Apartheid Haunts AACT Play

Angelica Morton,left,and Tiffany Williams in "The Syringa Tree," Ann Arbor Civic Theater's latest show, opening Thursday.

Apartheid

haunts

AACT play

'Syringa Tree' staged at U-M's Arthur Miller Theater

BY JENN MCKEE

The Ann Arbor News

Alex Bisker has not only been directing Ann Arbor Civic Theater's production of Pamela Gien's "The Syringa Tree,"but also supplying sound effects in rehearsals.

"I'm like, 'This is a jet plane - whoosh!'" said Bisker, adding that once the cast can move into the University of Michigan Arthur Miller Theater, they'll "appreciate finally having the real sound."

Set in South Africa during and after apartheid era, “Syringa” follows the lives of a young white girl, her family and their servants. Salamina, Elizabeth’s nanny hides a pregnancy - because only black people with with government-issued passes could stay in a white neighborhood.Eventually the child, Moliseng, becomes Elizabeth's playmate. As they get older, Moliseng is discovered due to an illness and Elizabeth flees to the United States where she follows the news of South African violence and political upheaval from her new home.

Thus, one actress must play various ages between 6 and 40. But, says Bisker, that isn't the play's primary challenge.

"It's referencing this really big, horrible event in South Africa, but you have to keep that in the backdrop and focus on the people," said Bisker.

“You don,t want to just ignore it, either, but you can’t focus on it or it’ll be become to heavy, hitting you over the head with a message."

The production is bare-bones, relying heavily on lightning and sound instead of props, with only a swing for a set. And while you might think a play set during apartheid would just be depressing, Bisker has found the opposite to be true.

"It's actually an uplifting play because it's about the people that survived apartheid," said Bisker. "Yes, there's death in the play. That's part of apartheid. But also, there were people that ...  keep going on living."

Jenn McKee can be reached at 734-994-6841 or jmckee@annarbornews.com.