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An interesting depiction of the battle for equality in South Africa from the viewpoint of a white woman incarcerated by the police Special Branch. Summary
Rating
Good
Set in 60’s South Africa, during a state of emergency enforced by Hendrik Verwoerd’s government, we see the lengths the police Special Branch will go to in order to root out resistance activists. Ronnie Kasrils’ book The Unlikely Secret agent about his first wife’s involvement with undercover activism with the ANC, is here adapted for stage by Paul du Toit who also directs.
Eleanor (Ericka Breytenbach-Marais) is certainly a very unlikely secret agent. In a loveless marriage, working in a bookshop and looking after her child with the help of her parents, she shows little interest in the underground movement. That is until the arrival of Ronnie Kasrils (Wessel Pretorius). Eleanor’s involvement appears to be misguided and based upon a romantic excitement needed to fill a gap in her life. Indeed, apart from occasionally saying that everyone should be equal, her commitment to the cause appears to be more about her commitment to Ronnie, who we know she later marries. Despite that, she endures incarceration by the Special Branch in whose hands she is beaten and raped. Eleanor’s interrogation, while in real life would undoubtably have been brutal, on stage seems to consist of repeating the same lines to the point that it felt as if the cast had lost their way in the script, repeating pages in order to find their way back to where they should be. The dialogue is interspersed with long stretches of narration from Eleanor that appears to be directly from the book.
The multi character roles of the male cast works well, adding some humour. It did take some time however to tune into the dialect, especially given the lack of projection by some of the cast. This is perhaps not have been helped by having them often facing towards the back of the stage.
Special mention should go to Sanda Shandu for his utterly believable characterisations of Major Steenkamp, Selma, Sonny Singh, Dr. Hobbs and the Matron, all outstanding. Equally Ntlanhla Kutu is obviously deep in character in his roles of Officer Malan, Wanda, Mrs. Helen Logan and particularly Precious. Pretorius plays a very smooth, dubious and untouchable Ronnie Kasrils, while his chief nurse is cruel and funny. Breytenbach-Marais holds her own throughout but possibly because of the way the script is structured doesn’t quite project the emotion and terror one assumes Eleanor would have truly experienced during interrogation.
The Unlikely Secret Agent gave us an insight into the bravery of those fighting against apartheid in 1960’s South Africa and the lengths they went to bring about change.
Written & Directed by: Paul de Toit
The Unlikely Secret Agent plays at the Marylebone Theatre until 1st September. Further information and booking are available here.
