Arts Review

Written by: Tiisetso Tlelima
Pictures Credit: Courtesy of Rhythm City

Just the thought of being in the same room as Jamie Bartlett who plays Rhythm City’s conniving, malevolent and megalomaniac David Genaro sends shivers down my spine – it’s intimidating and exhilarating at the same time. He’s worked extensively in theatre, film and television both in South Africa and his native land, England. He’s acted alongside Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie in Beyond Borders and Hilary Swank in Red Dust. Most of us remember him as the shady Mike O’Reilly in Isidingo, but it’s really his role as Rhythm City’s David Genaro that’s captured the hearts of millions of viewers across the continent. So naturally, when I arrive at his home in Auckland Park for our interview, I’m a nervous wreck. After all, it’s not everyday that one gets to chat to one of the most gifted actors in Mzansi.

He gives me a quick peck on the cheek, ushers me in and starts talking about his upcoming theatre production, Death Of A Colonialist which opens on 26 March at the Market Theatre. He makes us Rooibos tea and offers me a slice of panettone – a sweet fruit-filled Italian bread. He has a fetish for Italian cuisine, he says. He looks slightly different. He’s growing a long beard which I suspect is for his role as a 65-year-old history teacher in the play. Death Of A Colonialist follows the bittersweet story of an Eastern Cape history teacher reaching the end of his career at a private school in Grahamstown. Obsessed with Xhosa history, he’s so wrapped up in his teaching world he fails to notice the crises that are raging his family. “During apartheid the Market Theatre was like my home, so it’s nice to go back now and look at pictures of myself when I was 23,” says Jamie.

The play makes people really understand Xhosa culture – something which Jamie is very passionate about. He seems perturbed by our disinterest in our cultural practices and the rate at which South African languages are deteriorating. “We live in such a mish-mash of cultures we don’t even know who we are anymore,” he affirms. “A Sotho or Tswana speaking person can’t speak their own language. We’re just not in touch with our cultures.” He acknowledges that more money is needed to fund theatre productions and TV programmes that promote South African cultures. “Money given to the arts is pathetic. We are losing our cultures because there’s not enough money to pay writers, producers and directors,” he explains.

Lashing out at the SABC for serving as a mouthpiece for the ANC and failing to tell authentic South African stories, he says: “The SABC is emotionally bankrupt, morally bankrupt, spiritually bankrupt, financially bankrupt and so top-heavy, that’s why we see so many cheap, affordable re-runs. Only the strongest slaves can hold onto their bloodlines. The young and talented don’t have work. You’ll find students graduating from a four-year degree at AFDA but they can’t find work.” In order to turn the situation at the SABC into a beneficial one, he proposes a complete overhaul of the entire SABC structure. There needs to be more than just a change in management. “We need to stop appointing commissioning editors who can’t judge scripts. We need people who are highly qualified, people who have Masters Degrees in film and have a lot of experience. People who know what they’re doing,” says Jamie firmly.

He reveals that a lot of the educational programmes we see on TV, namely, Hopeville, Soul City, Sex Tips For Girls and the Brothers For Life Campaign are as a result of US and UN Aid money. Foreign money is being pumped into these shows because they spark conversations around HIV/Aids, abuse, crime and corruption. Our conversation shifts to TV news and he relays his preference of E.tv over SABC news because unlike the SABC it is not controlled by ANC cronies with a political agenda so they are more honest and unbiased. “I can make jokes about Julius Malema and they’ll allow it,” he says referring to his character David Genaro on Rhythm City.

Listening to him slam the SABC, I realise there is one distinct similarity between him and David Genaro. They’re both very verbose and they aren’t afraid to speak their minds. “I’m very passionate and it has got me in trouble in my career – sometimes I don’t have filters. I wish I was slightly more careful, more jaded and more guarded,” says Jamie. Nevertheless, this doesn’t stop him from criticizing the government next and calling the day UCT student Chumani Maxwele gave President Jacob Zuma’s convoy the finger, a revolutionary moment.

While his big mouth may land him in trouble in real life, it’s certainly made him a hit on Rhythm City. His ability to use metaphors to illustrate the most indescribable emotions is admirable and awe-inspiring. Fans have even gone as far as labelling him the modern-day Shakespeare. “David Genaro has a lot of influence in almost everything that he says. He ignites the imagination,” explains Jamie as he re-enacts a scene where David says “you need a fucken huggies boy” after his psychiatrist shits himself. “I improvise there in the moment, but I don’t always have a say in what David Genaro says.”

On playing the baddie, Jamie has this to say: “There’s no doubt that the villain is often the best character to play. It does help that I weigh 110kg. You’re not going to find someone my size playing the wimp husband.” He explains that quite a lot of what David Genaro does stems from the brutality he witnessed during the 1992 Bosnian War when he was in the army. “I saw things that crippled me. The pain and agony of it just fucken killed me.”

Having played the role for three years, Jamie knows David Genaro so well getting into character has become effortless. “I have smells. When I’m with Lucilla I wear a particular kind of smell. David himself has his own smell. I know this guy very well. I know him so well I could fuck him if I want to,” he laughs. He goes on to say that David Genaro is a status character and a stunning vehicle to allow audiences to see the many layers of a villain. “You will see him when he’s feeling vulnerable and naked. He is cold-blooded but you also get to see when he weeps.” David is the epitome of evil, but he also has a wicked sense of humour. “Laughter is an amazing thing, we must have it otherwise we’re on the dull side all the time. That dull side needs a bit of punctuation and laughter.”

So are we ever going to see the demise of Genaro? While we both agree the character has been pushed too far and needs to be cut down to size, we can’t imagine Rhythm City without him. However, he confirms rumours that tragedy soon befalls David and he’s now on sabbatical from Rhythm City.

For more info on Death Of A Colonialist visit www.markettheatre.co.za