CURL UP & DYE One-act home grown play by Susan Pam-Grant. Directed by Roché Haupt Buckle. Milnerton Players. At Milnerton Playhouse. Friday and Saturday until March 19. SHEILA CHISHOLM reviews.
A WARNING that Susan Pam-Grant’s one-acter Curl Up & Dye contains strong language and themes doesn’t underestimate either attributes. “F***” is drug addicted prostitute Charmaine’s (Natasha Bommarco) every second word. Rolene (Lizanne Peters), as Curl Up & Dye International’s hair-salon manager, comes a close second.
As for themes, they take in abuse, and racial bigotry showing us up for what we were in 1989 and from which, hopefully, we are all moving away from. Yelling at top speed, often making dialogue indistinguishable, is also order of the day.
Set in a “grey area” in Joubert Park in 1989, Curl Up & Dye takes place in Rolene’s, shabby hair salon, where she’s eking out a living. Nightly physically abused by her husband Denzil, she in turn, daily, verbally abuses Miriam (Marcha Simpson). Miriam is Rolene’s dogsbody who, for minimum wages, is at her beck and call.
Simultaneously, Miriam, is expected to sweep, make coffee, wash hair and tidy the salon. Mrs DuBois (Judith Herbig) local gossip, and manager of her block of flats, is effectively Rolene’s only regular client.
A racist of the worst kind, she’s struggling to keep her block “white”. When Dudu, (Keanetse Fothoane), a black nurse, steps into the salon, tensions surface. Hot words are exchanged.
A stereotypical script required every bit of director Roché Haupt Buckle’s wide experience to draw from her cast such good characterisations. She is adept at keeping movement and diction well-paced, so that even when sitting, personalities and identities were maintained.
Special comment goes to new- comer Simpson. In typical domestic worker garb, her portrayal of an obsequious manner in the face of endless commands by her employer, she held onto her dignity. A dignity self-centred Rolene chose to ignore.
Also a welcome addition to Milnerton players is Fothoane.
Although when she occasionally turned her head upstage resulting in words being missed, generally her voice carried and she gave her role the standing it deserved.
Sparsely sprinkled with humour, Curl Up & Dye, tends less to make people laugh, than to leave everyone determined to care about others feelings... regardless of origins.
l Book: bookings@milnerton players.com