BWW Reviews: AESOP'S FABLES, Hackney Empire, May 13 2012

Having dealt with serious themes with a suitably serious approach in La Boheme and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, Isango Ensemble's Aesop's Fables (at the Hackney Empire until 3 June) has a much lighter take on, well, equally serious themes really.  

Following the slave Aesop (Luvo Rasemani radiating innocent charm) as he journeys to Mount Olympus for an audience with Zeus, the chained Aesop follows the advice of Hermes (Busisiwe Ngejane radiating divine beauty) to listen to the animals. During many comic encounters with anthropomorphic creatures, from hard-working ants to high-camp frogs, Aesop loses his chains, link by link, as physical freedom grows to match his burgeoning wisdom. All the favourites are there - The Hare (an energetic turn from Zoleka Mpotsha) and The Tortoise (a graceful Noluthando Boqwana) and The Stag (a world-weary Luvo Tamba) whose hubristic pride in his antlers almost brings him down. All the while, our heroes are pursued by a blinged-up Escallywags (Simphiwe Mayeki milking the villain for all he can get) and the duplicitous Wolf (fat and funny Zamile Gantana).

What lifts the show from a good, if unexceptional telling of familiar tales, are two specifically South African elements. Having been put kept offstage for Philanthropists, La Boheme's marimbas are back, played with a gusto that fills the grand old theatre with joyous percussive music that complements the excellent singing perfectly. And what a sight the company make hammering these instruments as men and women have beaten out rhythms for thousands of years. Of course, the second aspect of the show that separates it from any other, is the parallel journey from enslavement made by men and women a generation older than Mr Rasemani (Aesop). They too were in chains and listened and learned from those denied literal speech (like Nelson Mandela and other ANC prisoners) and reached their destination able to cast off their chains and with the wisdom to understand what Truth and Reconciliation meant in the new South Africa.

Having seen all three of Isango Ensemble's works in this repertory season, I must now sit tight until this unique company return. I'll be seeing them as soon as they hit these shores again.

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