History begins as tragedy, ends as farce - or, in the case of Gumboots, showbiz. The origin of Gumboots goes back to colonialist days in South Africa, when blacks were thrust down into the bowels of the earth to dig out gold for their white masters, a typically brutal bunch of capitalists who treated them like slaves, condemning them to work in darkness while shackled to each other. On top of that, the workers were forbidden to speak to each other; forcing them to communicate by rattling their chains, whacking their boots and grunting musically. This private code, born of defiance and courage in the face of evil, took on the shape and sound of a complex language, one that enabled an oppressed people to survive their awful fate with a measure of dignity and pride. Later, in post-apartheid South Africa, the gumboot culture was rediscovered by a new generation of young blacks willing to investigate and honor their roots.
Dance troupes were formed, and performances in clubs and bars were offered to the public, who responded to the fire and intensity of the dancers. Entrepreneurs then stepped in to exploit this folk art by making it more commercial. Choreographers, costumers and set designers were brought in; elements of rock were added (keyboard, guitars, drums). As a result, Gumboots became a road show, a 90-minute spectacle aimed at a 21st century audience seeking entertainment. Gumboots delivers in that area, with the 12-person all-male company putting out non-stop energy and pizzazz.
Working on a scaffold set designed by the Tap Dogs' Nigel Triffitt, the dancers substitute bottle tops for shackles, trendy denim for slave garb, and emphasize smiles and cheerfulness over anger and rebellion as they work their way through 21 foot-stomping, a capella musical numbers moodily lit by Gavin Norris. A few numbers convey the sorrow and loss felt by the original miners; the rest turn the protest and pain into glitzy, grinning kitsch. Kitsch can be fun, though, and that's what Gumboots is: a fun show for the whole family to enjoy. It's so toothless and gormless, though, that even an imperialist could enjoy it.
