Viewers track play’s action in “Breakfast with Mugabe”

Karla Boos, artistic director of Quantum Theatre, is bringing the problems of African… Karla Boos, artistic director of Quantum Theatre, is bringing the problems of African post-colonial independence into the minds of Pittsburghers.

“Breakfast with Mugabe” tells the story of controversial figure Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, during the 2002 engineered elections.

Mugabe, in full Shakespearean emotional drama, is plagued by a ngozi, a vengeful, bitter spirit that threatens his sanity.

The story unfolds the true story of post-colonial Zimbabwe: the anger felt by white people as a result of land redistribution policies and the failure of economic and social reform to energize this now impoverished South African nation.

Boos is known for her transformative use of space, and this production is no different. “This play puts the audience inside the vast, creepy former Lazarus site, and it feels very appropriate for this play set in Zimbabwe, a country of great wasted potential,” Boos said in an interview with The Pitt News.

Most plays involve a forward-looking audience who knows where the action is going to take place. In “Mugabe,” audience members will be forced to search out action in the large space and develop their own perspectives on the play.

Boos has developed “room for the audience to construct the why?” of the play, challenging audience members to participate in their own experience.

This play reminds Americans that African politics are complex and not easily categorized. Development is difficult to attain, and many programs will fail before they succeed.

“It’s a great thing that this play does, call[ing] attention to how awful this process of discovering the best way forward for Zimbabwe is when in the hands of a horribly paranoid, brutal, incompetent dictator,” Boos said.

“Breakfast with Mugabe” will surely give you a look inside the Dark Continent. Running through Feb. 27, hop on a bus heading Downtown from Oakland and stop at Piatt Place, 301 Fifth Ave.

You can purchase tickets through Pitt Arts for $15 with a valid Pitt ID, or by calling the box office at 412-697-2929.