…For pure art enthusiasts
Exploring Osofisan’s Such is LifeTheatrical Performance Yinka Olatunbosun
Originally known as Midnight Black Out, Femi Osofisan’s Such is Life was the muchneeded comic relief to the week-long MUSON Festival in Lagos. Called Chevron Festival Drama, the drama is built on the conflict between good and evil. However, the comedy itself arises from the unusual plot twist, wellpaced dialogue and dramatic irony.
Directed by Kenneth Uphopho, Such is Life tells the story of a Professor of Medicine, Prof. Juokwu (Patrick Diabuah) and his wife, Obioma (Gloria Anozie-Young), who is living with the bitter memories of her late husband. Strangely enough, the portrait of the late husband still hangs on Prof’s wall on his wife’s insistence to serve as a reminder of who he should never be.
Unknown to Obioma, Prof Juokwu is having an affair with a married woman. He hypnotises his wife, causing her to black out on his episodes of escapades.
A friend to Obioma’s late husband, Iberibe (Friday Francis) secretly desires her and heads to Nigeria from Rio to woo her. It was too late a plan as Obioma has remarried. He discovers Prof Juokwu’s secret love affair and black out tricks and surreptitiously reveals these to Obioma.
Meanwhile, Akubundu (Kanayo Okani Larry) the husband to Prof Juokwu’s lover, storms his house during one of Obioma’s black out afternoons. His anger is quickly dissipated on the promise of Prof’s vote in the forthcoming elections. Akubundu typifies a materialistic character, willing to cover-up his wife’s infidelity to protect his political ambition. Not just that, Akubundu represents an existential persona, desperate to market his services,
It is a season of political plays as BEETA Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF) presents the second production of the stage play Our Son the Minister, written by Paul Ugbede and directed by Kenneth Uphopho.
The play, produced by award-winning actress and talented thespian, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, is scheduled to hold from November 9 to 11, 2018 with two shows per day.
Our Son the Minister is the winning play of the first edition of Beeta Playwright Competition 2017, which kept its promise in publishing and producing the play.
Designed to promote the arts, particularly playwriting, BUAF will happily share the play with the general public through its second performance.
Our Son the Minister is a biting political satire. It is set on an inauguration day with Dr. Makoji preparing to be sworn in. Family and friends make frantic plans on how to share the national cake that he is expected to bring home.
Alarmed by their plans, an austere Makoji decides to turn down the ministerial appointment. They conclude he has gone mad and seek desperate solutions to cure him. This play is hilarious yet thought-provoking. It stars talented actors such as Patrick Diabuah, Inna Erizia, Chris Iheuwa, Soibifaa Dokubo, Bola Stephen, Biodun Kassim, BunmiSogade, Omololu Sodiya, and Dapo Gbadamosi.
The play is family-friendly, a timely theatre piece that matches the election season mood in Nigeria.
The performance will be on tour in five universities across the country to deepen its theme of value re-orientation among youths.
The show is sponsored by MTN, Union Bank, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and supported by Terra Kulture, Oyewole&Olajide LLP, Amstel Malta, AfricaMagic, amongst others.