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AKVILLE BEAVER PRTFOLIO p they can no longer wait for change to come from within the system. "It really cuts to the core of the issue of the violence of racism," says Rooney. ‘"For me, the issue is the absolute need to avoid violence and the absolute need for violence to end apartheid." Rooney became involved three years ago after he saw Fugard‘s own production of My Children! at Harbourfront. After trying with no success to interest some theatres in the project, he discovered Hamilton‘s Theatre Aquarius was By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff While "My Children! My Africa!" deals with the brand of racial upheaval indigenous to South Africa, the production‘s director believes its message has a great deal to teach those of us right here at home. "I‘d like people to leave with a deeper understanding of the issues involved. They should be very moved by it. They should have some insight into racism and where it comes from. I think that is releâ€" vant to us because we have these kinds of problems," says Oakville‘s Robert Rooney. "In South Africa everything is so clear cut. It becomes a very useful model for us to study." The Athol Fugard play explores the complex and volatile relationâ€" ships between Mr. M., a black high school principal; Thami, his favorite pupil and Isabel, a white student. All three share a love for learning and a hatred of apartheid but disagree over the best way to handle it. Violence flares when Thami and his classmates decide Oakville‘s Robert Rooney is the director of "My Children! My Africa!" a production dealing with the racial upheaval in South Africa. I went into theatre a year later." 1989 CUTLASS 1988 PONTIAC TEMPEST 2 dr., V6, auto, OD, Air, AM/FM V6, auto, air, AM/FM cass. Only cass. Bucket seats $ 7 8 8 8 1987 SUNDANCE 2 dr., hatch, 4 cyl, auto, cass. Great se . 55809 1990 PONTIAC 6000 LE V6, auto, OD, air, AM/FM cass. 85,000 km. console. Stock Stock #UE563. #UE527A. Only hi 547 traraLcar RoAD AT THE Q.E.W., OAKVILLE Chevrolet Oldsmobile MAâ€".â€"Aâ€"â€"Y Waterfront Sponsor of: 4 \/YI o the o , i c The African connection Robert Rooney‘s affinity for Africa is well documented, although if the truth be told his involvement came about quite by accident. It was 1966 and Rooney â€" then 16 â€" had just left high school and decided to become a journalist. He landed a job with British United Press in London where he admits he was little more than an office boy. One day, as he stayed behind while the rest of the staff went out to a pub, a flash came over the wire that South African prime minister Verwoerd â€" the architect of apartheid â€" had been assassinated. Rooney reacted quickly and fired the story off to three dailies. "I scooped everyone by sheer accident," he laughs. As a result, Rooney was assigned to the onâ€"going story and before long it was decided he should man the "Africa Desk." "That‘s how I became involved in African politics," he said. "But then FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1993 PAGE 10 planning to do it. Both parties decided to pool their resources and / form a collective with the sole purâ€" | pose of staging the play. "That made it a very exciting project. It allowed us to extend the | rehearsal process, really delve into the various levels it‘s played on," said Rooney, who explained that the major hurdle to overcome was funding. "Without the connection i to Theatre Aquarius we wouldn‘ have been able to do such a pro found production." (See "My Children!" Page 14) 1989 BUICK ELECTRAWGN. 5.0 L, auto., OD, p.w., p.l., climate control, p. seats. § Nice clean car. Stock #UE569. TOWNE GC@ SLOUGH ESTATES CANADA q a a Principal Sponsor : Children‘s Canadian Music Staa JACK GRUNSKY More details: 8455585 it 1 * T *3 ° m 9 A "Don‘t Miss It" event for families. Waltch evely Prigay tor x 4 C Waterfront Update j o 0 . *A 11 1J 8 fopua id d y x t L t t P o NC uL ET c i wA 3 L Ash ki El4 5Pw Who oÂ¥ r