Open Auditions – My Children! My Africa!

Rehearsals    Begin the week before Thanksgiving and will occur 3x a week during the weeknights (with breaks for traditional holidays)

Contact   For questions about the play or auditions,  contact is Noelle Fair  at Noellemfair@gmail.com

Summary

Set in 1986, My Children! My Africa! is the story of Mr. M, an impassioned teacher at a black school in a small eastern Cape Karoo town South Africa. Mr. M seeks a better life for his most promising student, Thami, by providing extra opportunities. When Mr. M forms a debate team with Thami and Isabel, an eager and competitive student from the nearby white school, Thami finds his passion and voice. Soon, the young man becomes less focused on his studies and more involved with political unrest in the community, creating a generational rift between Thami and his teacher. As Mr. M tries to convince Thami that words, not violence, are the answer to South Africa’s problems, Thami must decide whether to follow Mr. M’s advice or take to the streets to advocate for an end to apartheid.

Characters

Mr. M (Anela Myalatya): (mid 40s – early 60s black male) He believes that the key to winning the struggle for freedom and equality lies in education and the power of words. Mr M is a dedicated teacher who does everything in his power to inspire his students. He believes the teacher is in charge and that learners must do as they are told. He tries to stop the boycott by giving the names of the leaders to the police which has disastrous results.

Thami Mbikwana: (18 – 30 black male) 18 year old student, Intelligent, bright, full of potential with a gift of words. He sees poverty, unemployment and frustration all round him. Like other young people he supports the fight against apartheid because he wants action now. He forms a quick friendship with Isabel, but struggles with his relationship with the teacher who acts as a second father to him. Thami is struggling between his inner frustration with the injustices under Apartheid, and his love for Mr. M. Has a lot brewing underneath the surface.

Both Thami and Mr. M speak with a South African accent.

Isabel Dyson: (18 – 30 white female) 18-year-old intelligent, independent-thinking student at the all-white Camdeboo Girls High School. She admires Mr M’s energy and commitment. The debate at Zolile High opens her eyes to the realities of apartheid. For the first time she is meeting black South Africans on an equal basis. Isabel is a typical representative of well-meaning white liberals who oppose apartheid but fear violent confrontation. Caught in the middle, she doesn’t know ”what to think or feel anymore.”

Isabel speaks with an English accent.

Monologues and Sides

Auditioners will be using the monologues and sides found in  this PDF file.

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