Kamau Mutunga
2 February 2008
Nairobi — Life's challenges, we are told, are not supposed to paralyse us; they should help us to discover who we really are.
And the violence that has been rocking the country in the past month has somewhat made the local theatre fraternity discover its philanthropic side.
On this note, the bulk of gate collections from all theatre productions, will be donated to victims of political unrest as a result of the disputed presidential election results.
"It is not common for thespians to donate their skills, but whatever is happening has affected everybody, and we want to show Kenyans that even theatre-goers have a cause," says Sammy Mwangi of Heartstrings Kenya, who are staging Identical Twins at the Alliance Francaise auditorium in Nairobi till tomorrow.
It all began with Actors for Peace, a group of thespians from different theatre outfits who came together- and without pay- to rehearse and stage the adaptation of Khaemba Ongeti's book, Visiki.
The play's two shows will be performed today at 2pm and 4pm at Nairobi's Kenya National Theatre.
Tickets go for Sh200. But a packet maize floor, used clothes, soap, blankets or any other thing that can be donated to displaced families will be enough to get one a seat to watch the Kiswahili play whose central theme reflects the current political situation in Kenya.
A Red Cross tent
A Kenya Red Cross tent has been set up outside the theatre for the purpose.
"Art is power," says Nelson Mbugua, the publicist for Actors for Peace.
"We saw skits, poems, songs and narratives being used during political campaigns. Politicians acknowledge the power of art. But they aren't portraying the issues on the ground as powerfully as Visiki does, and in a language people can understand."
When given help in cash and kind, Actors for Peace hope to stage the play around the country, especially in the clash-torn areas.
Visiki revolves around Ndovu (Peter King) and Bi Tamaa (Florence Muthoni), two rich and influential people who use tribalism and deceit to wreak havoc on peaceful squatters.
Gilbert Lukalia directs a star-studded cast comprising Jacquey Nyaminde, Sam Kihiu, Christine Apondi, Paul Kades, Kazungu Matano, Louisa Sialo, Nelson Mbugua, Steve Idaki, David Kinyua, Krysteen Savane, Steve Jones, Willy Rama, Clifford Mwongera, Dan Churchill, Kamau wa Ndung'u and Elly Yang as Visiki, who showcases how national unity can eliminate tribalism, ignorance and poverty.
The bulk of box-office collections from Anthony Ridley's Identical Twins, a farce by Heartstrings that opened at the Alliance Francaise on Thursday, will also be donated to charity.
Actually, the show's normal charges has been upped from Sh250 to Sh500, half of which will be donated to The Caravan of Hope.
"Every theatre-goer will indirectly have donated 2kg of something, be it a packet of maize flour or rice," says Mwangi who will co-direct Identical Twins with Victor Ber.
"One doesn't need to be rich to give."
The comedy is the story of Beatrice (Irene Kamau) who comes to Nairobi pretending to be her dead brother in search of Frederick (Edwin Owino), the man who killed him and who also happens to be her boyfriend. But her wicked aim is to collect dowry money from Wakanyote, the father of Clara (Njambi Koikai), her brother's girlfriend, so that she and Frederick may elope and finally wed.
But nothing goes as planned in Identical Twins.
"Half the cast didn't turn up for rehearsals due to the insecurity in the country and we had to get another cast," laments Mwangi who directs the cast that also includes Anthony Ndung'u as Timothy, the servant, and Andrew Muthure who returns after a long sabbatical to play Wakanyote.
"In fact, we rehearsed in someone's compound, where we had to sometimes camp overnight."
Identical Twins ends tomorrow.
Another show whose proceeds will go into the The Caravan of Hope kitty is Pull The Other One, a farce that revolves around Albert (Tonny Njuguna), who is mistaken to be "the two-timing, double-crossing sex maniac".
Charles Kiarie and Makbuk Mohammed direct Hilary (Steve Muturi), Boadecia's (June Gachui), Virginia (Shirleen Wangari), Reverend Elijah Nookey (Eddy Kimani), Muriel (Mkamzee Chao Mwatela) and Wilf Turner (Harry Ebale).
The farce ends at the Phoenix Players today .
Laughter lines continue next week at the Alliance Francaise where Festival of Creative Arts will stage Robbin Hawdon's fast-paced comedy, Perfect Wedding, that ends up being anything but perfect.
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