By Uendjizuvira Kandanga

Written and produced by Amanda Strydom, with Coenraad Rall as the music director and pianist, this 70-minute tale tells the story of Isabella Dolorosa van Tonder, an orphan lovingly nicknamed Tinkerbell or Tinkie by her grandmother Nella Petersen.

Nella is a charming old woman who exudes peace as she speaks about her Tinkie. She dances lightly as if spinning Tinkie in an old familiar rhythm, making me imagine they often danced together. At times, her voice is soft and secretive, while at other moments, it swells with raw emotion. The smoke from the stage effects illuminates her figure, emphasising her presence, though its frequent bursts can be distracting. When she sings, she commands attention; her voice is loud and deep – an unexpected contrast to her delicate appearance.

Learning that Mama put Tinkie on a plane upon hearing the bulldozers were coming, makes one pause and wonder how bad the situation was that a mother’s only choice was to send her child off alone in an aeroplane to a foreign country. The song that follows is a sad one, amplifying the mother’s heartache at the circumstances.

As the story unfolds through eleven emotionally charged songs, one after another, we start to understand and appreciate the role Uncle Boytjie played in Tinkie’s life. Although he was in exile, he took her in when she came to the Netherlands and practically raised her.

The eighth song is a heartfelt prayer for the country. This theme resurfaces when news of Nelson Mandela’s release from Victor Verster Prison reaches them, symbolising a long-awaited return. After the ninth song, in which Strydom hits the highest notes and receives the loudest applause, she tells us not to go away as she will be right back. The piano plays in the background, and everyone looks upon the stage in anticipation…

Tinkie herself then graces us with her presence, clad in glittery black attire, holding a teddy bear from her childhood. She performs the final song, and by the end, the entire audience is on their feet.

As the lights dim and the performance comes to a close, one cannot help but reflect on the strength it must have taken for Tinkie to endure separation from her mother, build a life in exile, and return to a homeland forever changed. In the final lyrics, she reminds us that “the times they are a-changin’” – and indeed, they have.

Foto: Gys Loubser