a "superstardom ambassador". She has a razor-sharp tongue, and she is not afraid to use it. Safe in her superstar status, she attacks the hypocrisy of some local politicians and celebrities in a witty monologue. The ordinary South African is not spared, either.
She is authoritative on South Africa's new vocabulary; in this new democracy, new groups have sprung up in a nation already characterised by a multitude of races and cultures. There have emerged "coconuts" and "wiggas", a new crop of people bent on creating new identities, all for image and social status.
While enjoying the dizzying heights of superstardom, Miss Kwa Kwa has advice for all aspiring superstars: "Always remember where you come from - so that you never go back again!"
Stephen Simm, author and director, says "Miss Kwa Kwa: Traditional Weapon" is "probably the only one-woman satirical comedy show performed by a black actress in South Africa". It debuted at the 2004 Arts Festival, where it caught the eye of a Market Theatre representative.
Simm says the play shows a new kind of theatre in South Africa, "a kind of theatre that reflects a present so loaded with potential that it is often as perplexing as it is thrilling".
"What exactly does it mean to be a new South African, a South African today? Not 20 years ago, or 10, but today. With a myriad of cultures, we are still fighting ignorance and segregation. However, the appeal of analysing a culture different from our own is infinite. And necessary. So, in a country so quirky that quirks become the rule rather than the exception, what better way to lift those lids than with comedy, especially with new quirks emerging daily? Miss Kwa Kwa is up for the task," Simm explains.
Makgano Mamabolo, the talented comedian, plays Miss Kwa Kwa. She has featured in the TV series "Khululeka" and "Fela's TV" and also writes and directs.
"Miss Kwa Kwa: Traditional Weapon" is on until 20 March at the Market Theatre's Laager Theatre in Newtown. For more information, contact the Market Theatre publicity department on 011 832 1641.
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