The most powerful man in the world is not feeling very powerful today. Burnt by foreign flashpoint, battered by bigotry and tormented by cyber-terrorists, Barack Obama is staring down the barrel of a lame duck presidency. His dream has turned to ashes in the mouths of the faithful and expectant. On the eve of a visit to Africa he begins to confront his legacy in the huge shadow of the Mandela mantle. And this thing he knows beyond any calling: he can't, won't go down without a fight.. 
Barack Obama sweeps to power peddling gossamer dreams and the fragrant promise of a golden new dawn. Yet even as he rises up, a saviour anointed, lit in halo-glow, a confederacy of the bitter conspire to tear down their nightmare. A blunt instrument of attrition is forged in singular pursuit: get the Black out of the White House. And as the rock star adulation fades, and sweet hope sours and fancy faith falters what remains of audacious hope? A state visit to Africa assumes the weight of pilgrimage, even more than the humbling return to the land of his fathers. Can an audience with the most revered statesman of his age be the elixir to loose the shackles and re-ignite the flame? Or will a great man slip from his death bed, the baton not passed, clattering to the shill of hollow promise? Perhaps all we know for certain is: absolute ambition does not presume to resonate in a minor key. 

Bo Petersen is a multi-talented stage, film and TV performer and director. Numerous Fleur du Cap nominations, directed Dead Yellow Sands to 2 Fleur du Cap Awards in 2016.

Brendon Daniels is a stage, TV and film actor with multiple credits and award recognition. SAFTA winner (Four Corners), Fleur du Cap winner (Rooiland).

Ian Tucker is a writer, director and producer with short film credits including Rock Out, Black Circle, Making like Marty and theatre credits: A Funny Thing Happened on way to Talent Show. 

Audience Responses

well played but boring script.

Should be 5 stars because this is a very convincing performance in a play that is totally relevant. Brendon Daniels has the presence and and his American twang is cool, but his diction is not. We need to be able to hear the words clearly. Second minor problem is lighting, which needs to be sharpened up.

Absolutely convincing portrayal of Obama and a script that was highly relevant to the SA context in its attention to US orientation to investment rather than aid and Mandela as a source of inspiration for Obama. Awesome portrayal of Obama in dialogue with himself and Mandela re US's role and SA relations

Probably the most boring show I've ever seen at Alex.

The look was right (though the shoes were wrong), and I would have been convinced, even by the accent. But Brendon pitched the volume level so low that I'm sure I missed a good 50% of the text. He would start a sentence perfectly audibly, and then about a quarter of the way through the sound would virtually disappear and I'd never know what the rest of the sentence was intended to convey. It's an intimate venue, sure, but ... you must be able to project to the fourth - and last - row. How is it that two directors didn't sort this out before paying performances commenced?

Really enjoyed the show excellent acting. Also staff were most helpfull

Fascinating, complex script. Evoked a sense of the loneliness and weight of the role of the US president. Very timely too, because of Obama coming to the end of his term...a sense of excitement for him about his coming freedom and how he might use it in the world. A convincing performance.