Elephant in Zulu: what more could you ask for?

Elephant in Zulu

If you have ever considered volunteering in a developing country, see Alice Nelson’s play, Elephant in Zulu.  Really, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could use this play as an orientation for folks who want to leave the safety and affluence of North America to do good.

The talented Alice joins ‘Clowns without Borders’ and travels to the northern part of South Africa to bring laughter to children and the grannies that care for them.  Here she brings her experiences back to the audience for consideration.

Her journey is as huge as an elephant and the shit that happens is as heavy.  Although her mom and dad and co-workers are larger than life, Alice reveals them as multifaceted and real.

I loved her physical clowning: contortions of sleep on the planes, the dance of washing herself and her clothes in a basin, and taking the role of the cows that interrupt her driving. She portrayed a handshake from both sides of the shake. You try doing that!

The play is layered with many aspects that a worker from the west needs to go through in order to do the job. The work is to bring laughter and strength to an awful situation. Little things like power shortages, loud rain on the metal roof, and soap operas on TV showed that this was certainly a lived experience. The great music and two puppet shows interspersed in the journey give some background information and depth to the story.

What more can you ask for?

If you see it, you will be uplifted and maybe you can come up with a catchier title.

Elephant in Zulu is on as part of this year's Vancouver Fringe. For more information go here.

By Patricia Morris