Review: SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD at Crossroads-Riveting and Entertaining

“Who cares for who in this world?” by Styles in Sizwe Banzi is Dead

The time is now to see the powerful award-winning play, SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD at the renowned Crossroads Theatre Company (CTC). It will be on the James Cahill Stage at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC) through June 14th.  The production is ingeniously directed by Co-Founder and Artistic Director Ricardo Khan in collaboration with John Kani. It is excellently written by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona.

We attended a matinee when the CTC Managing Director, Ezra Ezzard welcomed the audience, stating “You’re in for a treat.”  And we agree. The production is outstanding in every respect.

Set in Port Elizabeth, South Africa during the apartheid era, SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD tells of Styles, who goes from being a worker in a Ford plant to opening his own photography studio. Enter Sizwe Banzi who has come to the city to seek employment and wants a photo to send back home to his wife.  Yet there are problems with Sizwe’s papers such that he cannot gain employment. He is assisted by Buntu, a savvy man, who encourages him to make drastic changes to his identification to survive. The themes in SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD are significant today.  They shed light on the scourge of racial prejudice and social injustice that is currently being perpetrated by people in authority.

The superb two hander features Atandwa Kani, a celebrated film and theater actor, in the demanding roles of Buntu/Styles, a part that was made iconic by his father, John Kani.  He is joined by Kelcey Watson, a classically trained stage and screen actor, who portrays the character, Sizwe Banzi. The actors’ portrayals are nothing short of stunning.

While many of the themes in the play are serious, there’s a lot of humor and heart in the narrative that makes the show absolutely riveting.  The many engaging moments include Styles reading from a current newspaper; Styles work on the assembly line at a local Ford plant; the photos of local people that Styles takes in his studio; Sizwe Banzi posing for his photo; Styles convincing Sizwe to have more photos taken; Sizwe staying in Buntu’s home; and Buntu explaining to Sizwe how official papers are processed.

The Production Team has done a splendid job of bringing the show to the Crossroads Theatre stage.  The Team includes set design by Beowulf Boritt; costume design by Mika Eubanks; lighting design by Victor En Yu Tan; lighting supervisor is Sierra Wade; sound design by Justin Ellington; projection design by Stefania Bulbarella; the projection associate is Andrea Zertuche; prop supervisor is Anya Kutner; Norman Anthony Small is the production stage manager; Scott Yezzi is the assistant stage manager;  Benjamin Merrick is the production manager; Carmelita Becnel  is the production coordinator; Vic Brown is the wardrobe supervisor; Sydne Mahone is the Dramaturg; and Casting is by McCorkle Casting.

Make the time to see SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD.  It is an entertaining, compelling play that will invite significant conversations for all who see it. We applaud Crossroad Theatre’s  Artistic Director, Ricardo Kahan; Managing Director, Ezra Ezzard; and their team for bringing outstanding theatre to the metro area audience.

For more information about Crossroads Theatre Company or to purchase tickets for SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD, visit www.crossroadstheatrecompany.org. The show’s run time is 90 minutes with no intermission.  It will be performed through June 14 at the New Brunswick Performance Arts Center, 11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ in the heart of the city’s theatre and dining district with plenty of nearby parking and mass transit available.

Photo Credit: Mustapha Khan

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