David Genaro’s delusions of omnipotence have been stubbed out by the arrival of Hermanus Meyer (David James), who does the bidding of the BK Kommando gang. Debashine Thangevelo is glad Genaro is finally being taken down a peg or two by a formidable foe as Miles Vilakazi just wasn’t hacking it. James sheds more light on the brewing tensions between an artfully deceptive Genaro and his immensely popular badass character…
THE writers of e.tv’s Rhythm City made a grave error when they started to turn David Genaro (Jamie Bartlett) into an invincible villain. And it was truly laughable to watch Miles Vilakazi (Peter SePuma) try to take him down.
It’s almost the equivalent of Isidingo’s writers having pretty boy Calvin Xavier browbeat Jefferson Sibeko. Bloody preposterous, is what it all boils down to.
However, common sense has prevailed as Genaro is getting his comeuppance with Hermanus Meyer (David James) taking over the puppet master’s strings, much to soap addicts’ glee.
Kept busy with industrial theatre and corporate productions at the time, the actor says he went to audition for the character in June or July last year.
Says James: “I had a few scenes, initially. The character was supp-osed to pop in and pop out as a representative of the BK group. But they [the creative team] liked the character so much, they decided to write a few more scenes.”
This took place close to the time of the rapist storyline with Gail (Pam Andrews) at the heart of it.
“Slowly the character just grew from there,” he says.
Having worked on District 9, Isidingo (Mad Dog), Criminal Minds, Snitch, Jozi Streets, Binne-landers, Wild at Heart and Kidnap and Ransom, among a slew of other international and home-grown offerings, James admits theatre is – and will always be – his first love.
On working with the RC team, he says: “The lovely thing is they are so invested in the characters. And everyone has input in the creative process – from the costume department to the technical sound team. It is one of the best environ-ments I’ve worked in.”
Shedding light on the layers to his autocratic character, he defends: “Hermanus is not a megalomaniac. But he has a strong ego that drives him. He is completely incapable of beating around the bush.
He is one of those characters who jumps in and gets the job done – that is why he has done so well within the BK group. But he is completely inept at understanding woman.”
With Genaro now lower down on the criminal evolutionary ladder, James (pictured) reveals:
“Hermanus is as high as you can get. Above him is George and he’s in prison. As far as David’s concerned, he has to listen and do, or else.”
If there is one thing Genaro is famed for, it is finding his way back to the top, by any means necessary. Is Hermanus fully aware of what he is up against?
He explains: “I do not think they [BK] are aware of David’s resilience or his conniving spirit.
“Her-manus has a better idea and he doesn’t trust David at all – he always app-roaches him with caution. Especially after that mishap with S’bu not being shot.”
Now with Miles unwittingly involved in the picture – he has been trying to figure out who is behind the failed attack on his son – Genaro has latched on to a scheme to get rid of the BK group’s hold on him.
However, with Hermanus and Miles striking up an alliance, his plan might boomerang on him.
James explains: “Miles is not a huge threat to Hermanus so they come to an agreement.
Besides, Hermanus is always looking for new revenue for the BK group. But David, now that is another story altogether.”
Having lost control of 9-9FM and the magazine affiliated with the station, Genaro is determined to keep 011 (his club with Suffocate) out of the clutches of the BK group. His success hinges on his next plan of action – and that in itself is a huge task, even for a desperado like him.
• Rhythm City, e.tv, 6.30pm on weekdays.