CARROT SISTERS, presented by Victoria Sonqaba Theatre, written and directed by Bongani Linda (fringe, drama, Vicky’s until Friday):
Reviewed by Leon Muston, Arts Editor
IMAGINE how hard life would be growing up in a family where each sister came from a different race group.
That’s the scenario in the drama Carrot Sisters, where the “mixed vegetables”, as they call themselves, are black sister Thembi (Polila Phoka), Indian girl Brenda (Brenda Khumalo) and Pinkie (Lerato Ramahlo), who refers to herself as white, though her sisters think of her as coloured.
The three grew up with their grandmother, as their mother (Moira Sibiya) was working in another town, and sending money home for the children.
Now that the grandmother has died, the mother returns to look after the girls, only to find three angry and rebellious girls who demand to know who their fathers are.
Brenda claims to be “following in her mother’s footsteps” by becoming a prostitute in order to support the family, while Pinkie is in a relationship with a Rastafarian who has just got her pregnant.
Thembi is also in a relationship, but the mother is horrified to find out who the boy is, but to explain why would give away a vital plot twist.
The actresses playing the three daughters interact very well together and despite their differences, one can believe from their chemistry that they are real sisters.
All are good actresses, although Ramahlo is the standout, and definitely someone to watch out for in the future.
The only weak link is Sibiya as the mother – she’s not really suited to the role, or particularly believable.
A lot of racial jokes are thrown into the mix, as are sexual and cultural stereotypes, but these do serve to advance the action.
The play does come across as a bit of a soap opera, but still makes for good entertainment and is a good social commentary on where we’ve come from as South Africans and how much has really changed since 1994.
Tags: carrots, drama review, multi-racial family, prostitution, soap opera, Theatre review
