Powerful & Moving "Coming Home" at the Fountain Theatre

---- Theatre Review

As the Fountain Theatre´s ´curtain´ rises on "Coming Home" – Athol Fugard´s deeply moving drama set in post-Apartheid South Africa – the audience´s attention is immediately captured by Laura Fine Hawke´s atmospheric set.

It´s the interior of a one-room terracotta-plastered house – obviously abandoned – silent, and deeply shuttered against the heat of the day. A very cinematic scene; you can almost see a camera slowly panning the room and coming to rest on the wooden-slat door through which thin strips of sunlight can be seen. The sense of expectancy is almost palpable.

Then the door bursts open, and an African woman and a small boy stand in the opening, silhouetted against a bright sun. When they finally step in the audience lets out its collective breath. The story has begun.

Deidrie Henry plays Veronica Jonkers, a prodigal daughter coming home to her grandfather´s farm after ten years in Cape Town where she´d hoped to find fulfillment and fortune with her songs and her voice. Instead, she returns disappointed and penniless with a demon at her heels. But she´s determined to give her fatherless son a new life.

Veronica´s dreams are gradually revealed as she rushes about the room, jabbering to young Mannetjie (Timothy Taylor) about how things used to be and how they will be again. She discovers an old seed box with a few of her grandfather´s "miracle" white pumpkin seeds inside, and tells her son about new beginnings.

The Afrikaans dialect takes a moment to get used to, but JB Blanc´s coaching pays off, giving the play an authentic ´voice.´ (There´s also a list of Afrikaans words in the program with definitions for later review.)

Veronica´s cautiously hopeful mood turns joyful when an old friend arrives, his arms full and his heart overflowing. Thomas Silcott is captivating as the gentle and exuberant, if somewhat simple, Alfred Witbooi, who rescued the house´s furnishings from looters after Veronica´s Oupa (grandfather), died. He´s saved them for her all this time, knowing she´d return. She´s touched by his obvious devotion.

In reminiscing, their back-stories slowly emerge; the bitter argument between Veronica and her Oupa (played in flashbacks by Adolphus Ward) when she stormed out to seek her fortune; Alfred´s helping the aging grandfather with the planting; the poignant account of Oupa´s death in her absence; and… about Mannetjie´s father.

In the latter half of Act I – four years later – the 10-year-old, obviously intelligent Mannetjie (played now by Matthew Elam), has developed ´an attitude´ towards his mother´s simple but loyal friend. It´s also clear that Veronica´s ´demon´ has caught up to her. In desperation she lays out the only solution she can see, but neither the man nor the boy will accept it. In a heart-wrenching scene in which her emotions are laid bare, she finally convinces the terrified Alfred to agree.

The climax and conclusion to "Coming Home" is worth every tear-filled minute. It´s truly a 3-hankie Act II, in which an agonizing confession is wrenched from Alfred´s too tender heart, bitterness and grudges peak and are purged, and a new generation draws wisdom from the old, taking the first steps to "plant seeds" for the future.

The script is beautifully written with every word designed to touch the watcher emotionally. (It´s the sequel to Fugard´s 1995 play "Valley Song" which told of Veronica´s going away.) In this play he gives us – within the story of a mother´s love – a glimpse of contemporary South Africa with its problems and promises, that we won´t soon forget.

Stephen Sachs´ direction draws exceptional performances from each of the actors. Henry is eloquent and haunting as Veronica. Her voice so enchanting, we wished for more songs. Silcott´s performance of Alfred is flawless. He truly knows his character and made us believe every gesture and word were his own.

Ward´s portrayal of the old (and deceased) Oupa is both poignant and powerful. He fittingly exhibits the patience of a farmer, by sitting on the sidelines through an entire scene, observing and occasionally nodding his affirmation to what is happening on center stage.

"Coming Home" is a play that will stay with you for days, as you mentally review scenes, catching nuances and meanings that you missed. You might even want to take a friend and see it again!

WHEN: Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm, now through August 29

WHERE: The Fountain Theatre is located at 5060 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029 (There is secure, on-site parking for $5)

TICKETS: Thursday & Friday performances: $25, Saturday & Sunday performances: $28, Seniors over 62 (Thursdays & Sundays only): $23, and Students (with ID): $18

RESERVATIONS: Call (323) 663-1525, or visit www.FountainTheatre.com