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Regional Reviews: Washington, D.C. Kunene and the King Also see Susan's reviews of In the Heights, Waitress and The Bedwetter
The play, directed with great empathy by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, follows the connection that develops between Jack Morris (Edward Gero), an aging Shakespearean actor determined to play King Lear before he dies of liver cancer, and his new caregiver, Lunga Kunene (Kani). The setting is South Africa in 2019, 25 years after the end of apartheid. The relationship begins with tension: Jack's former caregiver was a white woman, and he doesn't feel comfortable with a Black man (who still lives in Soweto) living in his house and taking care of his needs. Jack is cantankerous, sneaking sips from the small liquor bottles he has hidden throughout his living room, but his focus on Lear keeps him from crumbling into self-pity. Kunene is fascinated by Shakespeare's words, especially because in school he studied Julius Caesar translated into the indigenous Xhosa language. The play, which runs about 90 minutes without an intermission, follows how the two men bond in unexpected ways. The first two scenes take place in Jack's home (scenic designs by Lawrence E. Moten III), roomy and filled with theatrical memorabilia and other decorative items; the third shifts the focus to Kunene's residence, much smaller and less elaborate but just as reflective of his life as Jack's is of his. Kani acknowledges the vast chasm between the life experiences of Jack and Kunene, and the former's resentment that people he considers inferior to him are now in positions of power. Still, the drama never turns into a polemic, and much of the dialogue is clever and often humorous. The third element of the production adds an otherworldly touch to the drama that focuses on the underlying African culture. Ntebo, a South African singer now based in Washington, performs ravishing a cappella melodies between the scenes, dressed in elaborate and majestic robes and headdresses (costume designs by Karen Perry, a vivid contrast to Jack's regal yet threadbare dressing gown and Kunene's nurse uniform). Kunene and the King runs through March 23, 2025, at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Klein Theatre, 450 Seventh St. NW, Washington DC. For tickets and information, please call 202-547-1122 or 877-487-8849 or visit www.shakespearetheatre.org. By John Kani Cast: |
