By Jana Burger
A classic tale of the oppressive structures we live in was the winner of this year’s Première Theatre Festival. Violets, in bloom, written by Skyla Cookson, explores the lives of individuals in a society where they do not have the freedom to explore their own identities.
The play, set in 1960s England, follows wealthy politician, James Ashford (Hafeez Arendse), and his wife, Charlotte (Greta Marie Mascke). The couple has a picture-perfect lavender marriage, with Charlotte spending her time seeing another man and James having a secret relationship with a member of his household staff named Elliott (Shayne Justin Joseph).
James wants to run for mayor, but rumours about his sexuality threaten to ruin his candidacy. Even though Charlotte encourages him to embrace his identity and explore his homosexuality with Elliott, he does not allow himself this self-exploration. His internal conflict becomes homophobia, misogyny and class discrimination, directed towards the people dearest to him, as he starts to mirror the toxic values of the society that is oppressing him.
The entire cast’s acting was phenomenal, and the retro 60s stage design and clothing brought the characters to life. The characters were, however, a bit stereotypical and on the nose regarding the commentary the play was trying to make. The very evident “bury your gays” trope was the biggest point of contention for audience members, who were hoping for a happier ending.
Wyatt Afrika, a BAHons (Drama and Theatre Studies) graduate, explained why he still thinks the play is relevant despite the sad ending. He said, “I think the play was a really good representation of what life was like for queer individuals back in the day.” He said that the play remains relevant “because things like that still happen. People are still very much in the closet, due to circumstances, community or pressures from work”.
These emotional aspects were definitely experienced by audience members as gasps and laughter could be heard through the characters’ highs and lows. The play was also clearly enjoyed by the judges, as the team behind Violets, in bloom walked away with their R30 000 prize money on 25 July.
