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PAULINE GUNDIDZA

Yeukai Karengezeka Arts Correspondent
Acclaimed local playwright Blessing Hungwe has produced a ‘‘rib-cracking’’ comedy titled “Lover’s in Time” that celebrates the lives our ancient spirit mediums.
“Lovers in Time” is an epic comedy that is set against the background of the country’s premier spirit mediums Mbuya Nehanda and Sekuru Kaguvi travelling through time.
“When Mbuya Nehanda is about to be hanged by two drunken white men she cries out to the gods for reprieve and gets it albeit with some comic results.

“She is sent to present ay Zimbabwe where upon she is shocked to find that no-one recognises her and she then arrives in modern times as a man.

“Frustrated she bemoans the gods to take her back to her time, thus the see-saw from the late 1800 to various times in post independence,” said Hungwe.

Another twist to the story comes when the spirits of Nehanda and Kaguvi come back as white people.

The fast pace comedy is one hour long and is fronted by renowned comedian Michael Kudakwashe aka Michael K who acts as Nehanda.

The play also features Charmaine Mujeri of Danai Gurira’s play “The Convert”, Thomas Brickhill, Chikwata 263 front man Shane Stockhill and Pauline Gundidza and Lovedale “Discord” Makalanga.

Music for the play was done by Mafriq and the play is being directed and co-produced by Dr Agnieszka Petrowska who is a leading academic at the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom and a film and theatre enthusiast.

The play is set to premier at the upcoming Harare International Festival of Arts on April 29 at the Standard Theatre.

Hungwe has gained a reputation as the dark writer of his generation and how he would handle comedy he explained.

“To tell the truth I have always been a comic writer even the plays that people say are dark are tinged with humour maybe not so much in looking into the Abyss but the other plays yes.”

Blessing Hungwe scooped NAMA Best Theatrical production award for two consecutive years for the productions “Burn Mukwerekwere Burn” (2011) and “When Angels Weep” (2012).

In 2013 he produced “Looking into the Abyss”.

The play Lovers in Time” is an experiment of sorts it’s been a long time outside of Reps Theatre that an eclectic cast of Black and White has featured in a contemporary Zimbabwean play.