“Coming Home” relevant but heavy-handed play at Long Wharf

NEW HAVEN — The statistics are horrific. Over 27 percent of the South African population is infected with the AIDS virus — 40 percent of pregnant women were HIV positive in 2008, and in 2007 an estimated 1.4 million South African children were orphaned.
Even more horrifying was the government cover up that intentionally mislead millions. In the program notes we learn that up until 2004 South Africa’s Minister of Health, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, with the support of then-president Thabo Mbeki, insisted that the AIDS virus could be effectively treated with a diet of bananas, garlic, and olive oil.
The play “Coming Home” premiering at the Long Wharf Theatre, is a personal story of this national tragedy told by acclaimed playwright Athol Fugard.
A young woman leaves her hometown to try to make it as a singer in Cape Town, South Africa. She returns years later infected with the AIDS virus, with a child in tow, trying to secure a future for her AIDS-free child.
At the beginning of the play Veronica Jonkers, played by Roslyn Ruff, returns to the one-room shanty, well designed by Eugene Lee. Her South African accent is all over the place at first, and then it settles down. Ruff portrays a feisty, fiery character, fighting till the end for a secure future for her child.
The end, almost from the beginning, is never in doubt.
The son, Mannetjie Jonkers, is played by two young actors, and they are both terrific. The younger Mannetjie Jonkers, played by an adorable Namumba Santos, only has a few lines, but he is convincing and sweet. The older Mannetjie Jonkers played by Mel Eichler, has the most convincing and consistent accent of the group, and just the right balance of fear and indignation.
Colman Domingo, was fine and believable as the concerned and loving childhood friend Alfred Witbooi. Lou Ferguson who plays the grandfather, Oupa Jonkers, was also solid.
The play is unfortunately over long in exposition. The adult characters each tell story after story. The stories are good ones, but probably read better on the page.
The pace of the play picks up near the end when the conflict and resolution between Alfred and the older Mannetjie Jonkers is explored.
The seed analogy, with the implication that words are like seeds and if nurtured, they will grow, is fine and good, but it is heavy-handed, obvious, and over-played.
The deux ex machina near the end, when the long-hidden money is revealed, feels contrived for plot-resolution purposes. Like the definition of deux ex machina, it is an unexpected, artificial event introduced suddenly to resolve a situation.
“Coming Home” is well meaning and an important, relevant, and tragic story about real poverty and appalling suffering, but talking heads get old after a while.

COMING HOME
2 Stars
Location: 222 Sargent Drive, New Haven
Production: Written by Athol Fugard. Directed by Gordon Edelstein. Set design by Eugene Lee. Costumes by Jessica Ford. Lighting by Stephen Strawbridge. Sound design by Corrine Livingston. Dialect coach Amy Stoller.
Running time: 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission.
Show Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays at 7 p.m., Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. through Feb. 8.
Tickets: $32 to $62. For more information call their box office at 203-787-4282, or visit their website at www.longwharf.org
ACTOR…CHARACTER
Roslyn Ruff … Veronica Jonkers
Namumba Santos … younger Mannetjie Jonkers
Mel Eichler … older Mannetjie Jonkers
Colman Domingo … Alfred Witbooi
Lou Ferguson … Oupa Jonkers