the suit

Through May 18 - The Suit at A.C.T.  The legendary Peter Brook directs this beautiful, stripped-down adaptation of a story by South African writer Can Themba, and the talented cast of three actors and three musicians literally make it sing.  Set as it is in 1950s Sophiatown, South Africa, the play has its fair share of heartbreak and horror (including one of the most affecting renditions of "Strange Fruit" I've ever heard), but the cast creates a lot of magic onstage too.  Philemon catches his wife Matilda in bed with another man and devises a creative punishment for her: she must tend to her lover's abandoned suit as if it is the couple's honored guest.  Music is integrated seamlessly into the tale, both original compositions by Franck Krawczyk and traditional songs from South Africa, Tanzania, and elsewhere.  I remained entranced throughout.