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retrieves the dead man’s identity book to find his address. Buntu finds that the man, named Robert
Zwelinzima, has a work-seeker’s permit — the very thing that Sizwe needs to stay in town. They take the book. At Buntu’s house, Buntu switches the photographs in the books. He proposes that they burn Sizwe’s book — effectively making him dead — and have Sizwe adopt the dead man’s identity so he can stay in Port Elizabeth. Sizwe is unsure about the plan; in particular, he worries about his wife and children. Buntu contends that they can remarry. After much discussion, Sizwe agrees to the switch.
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Styles continues to read the paper and talks about his photography studio. His musings are interrupted when a customer, Sizwe Banzi, arrives. He asks to have his picture taken, but when Styles asks him for his deposit and name, Sizwe hesitates, then says his name is Robert
Zwelinzima. Styles asks
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The play returns to the present time. Staying at Buntu’s house, Sizwe tells Buntu about his problems — unless a miracle happens, he will have to leave town in three days. Buntu is sympathetic to the problem and suggests he work in the mines in King
William’s Town. Sizwe rejects the idea as too
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In the letter, Sizwe tells his wife that Sizwe Banzi is dead. He writes that when he arrived in Port
Elizabeth from their home in King William’s Town, he stayed with a friend named Zola who tried to help Sizwe find a job. His employment search was unsuccessful; as a result, he was told by the
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The scene shifts to the outside of Sky’s after Sizwe and Buntu have been drinking. Buntu decides that he needs to get home to go to work tomorrow. He goes into an alley to relieve himself and finds a dead man there. Sizwe wants to report the body to the police. Buntu rejects the idea, but he
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Sizwe what he will do with the photo, and Sizwe tells him he will send it to his wife. When the picture is taken, the moment is frozen into what the photograph will look like. It comes to life and Sizwe dictates the letter to his wife that will accompany the photo.
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Sizwe finishes dictating the letter to his wife. In it, he tells her that Buntu is helping him get a lodger’s permit. The scene shifts back to Styles’ photography studio; Sizwe is getting his picture taken.
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The focus switches back to Sizwe as he continues to compose the letter to his wife. He describes his experiences at Sky’s shebeen, where he was served alcohol by a woman in a respectful manner.
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authorities that he must leave in three days. Sizwe went to stay with Zola’s friend, Buntu.
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The play opens in the photography studio of a man named Styles. The studio is located in
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dangerous. Buntu decides to take him out for a treat at Sky’s place, a local bar.
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in London in 2007. That year the play was translated into French by
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Drama Desk Award for
Outstanding New Foreign Play (co-nominee with
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for
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is universal. Critics and scholars have also observed that
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for Best Actor in a Play for their performances in both
701:(Free excerpt; registration required for full access.)
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Remains Alive: A Great Play Bids Its
Farewell at BAM"
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Tony Award for Best Actor in Play (Kani and Ntshona,
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