| What: Adaption of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman When: July 15-19, 2025 Where: Baxter Masambe, Cape Town Starring: Bizo Maxegwana Direction, costume, set and lighting design: David Muller Bookings: Webtickets |
Impressive performance by Bizo Maxegwana in a South African adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman in the Baxter, Masambe July 15-19, 2025.
Direction is by David Muller aka Merry Scholar. Adaptation by Muller and Maxegwana. It is set now in South Africa. Interesting adaptation, ringing out in this demented and mad world of ours, with the narrative hitting close to home – personal sanity and communal sanity – delusions – aspirations of being great – of being something. Ends with a vivid image, a lament and something to smile at. A surprise. I will not production spoil.
It is complex material and handled well by Maxegwana – terrific voice, presence and characterisation. Pungent Saffa-isms as we follow Thabo Kani, a secretary in parliament, who thinks that he is the next leader of South Africa…” It is wonderful to see how Gogol’s text has been shaped through the lens of now, pinging with motifs and images which are South African and resonate in relation to mental health and a general sense of ennui. For example, consider: “Feeling squashed like polony on bread”. Love that. I do feel the text is a tad long and could be trimmed.
Maxegwana is 23 and this is his first time on stage, in front of an audience, Muller told me tonight. Bizo trained in acting for film at AFDA and has won awards for film work. Muller met Maxegwana when they were working on a play at the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg. Maxegwana was working back stage. Muller was impressed with his insight into that production and asked if he (Maxegwana) would like to be on stage and that led to this production of Diary of a Madman. From Gogol’s short story, in 1835 to us now in 2025. Bravo all round – hope to see more of this talented young actor on stage in the future. Short season so this is a quickie shout out.
❇ Bizo Maxegwana in a South African adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, July 15-19, 2025, Baxter Masambe, Cape Town. Pic: Supplied.
