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Barbara Loots
Described as “a quirky, heartwarming, comedic, biographical one woman play”, DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY is everything that it promises to be. It takes rom-com movie tropes and kicks it in its unrealistic promise gut in true kung fu style that makes you leap to your feet in applause at the Baxter’s Masambe Theare.
Written and performed by Tankiso Mamambolo, DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY is fantastic, not only in the way it is conceptualised, but also in the manner and ease with which it is brought to life on stage. It oozes sincerity in the telling of the tale of a 7th grade student who just wants to be loved and celebrated for who she is. It’s brave and beautiful storytelling, that bruises your heart while simultaneously hugging you.
Mamabolo does not skip a beat in this one. As a performer she is on point, using the skill of her words and her natural musical nature to draw you into her tale. The text is superbly considered and constructed. DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY is everything independent theatre should be celebrated and promoted for: the exquisite art of storytelling. Being a storyteller and knowing how to make your craft sing is something that comes naturally to a special few, and Mamabolo is one of those few. She knows how to breathe life into a moment without making it feel contrived or overplayed. Her style of theatre does not make you feel emotionally manipulated at all.
The set and lighting design by Dara Beth, allows the show to be youthfully playful, while giving it a Pretty In Pink tone and mood. (For those too young for that reference, it’s the She’s All That of the 80s). There’s actually a line in Pretty In Pink that sums up what’s at the heart of DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY: “I just want to let them know that they didn’t break me.”
And, they definitely didn’t. Seeing life through the eyes of a young Tankiso, who fights boys for being mean, likes music and watching movies with her uncle, seeks out adventure, and dares to look life straight in the face as she takes the popcorn she deserves with a clear declaration of defiance is the type of person that should be celebrated in movies, instead of the candy floss heroines who spew the gospel of fake feminism by selling unobtainable rom-com ideals.
Everything about DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY is first-rate in its various facets: it’s intimate, funny, heart-breaking, explosive and professional. It allows you as audience member to laugh, cry, cheer, marvel at and utterly succumb to the mischievous charm of the show.
This production deserves many bums on seats, but sadly it only has a very short run. So, don’t dilly-dally and be indecisive about this one, you want to book your tickets and you want to book right now.
DON’T BELIEVE A WORD I SAY is a fantastic slice of independent theatre and should be supported and celebrated. It’s on at the Baxter’s Masambe Theatre until 1 June 2024, with tickets available for booking online through Webtickets. Go!