| What: Mlungu Writer and performer: Shannon Hendry When: November 3 at 7pm and November 4 at 6.30pm Where: Toneelhuis, Cape Town |
On November 3, the eve of Election Day South Africa 2026, we attended Mlungu, a comedy-cabaret, written and performed by Shannon Hendry at the Toneelhuis. Hendry is a dynamo of a performer, with a dynamic presence. She takes on the role as a white Colonialist Women, preaching from her pulpit of privilege – a “woke white woman working towards her Nobel peace prize…She may not be a part of the DA but the EFF loves her, it’s a complicated love triangle.” Tonight, she mused: “Voting is tomorrow. Who are you going to vote for? I’m woke…”
The show is part of her Masters at Stellenbosch, into political humour and nation building. Hendry is 23 – young and hugely talented- and an absolute delight to watch. The writing is sharply observed, with a smart narrative arc as she schleps around a dead tree, in her quest to find a white man to save the tree. White bread is involved and there is audience participation. She calls out peeps who are looking at their phones and chatting.
Mashing up stand-up comedy, satire and song, Mlungu is hugely entertaining, funny and uncomfortable: “Oh I am giver. I understand what you are saying – in your language”. With her call for us to save the tree, there are refrains from Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah – a song about sex and religion. It is her cabaret and she can do what she wants as chanteuse, clown, jester and comic.
Hendry is accompanied on keyboards by Kalene Botha. There is a delicious mash-up of songs – from the before show music to during the show: Afrikaans folk music, Kaapse songs etc. Loved the music which layers the show with an edgy and jittery energy. Fabulous rapport between Hendry and Botha. The production company hosting the show is Spark in the Dark. Samantha Carlisle, a producer at Spark in the Dark, takes on the role as mover of the tree and other roles.
With her expressive long hands and wide eyes, Hendry creates a visceral presence – with her poignant clowning mashed up with comedy and song. She reminds me of Edith Piaf in the way she uses her hands and her unrelenting gaze. She wears a ruffle – actually three collars – which ping as Voortrekker Kappie, clown. It also pings for me as collars worn by judges.
A great deal of work has gone into conceptualising this show – and that starts on arrival – when the audience is greeted by Hendry, dishing out welcome packs. Each pack, includes a handwritten message. Impressive in an era when letter writing – as in handwriting – is such a novelty. It is a lovely way to welcome the audience. There are also tins: “Whites Only. Reparations. Donations.” Joking/not joking. “Money is the best form of apology”, Mlungu assures us.
Hendry is a major talent. Watch out for her. I hope that this show will be developed further. It could be more confrontational, more uncomfortable. There is a show tomorrow voting day, November 4, so go after voting. There is a survey box – give your input – which will go to her research into political humour and nation building. We, the audience is part of her research. Loved this show. Highly recommended.
