Jen Silverman’s DANGEROUS HOUSE OF PRETTY MBANE is a thrilling, thought-provoking, wonderfully heart-wrenching play, now receiving its world premiere by InterAct Theatre Company. A young South African soccer student, Noxolo (flawlessly portrayed by Aimé Kelly), flees to England to escape the harsh consequences in her home country for her sexuality. But when her lover, Pretty Mbane (played with serious spunk by Lynette Freeman), causes commotion in the country and goes missing, Noxolo is forced to go back to South Africa to face the challenges she once ran from.
Pirronne Yousefzadeh’s on-point direction keeps the pace moving while still telling the full story, with help from stellar designs by Carolyn Mraz (set), Maria Shaplin (lighting), Katherine Fritz (costume), and Dan Perelstein (sound). The cast members in the ensemble are so real, raw, and vulnerable, it truly stings when they want it to hurt.THE DANGEROUS HOUSE OF PRETTY MBANE is an exhilarating theatrical 90-minute marathon—it knocks you over with raw emotion. It is the perfect combination of adrenaline, action, laughter, and most importantly—heart. [Main Stage, Adrienne Theatre, 2030 Sansom St.] January 16-February 8, 2015; interacttheatre.org.
- Read Henrik Eger’s intriguing interview with playwright Jen Silverman
- Read Julius Ferraro’s full-length review of THE DANGEROUS HOUSE OF PRETTY MBANE.