Tag Archives: Femi Elufowoju Jr

The Glass Menagerie
★★★★

Arcola Theatre

The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie

Arcola Theatre

Reviewed – 1st June 2019

★★★★

“What the show does instead is to tease out the delicate nuances of each character and the generous humanity of the writing”

 

Directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr, this adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ 1944 play comes with the baggage of taking on an all-time classic, but it does so with empathy and style.

Tom Wingfield (Michael Abubakar) is ‘starting to boil inside’. He feels stifled living in a small St. Louis apartment with his loving but controlling mother Amanda (Lesley Ewen) and his sister Laura (Naima Swaleh), who suffers from both crippling shyness and the after-effects of childhood illness. Tom works joylessly in a shoe warehouse to support the three of them while dreaming of adventure and travelling further afield – like his father, who abandoned the family 15 years previously. Amanda persuades Tom to invite a friend to dinner in the hope that this ‘gentleman caller’ will fall in love with her fragile daughter and save her from poverty, solitude and her dreamy remoteness.

The first half unfolds slowly, allowing plenty of time to fill in the characters of the three family members. There are flashes of humour amid an overwhelming sense of sadness and frustration. The second half introduces Jim O’Connor (Charlie Maher), the gentleman caller upon whom so much expectation rests, and the intensity goes up several gears. As the plot develops, so too do the performances. Subtle – and less subtle – transformations ensue.

The moments in which Jim and Laura begin to reveal their true selves are utterly heartrending and exquisitely judged. My only criticism is that part of this key scene, with the pair sat on the floor, was difficult to see from the section of the theatre in which I was sitting. That said, it would be impossible to make such an intimate exchange equally visible from every angle. And anyway, the acting was so assured that their conversation was compelling even when I couldn’t see their faces. The devastating vulnerability on display takes you aback.

The set – often dim and shadowy, in keeping with the memories of the narrator – brilliantly frames the action. Beyond the claustrophobic interior of the apartment, there’s the moonlit fire escape with views of the dancehall along the street and the promise of greater freedoms beyond. With these simple elements a whole world is evoked.

Wisely, this production doesn’t attempt to reinvent Williams’ work. With the sparkling dialogue and perfect pacing of the source material, it could hardly be improved upon. What the show does instead is to tease out the delicate nuances of each character and the generous humanity of the writing, exploring the various shades of the emotional truths implicit in every line. The result is deeply affecting.

 

Reviewed by Stephen Fall

Photography by Idil Sukan

 


The Glass Menagerie

Arcola Theatre until 13th July

 

Previously reviewed at this venue:
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives | ★★★★★ | June 2018
The Rape of Lucretia | ★★★★ | July 2018
Elephant Steps | ★★★★ | August 2018
Greek | ★★★★ | August 2018
Forgotten | ★★★ | October 2018
Mrs Dalloway | ★★★★ | October 2018
A Hero of our Time | ★★★★★ | November 2018
Stop and Search | ★★ | January 2019
The Daughter-In-Law | ★★★★★ | January 2019
Little Miss Sunshine | ★★★★★ | April 2019

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

 

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives – 5 Stars

Baba

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

Arcola Theatre

Reviewed – 12th June 2018

★★★★★

“there is a sense of joy and playfulness to the whole production”

 

When Teacher tells a young Baba Segi that “two women at home are better than ten in a bush”, Baba Segi knows what he has to do. Now, Baba Segi is a wealthy man with four wives and seven children by his first three wives. But when his fourth wife, university educated Bolanle, refuses to take herbal remedies to cure her barrenness, he is forced to take her to the hospital, a visit which uncovers the secret underpinning his household. Based on Lola Shoneyin’s debut novel and adapted by Rotimi Babatunde, this is a colourful, joyful and moving story directed by Femi Elufowoju Jr, set amidst the sexual and family politics of contemporary Nigeria.

Patrice Naiambana as Baba Segi is charismatic and likeable, a dominating patriarch but one characterised by an infectious warmth that ensures his downfall is touching, rather than laughable. His four wives played by Marcy Dolapo, Layo-Christina Akinlude, Christina Oshunniyi and Jumoké Fashola are fantastic, each individually characterised, collective and unique in their performances. Diana Yekinni’s performance is also standout, deftly funny and highly effective. This is all round a strong cast, both individually and as an ensemble.

Wonderful moments of visual comedy have me nearly laughing out of my seat, and there is a sense of joy and playfulness to the whole production. Sex is discussed bluntly and brazenly with fantastic comic effect. The piece touches on some very serious issues too – abortion and rape are discussed in tandem in an intensely moving moment of the play. The hierarchy of wives within a household is also examined with disastrous consequences. The music and dancing that punctuate the evening make the piece come alive and create a fantastic energy throughout the theatre.

This is an incredibly enjoyable piece of theatre that also has vital things to say about contemporary polygamy in Nigeria, and a woman’s role within the household. It is well-crafted, well-executed by a strong cast, and not to be missed.

 

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Photography by Idil Sukan

 

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives

Arcola Theatre until 21st July

 

Related
Previously reviewed at this venue
Heretic Voices | ★★★★ | January 2018
Fine & Dandy | ★★★★★ | February 2018
The Daughter-in-Law | ★★★★ | May 2018

 

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com