RENOWNED theatre practitioner and playwright Charles Munganasa says theatre provides a platform for social commentary and activism, although the main agenda in comedy is edutainment.
The playwright will bring a play titled Mari yaVaChivhayo to Theatre in the Park in the capital next month.
Munganasa, who is also the writer of the award-winning play Operation Restore Regasi, a play that comically traced the late former President Robert Mugabe’s last moments in power, told NewsDay Life & Style that the new production is a rib-cracking comedy that speaks to contemporary issues.
“The characters are crafted in relation to real life scenarios though not directly linked to anyone. The story itself is an adaptation of British writer Ray Cooney’s funny Money play. It has been modified to fit into the country’s situation where debate is taking place in relation to Wicknell Chivayo' spending habits,” he said.
Munganasa came clean about the production saying that consultations were made to avoid legal backlash, adding that they adopted a fictional approach to the story which was different from Operation Restore Regasi where they took a more realistic approach.
He noted that the story portrays a fictional character John Chivhayo, a civil servant in the Mines ministry who accidentally ends up with a briefcase full of money. The playwright said if the production was well received, they would take it for a national tour.
He added that there were solid plans to implement technology in the art form to engage with a larger audience through streaming although it would be a pay per view platform.
The cast is made up of part of the team that performed in Operation Restore Regasi such as Mike Banda who played the role of Robert Mugabe, Ngoni Chinovava, comedians Kudzai Chengedza aka Mbuya VaPiyasoni, Tinaye Wayne, Promise Mudavanhu and Florenco Masekese.
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