Many plays have powerful themes and symbolism, but it takes an actor like David Adams to convey those messages onstage.
The New Westminster resident stars in the Gateway Theatre production of Valley Song, the 1995 Athol Fugard play set in post-apartheid South Africa. The story delivers a powerful message about racial inequality, and it also holds a lot of meaning for Adams, who is a native of Cape Town.
“I was born there in the ’50s, and of course, that was the height of the system of apartheid – that was sort of institutionalized racism,” he told the Record. “In 1960, when I was five years old, my father decided to move away, even though he was a real dyed-in-the-wool South African.”
Adams’ family left after the Sharpeville massacre, in which police opened fire on a group of black protesters who were demonstrating against newly penned racially oppressive laws, killing 69 people.
“My dad was so disgusted by that that he said, ‘I can’t bring my family up in a country like that, as much as I love this country.’”
Additionally, Adams noted that because of his mixed ethnic background – English on his dad’s side, South Asian and Dutch on his mom’s side – he wouldn’t have had the same opportunities to excel in life in South Africa, including the ability to own land.
“When we lived there, my family is designated under apartheid as ‘coloured’ or of mixed race,” he said. “I wouldn’t have had the same kind of open opportunities for education, for where I wanted to live, and so I’m grateful to my dad for making that very difficult choice.”
Now, more than 50 years later, Adams is in the lead role of Valley Song, playing Abraam “Buks” Jonkers, an elderly farmer of mixed race who represents the old South Africa. Despite the abolishment of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as president, Buks wants to maintain the status quo.
“He’s been so dyed in the wool in terms of being a second-class citizen that he is still fearful of the white people coming in and buying up the land,” said Adams. “He was sort of given his land as a birthright and he doesn’t know if he’ll be able to stay there.
In contrast, Buks’s vocally gifted granddaughter – played by Sereana Malani – is more optimistic and ambitious, full of hope for a racially equal South Africa.
“She wants to move to the big city and become a famous singer and she sees the end of apartheid as the beginning of what could ostensibly be a brilliant, new career,” said Adams.
While only two characters appear onstage, Adams pulls double duty – much like Fugard did – voicing the white, middle-aged narrator who interacts with Buks and Veronica, bringing his own point of view to the story.
“It’s interesting, even though the play is not overtly political, you can draw those parallels because everyone is wanting to figure out how they fit into the new South Africa,” said Adams.
The film’s symbolism has made Valley Song one of Fugard’s most timeless works, and Adams is thrilled to perform in a play so close to his heart.
“I’ve always admired his work, and getting a chance to do this play as a kind of tribute to my ancestry, my background, was also a great opportunity,” he said. “It also felt like, by doing the show, I could say a little something about how I felt about Nelson Mandela, who has always been an idol of mine. It feels like we’re paying a little homage to him.”
The 90-minute play opens at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre on Friday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., running until Feb. 21. For the performance schedule, tickets and more information, check gatewaytheatre.com or call 604-270-1812.
