A Motive for Murder
JOBURG - A Human Being Died That Night is on at the Market Theatre.
I watched a play at the Market Theatre on 26 March I think every human being on earth should see. I say ‘human’ because that’s what the play is about – what it means to be human.
A Human Being Died That Night, originally a best-selling book, is based on and inspired by prison interviews with Apartheid assassin, Eugene de Kock, and explores how an essentially moral individual could commit acts of mass murder.
In 1997 Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, a psychologist and member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sits opposite the man dubbed ‘Prime Evil’ – the head of the Apartheid regime’s death squad. Through a series of interviews at Pretoria Central Prison, she determines to understand De Kock’s motives.
As is expected with a play of this nature; the set is sparse. It is comprised of a prison cell, a table and two chairs. De Kock, played by British actor Matthew Marsh, is seated on a steel stool and wears a bright orange uniform. On the other side of the modest table is Gobodo-Madikizela – played by Swazi-born British actress Noma Dumezweni. She is American-educated, well-spoken and contained; and the first few instances when De Kock addresses her simply as ‘Pumla’ are jolting. It’s just odd. Here is a human who is serving a 212-year sentence of crimes against humanity, and Gobodo-Madikizela is determined to find his humanity.
At the end of the performance Gobodo-Madikizela addresses the audience and describes a meeting with De Kock and Marcia Khoza – the daughter of Portia Khoza, who De Kock personally executed. Martia describes sitting opposite De Kock, the table so small their knees were touching. At one point, she recounts, they were so close they were breathing the same air. A tale, I think, that summarises Gobodo-Madikizela’s motives in her exploration of forgiveness, compassion and personal freedom.
Dumezweni’s performance was faultless. Marsh, although his accent was a bit fuzzy at times, depicted successfully a haunted, damaged and identifiable individual. That it is the story of one man; Eugene de Kock, and one woman; Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, is indisputable. That it is the search and discovery of Man is too.
A Human Being Died That Night first ran at the Hampstead Downstairs Theatre in London in May last year. It is on at the Market Theatre in Newtown until 6 April.
Details: Market Theatre box office 011 718 4000.
