Sammy – The Incredible Journey of Gandhi visually portrays the personality, the humanity and the journey of a stumbling lawyer who lead a nation.
Prime Time Theatre Company returned to Auckland after a brief visit last year with the award-winning production of Sammy, perfectly timed with the celebration of India’s 60th year of independence.
Sammy takes the audience on a journey from Gandhi’s years as a lawyer to his prominent role as a freedom fighter. His constant questioning of his beliefs and actions with his inner ‘Mahatma’ gives an insight into Gandhi never before seen or considered. How did an ordinary man make the decisions or lead the life that he did? Where was the guidance and where was the courage to achieve – to lead?
 "One is the ordinary man, Mohan, and the other is the Mahatma who provokes him, who makes him question his actions. It is a way to access Gandhi's inner voice because the aim was always to pull him out of history books and make him alive," says Lillette Dubey, director of Sammy in a NZ Herald interview.
"Gandhi is a universal figure who fascinates and intrigues. I find increasing numbers of people want to know more about him, especially in these times of consumerism and materialism and, sadly, terrorism.”
The lessons taught and the beliefs practiced are simple ideals for life that we can easily apply today in our daily existence. With the ever changing world and the growing violent reactions to media, politics and human issues are turning the souls of people into ugly beings. Love, peace and harmony – three simple words, hold a deeper meaning today.
Sammy tells the tale of a complex character whose human tendencies of self doubt, uncertainty, and outstanding leadership shed some light on the inner workings of a man known to be a great leader.
Gandhi, like any man made decisions that were flawed. His decision not to allow his children to be educated in the schooling rooms of the British was one factor that eventually leads to the breakdown of his relationship with his son. Gandhi said, ‘The real property that a parent can transmit to all equally is his or her character and educational facilities.’ This was never the case with his own children.
His ill-mannered treatment of his wife, who spent years by his side, tending to his constant needs and the needs of his children was (at many times) brushed aside and reminded of her illiterate status. Gandhi’s constant disregard for his family created the notion of a man that was too interested in saving a world than practicing his sermons at home – where charity begins. The face of Gandhi had two parts – one of the public Mahatma and the other of a husband and a father that never truly succeeded.
The play takes its name from the word "swami", which South Africans changed to Sammy and used as an insult to hurl at indentured Indian labourers.
"When Gandhi learnt this, he is said to have laughed because swami actually means guru. Gandhi said he would try to live up to the title."
Sammy – the Incredible Journey of Mahatma Gandhi is written by the talented Partap Sharma and directed by Lillette Dubey. With an outstanding cast and a special story, Sammy is a journey of life itself.
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