A local play


Athol Fugard is a local playwright who is internationally recognised for his powerful depictions of ordinary South Africans experiencing extraordinary suffering. Boesman and Lena are two weather-beaten (and world-beaten) individuals trying to find somewhere to settle for the night. They are journeying from one shantytown to another.


LENA: … We haven’t even got a spade. BOESMAN: I’ll get one. LENA:


Oppas they don’t get you. Blourokkie next time they catch you stealing. Haai, Boesman! Why here? This place hasn’t been good to us. All we’ve had next to the Modderspruit is hard times. [A little laugh.] And wet ones. Remember that night the water came up so high? When we woke up pap nat with all our things floating down to the bridge. You got such a skrik you ran the wrong way. [She laughs at the memory.]


BOESMAN: I didn’t! LENA: What were you doing in the deep water? Having a wash? [Another laugh.] It was almost up with you that night. Hey! When was that? Last time? [Pause … Lena thinks.] Boesman! When was our last time here? I’m talking to you. [Boesman deliberately ignores her, and carries on sorting out the contents of his bundle.] Boesman!!!


Read for meaning


1 How do we know that Boesman has been arrested before or has stolen before?


2 What does Boesman mean when he says, “I’ll get one”. 3 Discuss, using your own words, the personalities of Lena and Boesman. Look at the hint box on page 194.


4 There are two functions of italics in this extract. Identify and explain them.


5 When Lena says “What were you doing in the deep water? Having a wash?”, she is not being totally sincere. a Comment on what Lena is implying with these words. b What tone would the actor use in saying these lines? 6 What indicates that the final word needs to be shouted?


Afrikaans for “watch out”


Afrikaans for “blue clothing” (prison clothes are blue) – next time he is caught he will go to prison


Afrikaans for “sopping wet”


Afrikaans for “fright”


COMPARE TEXTS


In your notebook, make a table in which you


compare the DJ Fresh dialogue on page 193 and the Boesman and Lena script. Look at how characters are depicted and body language cues are given.


195


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32