9/27/96
      
      Christina Chapple
      
EDITORS: PHOTO ACCOMPANIES RELEASE -- PLEASE NOTE LOCAL INTEREST
FANFARE PLAY SENDS ANTI-VIOLENCE MESSAGE
     HAMMOND --As its 1996 contribution to Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana University's
October festival of the arts and humanities, Southeastern Theatre will presents "My Children!
My Africa!," a drama with the message that education, not violence is the answer to prejudice
and fear.
     Directed by Southeastern communication and theatre professor Rebecca Boyles, the play
is set in 1985 South Africa. "My Children! My Africa!" is a cautionary tale, said Boyles, a
warning against all violence--even that perpetrated in the name of a revolution against apartheid. 
     The play will run Oct. 8-12 at Vonnie Borden Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets,
available at the theatre box office in D Vickers Hall lobby and at the Fanfare box office in the
SLU University Center, are $5 general admission and $3 non-SLU students and senior citizens.
SLU students are admitted free with their university I.D.  Tickets will also be available at the
door.
     "My Children! My Africa!" is the story of two young students, Isabel and Thami, and the
efforts of a humble and humane black teacher to persuade just one young person that violence is
not the answer. Thami, a young black, finds himself having to choose between loyalty to his
revolutionist friends and the teachings of his mentor. The play is based on a true incident. 
     Athol Fugard's play gives "very good insights into the situation in South Africa. "My
Children! My Africa!" was originally produced in the United States, Boyles said, because
apartheid would not allow productions with bi-racial casts. 
     "I had the privilege of working with the show at Texas A&M, which was the first
university to be allowed to do it," Boyles said. "Fugard was sending us mimeographed rewrites
as we rehearsed. It was an interesting experience!"
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MY CHILDREN! MY AFRICA! -- Add One

     Boyles has cast sophomore speech and communication education major Jozf Cypriane of
Folsom as the teacher, Anela Myalatya (Mr. M). While this is Cypriane's first appearance on the
Southeastern Theatre stage, he has been in Columbia Player's productions such as "A Few Good
Men." Theatre newcomer Darttinual Tilman, a physical therapy major from Saginaw, Mich., will
play Thami Mbikwana. Christina DeRosier, a junior communication and theatre major from
Husser, will play Isabel Dyson. She is a veteran of Southeatern Theatre productions such as
"Dancing at Lughnasa" and "The Matchmaker."
     Boyles is excited about the set, designed by the communication and theatre department's
technical director Steve Schepker. The set, she said, represents the rough poverty of South
Africa's black townships. "I don't want to give to much away," she smiled, "so I'll just say that if
you liked the barricade set in 'Les Miserables,' you will love this set."
     For a Fanfare brochure and ticket order form or for additional information about Fanfare
events, call the SLU Public Information Office, 504-549-2341, or send e-mail to
publicinfo@selu.edu. Fanfare tickets are available at the Fanfare box office, 504-549-2323, at
Gate 1 of the SLU University Center on University Ave. Fanfare information is also available on
the World Wide Web:  www.selu.edu/fanfare/opening.htm.
                                 - SLU -
              SLU Public Information on the World Wide Web:
          www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/maincont.htm