No “Good” In “Bye” at the Masambe Theatre – a Theatre Review and Reflection on Safety and Identity


The story of Cassandra Johnson in No “Good” In “Bye” sheds light on the plight of mothers and the issue of physical and environmental safety that affects their children and households on a daily basis in smaller communities.


On Thursday 1 August 2019 at the Masambe Theatre, Lauren Snyders, who played the role of Cassandra, and her equally talented co- partner Shaun Smith, who played the role of Craig/Brendan, took the audience on an emotional journey of what it means to process pain as one revisits past memories in the midst of loss and grief.     

The show took place over 4 days, with 5 performances. Upon entering the theatre, the set of Cassandra’s house was introduced to the audience: a kitchen table, a stove with tomato food brewing, a kitchen cupboard (with All Gold tomato sauce and a biscuit box!) with a Pick ‘n Pay packet hanging from the side. Other props were later introduced to support the story, such as an empty coffin referencing the memory of Craig Johnson that was laid to rest 8 months after his disappearance (“there’s something about a dead body that makes us find peace”), and a steel bathtub with a jug as memories of his bath times were shared with the audience. The show begins and ends with a melancholic guitar melody playing in the background, with Cassandra sitting on the kitchen floor in a trans.    

The show was a clever demonstration of show but don’t tell, particularly when highlighting the loss of identity of Cassandra’s son, Craig, when he returns to her years later as Brendan, a 22 year old architect. This technique challenged the audience by asking them to pay careful attention to the dialogue between the characters to stay connected to the plot – proof of the uber duo that is Lauren Snyders and Shaun Smith!

Cultsha Kennis would like to thank Lauren Snyders and The Masambe Theatre for the opportunity to review this show. We would also like to commend Lauren for paying tribute to the mothers for whom this story represents.  

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