A Review of Uncle Ebo Whyte’s play ‘I Want to Feed You’ Staging at the National Theatre, Ghana on the 6th,7th, 8th,13th,14th and 15th September, 2024.
Plot
The play revolves around a police officer who was tragically murdered by some powerful individuals in high places. Notably, the officer himself is never seen on stage, but his story is poignantly told through the narratives of his wife, Maame Bee and his son, Nhyira.
Based on the narration, it becomes clearer that the officer’s demise was a result of his courageous attempt to arrest those responsible for the “galamsey”(illegal mining) operations in the country. The play tackles thought-provoking themes such as corruption, bribery, the abuse of power, and single parenting. The play gives a gripping commentary on the social ills that plague our society ie. the curses people rain on others, murder, etc.
Fast Forward Roverman Productions Partnered with the National Theatre and Joy FM to run the production for six nights. This review is based on the events for the first night only. The review will capture the acting, set and props, costumes and makeup, sound and light, music and dance, and audience participation, and rate the entire production by over 10.
Acting
Since the play projects social issues in a comic way, it is expected that the actors put up their “A Game ” to project the issues. Comedy is one of the most difficult genres of art to play as an actor, so when actors play their roles so well, audience always get spell bound, and for this play, I think all the cast did justice to their various roles. Overall, the actors delivered impressive performances. Maame Bee and Nhyira’s mother-son dynamic was delightful to watch, and they both excelled in their roles. Serwaa’s energy complemented that of Nhyira’s , but I wished for more depth in their interactions. I needed to understand why Serwaa seemed disinterested in Nhyira. Rapture and Alaska were a fantastic duo, serving as perfect comic relief. Their relationship wasn’t explicitly established, but they worked well together, which created the assumption of them being siblings or friends.
Peace and her daughter Oboshi were intriguing characters. However, Oboshi’s energy didn’t quite match her mother’s description. Peace embodied some Ghanaian mothers who prefer cursing over forgiveness. Mikey and Jonny’s fighting scene was impressive, with excellent choreography.
Osofo delivered an impressive performance in the play, perfectly embodying the biblical phrase “touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm” He nailed his role, but i wanted more biblical quotes from him during his preaching, given his educational background. In my opinion, he could have further impressed the audience by incorporating more scriptures into his dialogue to ensure more believabilty.
Finally, the Extras made a valuable contribution to the production’s success, even without prominent lines. Every extras including the mad man played a dual role which is truly commendable and it’s interesting how they maintained their composure and delivered well when needed, never interrupting the main characters. Their performance were exceptional and amazing to watch on stage . Special mention to the extra who fell from the chair after sleeping for long in the first scene. It was an impactful moment that added to the show without being distracting.
COSTUME
Given the play’s simplicity and four-scene structure, I didn’t expect elaborate costumes and makeup. The choice of simple outfits was fitting, and each character’s attire complemented the others. Alaska’s hairstyle, a short cut with green dye, was perfect for his character. Rapture’s hair scarf was perfect for the role and I loved how she styled it, tying it on her hair and removing it when necessary. it was a great addition to her character’s look. I think Nyhira’s beard worked perfectly well for a lover-boy role. Overall, the costumes were suitable for the play’s tone and setting.
Set and Props
I thoroughly enjoyed the set design for this production, as it effectively established the tone and mood. The setup convincingly portrayed a compound house in a Ga community, complemented by the actors’ language and actions. The central road setting, common in Ga communities, added to the authenticity. The set and props worked harmoniously to create an immersive environment, drawing the audience into the world of the play. The attention to detail in the set design was impressive, making it easy to become fully engaged in the story. Overall, the set and props were well executed, playing a significant role in bringing the story to life.
light and sound
I was underwhelmed by the lighting design for this production. While lighting is crucial in setting the tone and indicating time, the consistent “dawn” lighting (between 4:00-5:00 am) throughout the play felt unrealistic.The lighting worked for the first scene but failed to effectively transition for subsequent scenes, particularly the final one. The sound levels were also too loud, making it uncomfortable at times.Furthermore, the extras who played market sellers were distracting. Their unnecessary utterances overlapped with the main characters’ lines, pulling focus away from the central story. When they noticed the audience laughing at their antics, they continued to milk the attention, disrupting the play’s flow. Overall, the light and sound design fell short of expectations, and the extras’ behavior detracted from the overall experience
Dance and Music
A complete theater experience indeed! I enjoyed the choice of songs and dance moves, which added to the play’s energy. Although some cast members weren’t skilled dancers, their enthusiasm and smiles made up for it. I had hoped Aunty Bee would sing a Presbyterian hymn when Osofo brought the good news, given her character’s background. Nevertheless, the music and dance were delightful.
Audience Participation
The audience at Uncle Ebo Whyte’s production is consistently warm and receptive . They’re engaged, participatory, and punctual. The auditorium was full by 6:30 pm, a testament to Ghanaians’ growing interest in theater. It’s heartening to see our industry thriving. Kudos to Uncle Ebo Whyte for consistently producing plays that entertain and educate for 16 years. Overall, the dance, music, and audience participation contributed to a wonderful theatrical experience. I will rate this play 8/10. Great collaboration from Roverman Production , National Theatre, Ghana and Joy FM. I recommend this play for all theatre lovers such a great piece.
You can assess the review of the 4th night ie. Friday 13th September, 2024 here
Written by Miriam Afoley Laryea, BA Theatre Arts,UEW.
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