A wounded gunslinger finds his way to a small church in the lawless Wild West where he meets a young woman.
During this seemingly chance meeting, in which he takes her as his hostage, both are forced to confront their past in a story that looks at sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness, and hope.
Such is the tale that awaits patrons of Vrynge, part of the Vrystaat Arts Festival, in Livin’ Leonard’s Gun, a stage production from the pen of Lorenzo Dampies: writer, actor, producer, and technical assistant for the Department of Drama and Theatre Arts at the University of the Free State (UFS).
Since graduating in 2019 and during his time as a drama student at the UFS, Dampies has been involved in numerous plays and short movies.
He has done community theatre, namely Daar is die Lam for Pacofs last year, children’s productions with friends for the Vrystaat Arts Festival and the local Bloemfontein theatre scene, and a few short movies.
One of these, Jodie’s Birthday, received some international recognition in 2022 and 2023.
What can audiences expect from Livin’ Leonard’s Gun, then?
“The play is made for anyone looking for 40 to 45 minutes of entertainment. Western plays about cowboys and bandits are few and far between, so those in the mood for something different, but still entertaining can come and enjoy Livin’ Leonard’s Gun,” Dampies says.
The play is intended for viewers 13 years and older on account of scenes of violence and strong language. Its cast and technical team comprises former and current students of the university’s drama department, CW Laten, Anke Meyer-Auld and Katelyn Forbay, with the former two also working on their own theatre projects for the Vrystaat Arts Festival.
These productions are Omhoog and Dewald is nie Oukei nie, andHoor jy die water?, respectively.
“I made it to entertain the audience who decides to give it a chance and because I enjoy telling stories. If the audience gets more out of that from the experience, then that will just be a massive bonus,” Dampies says.
Livin’ Leonard’s Gun will show on Wednesday, 3 July, at 16:00 and 4 July at 20:00, in the Scholtz Hall at the UFS. Fans of cowboys, crooks, and all things Western can buy their tickets on webtickets.co.za for R80, or pay R100 at the door.
