Bafana Republic and Other Satires is a selection of monologues from a series of one-person satirical revues. Using the 2010 FIFA World Cup as an entry point for satirical commentary, the sketches focus with piercing humour on various issues facing democratic South Africa: state ‘vanity’ projects, land issues, abuse of women and state capture. In any deeply polarised society, satire provides an effective means for challenging audiences. Van Graan’s potent mix of comedy, poetry and drama compels audiences to reflect on controversial topics in a non-alienating, thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining way. Readers will laugh and cringe and sometimes cry, but one thing they will not be able to do is remain unaffected.
The sketches in the collection come from six one-person revues: Bafana Republic (2007), Bafana Republic: Extra Time (2008), Bafana Republic: Penalty Shootout (2009), Pay Back the Curry (2016), State Fracture (2017) and Land Acts (2018). The compilation can be used as monologues for exam purposes or as acting exercises for drama students, or selections can be made from the sketches to make up one-person shows of varying lengths.
Inhoudsopgave
Introduction Outline of sketch characters, themes, background and context Glossary of terms and translations Acronyms Play 1: Bafana Republic (2007) Sketch 1: Interview with the CEO of the South African Football Association Sketch 2: Chardonnay Sketch 3: PAHAD representative Sketch 4: Bhamjee Sketch 5: Kabouter Basson Sketch 6: Bafana Idols Play 2: Bafana Republic: Extra Time (2008) Sketch 1: World Cup ambassador, Hayi Buti Sketch 2: Reality show medley Sketch 3: American and Frenchie on safari Sketch 4: AA on-screen fillers Sketch 5: A man’s game Sketch 6: ABC take-out Sketch 7: Security chief Sketch 8: Bafana election fever Sketch 9: Vuvuzela salesman Sketch 10: Whinge Sketch 11: Stand-up comic Play 3: Bafana Republic: Penalty Shootout (2009) Sketch 1: Toilet cleaner Sketch 2: Estate agent 1 Sketch 3: False prophet Sketch 4: Madonna of Africa Sketch 5: Disabled Sketch 6: Jimmy Blond Sketch 7: School for African dictators Sketch 8: Dog shrink Play 4: Pay Back the Curry (2016) Sketch 1: Time travel Sketch 2: Fly SAA Sketch 3: Fallism Sketch 4: And the Oscar goes to … Sketch 5: Born free Sketch 6: Weekend special Sketch 7: I am an African Sketch 8: Estate agent 2 Sketch 9: So-calleds Sketch 10: Blame apartheid Sketch 11: The Met Sketch 12: Julius Sketch 13: Rainbow song Play 5: State Fracture (2017) Sketch 1: Saxonwold shebeen Sketch 2: Trumple-thin-Skin Sketch 3: Chicken shite Sketch 4: Hello, looter Sketch 5: Blacks adopted by whites anonymous Sketch 6: Pastor Hlaudi, the miracle worker Sketch 7: ABBA medley Sketch 8: Some black lives matter Sketch 9: Stand-up on privilege Sketch 10: The Helen Zille School of Good Colonialism Sketch 11: Social cohesion Sketch 12: Social media rollercoaster Sketch 13: The patriot Sketch 14: No Zuma, no cry Play 6: Land Acts (2018) Sketch 1: Derya Hanekom Sketch 2: Give me a sign, Julius Sketch 3: Middle finger for the natives Sketch 4: Mc Donald’s farm Sketch 5: A promise fulfilled Sketch 6: Car guard Sketch 7: Australian refuge Sketch 8: A dog’s life Sketch 9: What a wonderful world Sketch 10: Shakespeare in love Sketch 11: Ode to Wa Nkandla Sketch 12: Football match Sketch 13: Imagine
Over de auteur
Mike van Graan is an award-winning playwright and has written 34 plays. He also writes about cultural policy and was the founding President of the African Cultural Policy Network. He is a fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) working on his first novel.