THIS new play by Nigerian writer 'Biyi Bandele shouldn't really work.
Telling the tale of the rise and fall of a self-made prophet in northern
Nigeria, it is structured around a series of alternating monologues
delivered straight out to the audience by the prophet himself and two
followers.
For most of Act Two only one actor is on stage and it is right towards
the end before the play's first exchange takes place. It's a form that
went out with the Ancient Greeks, and its effect is to take the drama
off the stage and, only if it works, into our imaginations.
Happily, in Polly Irvin's production for London's Wild Iris Theatre
Company, it does work.
Charmingly acted by Chad Shepherd, a convincingly charismatic prophet,
Adjoa Andoh, his cured epileptic disciple, and Akim Mogaji, it is made
up of big, beguiling, articulate speeches which are a gift for the
actors. But the real pull of the play is Bandele's exploration of the
simple foibles that lead a man to declare himself a son of god and his
compatriots to believe him. It's not that Bandele doesn't raise a
cynical eyebrow at the charismatic hype, more that his interest lies in
the largely innocent way it is brought about, and for that his play has
an endearing, wry, and very human charm.
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