This is an open letter to the SA media and public at large, as written by Harry Sideropoulos and his co-creators of “Happy Shabalala” ……..
3 November 2009
“Too Dark Comedy? Lighten Up”
Happy Veneers!
As the creators of the critically acclaimed stage show, Happy Shabalala, currently showing at The Fringe at The Joburg Theatre, we were astounded that some (media and audience) felt “disappointed’’ and “insulted” when Harry Sideropoulos, Naledi Theatre Award Winner and ex 94.7 Rude Awakening presenter, transformed his face by painting it black to portray Bongani Khumalo and Sibongile Sisulu. Not many minded. A few did though. And it was fascinating. They appeared to be outraged and insulted that we would take the pretend that far. They seemed to have missed the theatrical device of physically transforming Harry, into those characters whilst they talk about transformation in South Africa. Was this device perhaps too cerebral for our commentators?
This reaction is a bit strange, considering that as South Africans, everything around us is painted over with veneers. Let’s face it - We’re a nation that loves ideals - in theory. That’s why marketing messages about togetherness and opportunity abound! In adverts people hug, service providers care, telecoms connect, banks are on your side and government delivers. One night of TV and you’d swear there was more love in SA than at a peace conference the Dalai Lama was actually allowed to attend. But none of us buy the bollocks do we? We’re South African for crying in a bucket! We grew up with fences, no one really trusts authority, watching only your own back is ingrained in our national psyche and we know that business is business - how else can current circumstances of perpetual inequality be explained. Come on smile. It’s a funny mirror - too tragic for tears.
Crime and poverty persist and service delivery does not; our education system is still by and large churning out functional illiterates; our major telecoms operators hamstring us with exorbitant costs and mind numbing inefficiencies; our banks are an informal cartel charging what they like; how can we help you, help us, help up our share price and there’s more scandal in government than a fifteen year omnibus Egoli, Generations and Isidingo! And nothing’s being done - other than to wrap a rainbow ribbon around it, stick a “Ke Nako” on the box and rapid bus transport it to nowhere if you can get through the taxi blockade. As Bongani the gardener - one of the show’s characters - puts it; for him, the only things freedom changed are the names - Baragwaneth to Chris Hani, Jan Smuts to OR Thambo; “garden boy” to “flora enhancement executive”. Bongani gives expressions to the voiceless “Everyman”, irrespective of colour. It’s a pity that some missed the essence of his words and saw only a white man transformed into a black man.
It’s the South African way for goodness sake - Paint it over and smile for the camera. So we could argue that painting Harry’s face in a very real way is endemically South African - but absolutely, completely, different in our context. Did we want to offend? Never. Did we want to portray genuine characters? Certainly. Was the black face necessary? We believe so. It merely strengthened the characters - with no offence intended - Other than to those promoting the incongruities in our society behind the real veneer that our characters comment on and we show up. That’s satire.
It should dig deep, provoke and not shy away from uncomfortable truths in the interest of political correctness.
The lies, half-truths and omissions we are bombarded with daily as a nation are the real mask that should be torn down - with laughter and understanding. And we believe that nowhere is the truth being delivered with more genuine laughter than Happy Shabalala.
So for those who felt “disappointed” or “uncomfortable” or “insulted”; focus on the message of the show and our intentions speak for themselves. We hide nothing. And it’s funny. But judge for yourselves. Come see Happy Shabalala before the paint dries. It’s free speech with funnies not hate speech for dummies.
From The Show’s Creators,
Strato Copteros
Charmaine Weir-Smith
Harry Sideropoulos
