�����鶹Ӱ����Ƶ

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s current production, “Kunene and the King,” which runs until March 23, features two older men who must build trust between each other inside their country’s complex political history.

A play set 25 years post-apartheid South Africa, this production takes two people from completely different worlds in post-apartheid South Africa — two different personalities, backgrounds and races—and smashes them together in a confined space, forcing them to navigate that space.

Set 25 years post-apartheid South Africa, this play, directed by celebrated actor and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson, stars John Kani as Lunga Kunene, an in-home nurse assigned to care for Jack Morris, a terminally ill Shakespearean actor played by Edward Gero, who is learning lines for the role of  King Lear, which he hopes to achieve before he dies. 

Their immediate reactions to one another are: anger, frustration, and resistance. Kunene has to be assertive with Morris, ensuring he follows the orders the doctor has given.

As they spend more time together, the two men realize they have more in common than expected. They have similar regrets about having one adult child and not spending time with their children for a long time. Also, they both have misperceptions about each other’s cultures and communities. To Morris’s surprise, Kunene loves Shakespeare, which he read in school.

“Shakespeare is the common ground both of them love and understand,” said Santiago-Hudson. “By speaking some of his most powerful and poetic words, Shakespeare allows them to love and understand each other.”

Incorporated into the play is singer Ntebo. With her beautiful voice, she is the character Isithunywa, who opens and closes the play. Further, Isithunywa’s voice is a bridge between the three acts of the play by singing a capella, South African songs where you can hear the clicking sounds through the rhythms. 

Going into the third act of  “Kunene and the King,” the setup felt uneven. Kunene is at home, and Morris arrives unannounced, which felt odd. Is Kunene still Morris’ nurse? Though the men were more comfortable interacting with each other, the change in the dynamic between the two was unclear. How much time had lapsed? The audience has to make assumptions.

In addition to Kani being the co-lead in “Kunene and the King,” he is also the playwright. 

This is the first time the South African actor, director, and advocate has performed at Shakespeare Theatre Company. 

Kani, who has a long history in theater and film, co-wrote the Tony Award-winning plays “The Island” and “Sizwe Banzi Is Dead” with fellow South African playwrights Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona. 

The character of Morris is played by Gero, who has appeared in more than 80 productions during Shakespeare Theatre Company’s 40-year history. Gero has also performed extensively in regional and off-Broadway productions. 

Santiago-Hudson was in D.C. last fall to direct “,” written by John Leguizamo. 

“Kunene and the King” has been at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre at 450 7th Street, NW, closer to Penn Quarter. It is 90 minutes with an intermission.

For tickets, go to the Shakespeare Theatre Company website at