Los Angeles, CA – The Fountain Theatre continues its unique relationship with one of the world’s greatest living playwrights, Athol Fugard, with the West Coast premiere of Coming Home.  Stephen Sachs directs Matthew Elam, Deidrie Henry, Noah Murtadha, Thomas Silcott, Timothy Taylor and Adolphus Ward in Fugard’s newest work, which opens June 20 and continues through August 20.

Fugards’ characters are drawn from people that have touched him during his live while growing up in his hometown of Nieu Bethesda in the Karoo region of South Africa.

“I always believe that there is something floating around in that ocean of wreckage to which we can cling and maybe survive. – Athol Fugard

Coming Home is a Fugard’s first sequel to his acclaimed 1995 Valley Song where  Veronica Jonkers (Diedrie Henry) having grown up on her Oupa’s farm with dreams of becoming a singer in Cape Town, leaves her home in search of her dreams.

In Coming Home, Veronica returns home with Mannetjie (Timothy Taylor and Noah Murhadha: alternate-Mannetjie – 10 yrs old) to find that her Oupa  (Adolphus Ward)has passed away while she was in Cape Town and the story begins to unfold as they adjust to their new life together on the farm. Things are different without her Oupa, but the memories are still strong and rich in childhood principles that she wants to instill in the mind of Mannetjie so that he may grow up and share them with his children.

Times past are shared with Veronica when her old childhood friend Alfred Witbooi (Thomas Silcott) gets word that Veronica is back from Cape Cod and pays her a visit. Alfred, in his excitement is revealed a character that is sensitive, caring and once attracted to Veronica as his only friend, besides his grandmother. He was also a trusted friend and worker of Oupa’s on his farm during Veronica’s absence.

Veronica and Witbooi share memories of growing up on the farm and dreams lost. While Witbooi is proud of his work on the farm but always hoped for the day when Veronica would return, she is less excited to go down that path and reveal what is the true reason for her return home.

Veronica and Witbooi share many days talking about Oupa, their childhood, singing and dancing the way they did while growing up. Veronica performing “on stage” the way she did as a child with big dreams of the city. But Mannetjie is not so impressed with Witbooi whom he considers “slow.”

“And tell him stories. He likes stories. Especially about me and Oupa. That is a big promise you must make to him. Please don’t let him forget me!” - Veronica

AIDS has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Africans has changed the lives of children, growing up without parents as a result of this terrible illness, with little intervention from the government.  “South African clinics are overcrowded and understaffed, the diseased are malnourished, and many patients never receive treatment.  There are more people living with AIDS in South Africa than any other country – 27% of the population. Until 2006, the South African minister of health insisted that a diet of bananas, garlic, and olive oil would combat AIDS as effectively as antiretroviral drugs would – and President Thabo Mbeki supported her.” 

It is said that in 2008, 4 out of 10 pregnant women were HIV positive. Many of these women were single, having been rape or abandoned by angry, fearful husbands.  In 2007, an estimated 1.4 million South African children were orphaned, up from 780,000 in 2003.

Fugard brings us closer to witnessing the dynamics taking place between this family and close friend by bringing us into the home of Veronica and Mannetjie. Veronica reveals she is a victim of the disease contracted during her days while trying to survive in Cape Town and in doing so exposes the love, commitment, compassion and personal sacrifice as Veronica, Mannetjie, Alfred and the ghost of Oupa Jonkers struggle with the dynamics set before them and what must be done in the future without her.

“Seeds are many things, but everything about seeds – their numbers and forms and structures – has a bearing on their man purpose, to insure continuing life.  Seeds are containers of embryonic plants, the embryos of a new generation.” – U.S.  Dept of Agriculture Yearbook, 1961. Quoted in Valley Song’s front matter.

Veronica saw the importance of planting the seeds of memories that reveal principles of hard work and other values for Mannetjie to remember and not forget as he grows up to be a man, a job that must be handled by Afred as he promises in his commitment to Veronica.

Set Design for coming Home is by Laura Fine Hawkes; Lighting Design is  by Christian Epps; Costume Design is by Shon LeBlanc; Sound Design is by Peter Bayne; Prop Design is by Goar Galstyan; Dialect Coach is JB Blanc; Graphic Design is by Scott Seidman; Production Stage Manager is Liz McGavock; Simon Levy and Deborah Lawlor produce.

CAST:
Athol Fugard, Playwright
Stephen Sachs, Director
Mathew Elam (Mannetjie, age 10)
Diedrie Henry (Veronica Jonkers)
Noah Murtadha (alternate – Mannetjie – age 10)
Thomas Silcott (Alfred Witbool)
Timothy Taysor (Mannetjie, age5)
Adolphus Ward (Oupa Jonkers)

WHAT:
The Westcoast Premiere of “COMING HOME”

WHEN:
Opens Saturday June 20
Performances through August 29
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday’s at 8pm Sundays at 2pm

TICKETS:
$25 on Thursdays and Fridays
$28 on Saturdays and Sundays
On Thursdays and Fridays only, students with ID are $18 and seniors are $23

WHERE:
The Fountain Theatre
5060 Fountain Avenue (at Normandie)
Los Angeles
Secure, on-site parking is available for $5

For reservations and information call (323) 663-1525 or go to www.FountainTheatre.com

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