| What: Rescue Remedy Writer/performer: Roland du Preez Director: Tailyn Ramsay When: June 10-15, 2025 Bookings:https://theatrearts.co.za/show/Rrescue_remedy Rescue Remedy will be on at Vrystaad Kunste Fees July 15, 16, 19. Bookings here: https://vrystaatkunstefees.co.za/events/rescue-remedy-2/ |
Rescue Remedy, written and performed by Roland du Preez and directed by Tailyn Ramsamy opened this week at Theatre Arts. There are two performances today, June 14 at 3pm and 7pm and one on Sunday June 15. Sunday is Fatherโs Day and this play is the perfect Fatherโs Day date idea – for offspring and fathers to commune in the safe space of theatre – and to reflect on their relationships.
There is a father and son in the play- both characters performed by du Preez. The poster depicts them shaving together. Although Papa is not physically present, he is evoked vividly by the artistโs exquisite portrayal of the ties that bind and disconnect parents and offspring.
In this searing biographical play, Roland calls Papa rather desperately when car issues present while driving on the highway. There is fear and desperation. Who are you gonna call when no one else is there to assist? No matter how tenuous relationships are between offspring and parents, one inevitably calls parents to rescue one.
On the N2 highway, du Preez shifts seamlessly between son – Liefie – and Papa. Riding in dark, there is a processing of the relationship as he puts it โas a queer childโs funny, tragic attempt to meet their dad halfwayโ. Papa as a structural engineer was resolute and young Roland struggled to calibrate within the framework of Papaโs expectations of being a son.
With the pain, Liefie acknowledges Papaโs trauma as a soldier in the Apartheid era SADF. Generational trauma exerts its presence and while Liefie is cognizant that parenting is not easy, the ruptures remain, like stubble which protrudes, even when one has had a close shave – as depicted in the poster.
Performed in English and Afrikaans, the play is threaded by delicious humour. Roland has been making a mark in the world of stand-up comedy and in Rescue Remedy, there is an edgy sense of stand-up to the narrative, with fabulous comedic timing. The set is an installation of dresses and outfits which heighten the leitmotif of Liefieโs exploration of identity and self and journey of healing. It is visually and emotionally powerful as one contemplates the fragility of the dresses dangling like jewels in the dark, skins to climb into by du Preez. See pics on this page of the installation set.
Rescue Remedy pings for me in relation to their piece at Live Art Weekend at the Baxter Masambe, Cape Town, (de)Constructing Gender: Haireditary. The performance included a recording with their mother in โa delicious conversation around hair, femininity, the need to conform to society pressures, shame, guilt and stripping back the mostly un-talked about โ landscape of menopause.โ That is what I wrote.
I see Rescue Remedy and Haireditary – as companion pieces – a conversation between du Preez and parents.
Rescue Remedy is tender and wistful, with poignant writing, images and stirring performance. Sensitive direction by Ramsamy, with the seamless segueing between Liefie and Papa. Go see it. Rescue Remedy will be on at Vrystaad Kunste Fees uly 15, 16, 19. Bookings here: https://vrystaatkunstefees.co.za/events/rescue-remedy-2/
โณFeatured image – Roland du Preez, writer/performer of Rescue Remedy – photographed with their father – who is not physically in the play- but is very much there as played by du Preez. Pic: Nardus Engelbrecht. Supplied.
