The Mother of All Eating
The Mother of All Eating is a one-man satire by Zakes Mda (1948-).
Contents
The original text
Originally written as a one act, one-hander, set in Lesotho, it explores the culture of corruption (referred to as "eating"). The central character - "The Man" - is the principal secretary to a government minister and has enriched himself through government funds. However, a tender deal gone wrong brings an abrupt end to his extravagant lifestyle.
Translations and adaptations
Adapted to become a two hander, with the original one-man script's role of "The Man" being split between two actors.
The full text published in the collection Fools, Bells and the Habit of Eating: Three Satires by Wits University Press (2002).
Southern African productions
1992: Performed by Gonzalez Scout, in the Victoria Hotel, Maseru in 1992.
2014: The two hander performed in the Barney Simon Theatre at the at the Market Theatre, directed by Makhaola Ndebele with Mpho Osei-Tutu and Jerry Mntonga, and piano backing by Bernett Mulungo.
2019: Performed at POPArt, City Centre, Johannesburg [1].
Sources
http://markettheatre.co.za/shows/watch/the-mother-of-all-eating1
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
Zakes Mda. 2002. Fools, Bells and the Habit of Eating: Three Satires, Wits University Press.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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