Is it because I’m Jack?

This dark comedy about life and death set in the context of four young men grappling with their mortality, was commissioned by the Aardklop Arts Festival where it premiered in 2011.

Introduction

A board member of the Aardklop Arts Festival had a significant birthday in 2010, and as a gift to the Festival, she commissioned me to write a new play, and about whatever I chose as a theme.  There are generous “theatre angels” out there, and the muse was rather insistent that I do this piece about four young male friends, through which to explore friendship, loyalty and self-preservation.

In the prime of their lives, this dark comedy takes us into the world of these young men as they are confronted by their own mortality when one of them is diagnosed with a terminal disease.

First Production

Aardklop Arts Festival, 28 September-2 October 2010

Director

Yvette Hardie

Cast

Clyde Berning, Andew Laubscher, Anele Matoti and Morne Visser

Seasons

Aardklop Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, 28 September-2 October 2010

On Broadway, Cape Town, 5-16 October 2010

National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, 1-8 July 2011

What the Critics Said

“…a fascinating exploration of the multiple facets of human nature”

  • Astrid Stark, 19 October 2010

 “Is it because I’m Jack gives on the impression at times that there is a very decent and quite funny play buried deep in there somewhere but unfortunately, the end result is all that matters and in this regard, as it stands, this work is pretty dismal.”

  • Peter Tromp, The Next 48 Hours, 15 October, 2010

 “Gallows humour from the crown prince of satire.”

  • Cue Online, 4 July 2011

Availability of script and audio-visual material

The script is available on this website.  There is no video recording.