As the light illuminated the stage that wonderful Saturday afternoon; it also set the audience at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre Lagos, on the mood for a world class theatrical performance awaiting them.
The audience from all walks of life came to relish on “The Engagement”, a stage play by Sefi Atta, which was adopted by the 21st MUSON festival of the Arts as its Chevron Festival Drama for the year 2017.
As expected, the stage play, which was directed by Patrick-Jude Oteh of the Jos Repertory Theatre, also had a world class execution by the team from the Jos-base theatre group.
The stage play, which had two shows (2pm and 6pm) on October 21, 2017, heightened the audience weekend excitement through beautiful exploration of the conspiracies and tension of a relationship that advanced to pre-wedding as entailed by the eponymous title.
Read Also: How Ayanleye built Atmospheric Events in 7 years
It was exciting and memorable weekend for the audience to watch on stage the unfolding suspense between two adults prepared to walk down the aisle. Of course, the implications and complications, the rippling effects and ultimately the denouement made the live stage performance a worthwhile for the audience.
The director played up the suspense in the stage play when something went wrong within few hours to the engagement, a development that shattered many hearts. But while the audience pitied, especially the groom and the bride’s father, the infusion of romantic scenes alongside the heart shattering ones balanced and sustained the audience’s interest with the hope it would end happily for the two families involved. But that never happened as the twin sister of the bride persisted with her antics that led her sister to call off the engagement after being dressed for the final party.
The audience were further educated on losers and gainers when engagements are called off in an African society. Prior the stage play, most of the audience believe that it is either men are at the receiving end or often times, the women folks seem the losers of everything, but this case, both or the woman can gain if the reason to hold the engagement is punctuated and discovered before tying the knot.
The stage play drew several reactions from the audience, especially its ending. Many were visible angry with Tiawo and Kehinde for allowing sibling rivalry to break an engagement envisaged to bring joy to the family. As well, Idowu, the only son of the family, the carefree aunt, the tongue-lashing mother and the pretentious father all shared the blame in the engagement call-off. But the hilarious manner they deliver their different roles only offered excitement and down played the pains they all suffered.
Written in 2002 and first broadcast on BBC radio, “The Engagement” made its second appearance at the MUSON Centre, a place where it endeared its exhilarating storyline into the hearts of Nigerian drama lovers at the maiden outing in 2005.
As well, credit goes to Patrick-Jude Oteh for wonderful directing, the cast of the Jos Repertory Theatre for stellar performance and Chevron for sponsoring the stage play under the Chevron Festival Drama for the year, which the oil giant has sponsored since 2001.
OBINNA EMELIKE
