OYO’s ‘A Little Prince’ delights at national theatre

The wisdom and wonder of an old favourite recently delighted audiences anew with a staging of Ombetja Yehinga Organisation’s (OYO) ‘A Little Prince in Namibia’ at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) .

Inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s ‘Le Petit Prince’ in honour of the celebrated classic’s 80th anniversary, the OYO presentation was an energetic iteration featuring 13 actors, four musicians, 12 OYO dancers and a teen choir.

The production featured a dual dancer and actor cast led by young Justin Tshabalala and Desmond Kamerika as the little prince, while Nythen Dien and Ethan Philander starred as the pilot. Swapping the Sahara for the Namib Desert, the play told a story many of us know.

A pilot crash lands in the desert and meets a little prince who has visited various planets. The prince tells the story of his journey to the pilot before attempting to return home to a love he has left behind.

While the story is a simple one, often lauded for its underlying themes of love, friendship, loss of innocence and man’s hollow, even absurd, pursuits, the production adds a layer of animation that works wonderfully on stage.

As the pilot and the prince, Tshabalala and Dien endeared from their very first interaction, while Kamerika and Philander skillfully embodied their narration through dance.

Choreographed by Talavera, who imbued the production with relevant humour and pathos, the dancers thrived in sequences in which they were threatening baobabs, enchanting butterflies and roses in bloom or when reflecting a controlling king, a materialistic businessman or conceited man.

Special mention must go to the consummate Kamerika and thrilling Sydney Farao alongside wonderful performances by Mary Jane Andreas, Joh ‘White’ Nakapela, George Williams, Seun Gaoseb and Philander, who each shone as dancers in their respective solos, duets and ensembles.

The dance ensemble of Christolito Mouton, Frankie van Schalkwyk, Ovawa Kuaere, Mckavelli Philander and Eugenia Jossop were also of note and did much to build the vivid worlds of the various planets.

Also charming as the geographer, snake, lamplighter and trio of roses in the crowd were Mbayo, Treazurique Titus and Dennis !Kharuchab, as well as Fhulufhelo Ramphaga, Lucie Machart and Nadula Hainane.

Musically, the cast was just as entertaining. Featuring a number of enjoyable vocal performances from Dien, Galilei Njembo, Clementine Ruel, Benoit Dassac, Mpumzi-Wame Mtimde, Alison Mbayo and Elizaveta Dreyden, the production also boasted a live score by esteemed musicians Jesús Rey, Willem Coetzee, Genivaldo Cambinda and Wotjek Majewski.

The teen choir comprising pupils from David Bezuidenhout Secondary School, Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School, Heritage Private School and St Paul’s College impressed in their pleasant French singing and contributed much to the vibrant atmosphere.

Staged in sometimes flowing and flamboyant costumes by Karolina Katumbo and Teopolina Akumbi with minimal and effective props by Laurie Leccia and Laurance Jacq, ‘A Little Prince in Namibia’ also incorporated illustrations projected onto a screen to recall its source material.

Though I would have appreciated a more focused and lingering moment where the little prince’s story ends in the desert, ‘A Little Prince in Namibia’ was generally well-paced and rarely disappointed.

Talavera wrangled the large ensemble with confidence and a sense of fun.

Teenage Tshabalala made a worthy stage debut. Dien is a dual singing and acting talent one would be happy to encounter again, and Kamerika and Farao remain consistent and sparkling local dance stars.

Following last year’s ‘Discovering Michel’ and 2023’s ‘Remembering Johnny’, ‘A Little Prince in Namibia’ adds another feather to OYO’s national theatre cap.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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