The parables in Long Live Vava
After years of silence, Chancellor College Travelling Theatre on Friday evening returned to the stage with their 2013 production Long Live Vava premiered at the Nanzikambe Arts Café in Naperi, Blantyre.
However, the first performance on Friday was marred by several challenges including blackouts. It was the second performance on Saturday that lived to its billing—a stunning performance supported by good lighting and sound throughout.
With most patrons watching the play on Friday, the Saturday performance which started at exactly 7pm attracted a moderately small audience.
Centering on the values of leadership, christianity and other social issues like science, Long Live Vava is staged in the world of the dead where six people who feel they were great on earth meet and debate their superiority.
What is spectacular is the allegory similar to the political turns that have taken place in Malawi since independence.
Five men and a woman—three former presidents of Thengere land, a scientist, reverend and herbalist are key actors in the play and their discussion on their contribution to change of things on earth is what drives to the climax.
All in all it is a play rife in allegories and relates to the current state of the nation.
Smith Likongwe who is a writer and director of the play says it has been performed in three series World of the dead, Revolution of the death and now Long Live Vava.
