The Ice Cream Boys, Jermyn Street Theatre - ★★★★ - Until November 2, 2019


This is the story of two old comrades who meet after their struggle has been won. They now face who they have become in the course of that struggle and what circumstances brought them to their current place. This is the story of Jacob Zuma who became president of South Africa after Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki and of his less well-known ANC comrade, the communist, Ronnie Kasrils. They meet while in hospital for treatment and review their complicated personal lives, their struggles as ANC guerrilla fighters, their very different political views and what formed them.The challenge when writing about people whom the public think they know is to bring us to a new understanding of those individuals or to make us see situations about which we have a pre-formed opinion in a more complex or nuanced manner. By these criteria, the play failed to give any deeper insight into Jacob Zuma. It is an indictment of Zuma's presidency and his abuse of power and it shows the man we all know through news reports: superficially charming, totally self-absorbed and utterly morally bankrupt. Andrew Francis and Jack Klaff both do an excellent job of capturing the camaraderie of Zuma and Kasrils while also presenting how they have changed over the years. Bu Kunene plays multiple roles and succeeds in all of them. Her speech on behalf of the post-apartheid generation is particularly poignant. This is a play certainly worth seeing. It chronicles and brings to life some major figures in South African history and gives considerable insight into the challenges faced by country we all have such hope for.

Reviewed by J.C.

 Our Score:  ☆☆☆☆ 

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WHEN, WHERE, GETTING THERE:
Until November 2 , 2019
Mon - Sat: 7:30 pm, Tue & Sat: 3:30 pm
Jermyn Street Theatre
Nearest tube: Piccadilly Circus
Map & Location: 16B Jermyn St, St. James's, London SW1Y 6ST, UK

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