MANIC MONOLOGUES

 Whole cast, Vikash Patnii, Nick Ndeda, Nyokabi Macharia, Julisa Rowe, Auudi Rowa, Charles Ouda, Elsaphan Njora

The manic monologues is steeped in so many intensely emotional moments, it’s almost too much to grasp in a single sitting.

The production, produced/staged by the author and clinical psychologist Just Jhoom, tackles so many tabooed topics in a single go that one feels almost shell-shocked at the end of the showcase.

All stigmatized by society so they are rarely discussed outside the confines of family life, the monologues dare to bring them out into the open for the world to stop pretending these painful issues never happened to them or their loved ones.

                                                                                               Nyokabi Macharia

There’s the issue of suicide. How can a 12 year old be hoodwinked into thinking it’s the best thing they can do with their life, to end it in death. How can a brilliant university graduate or a scholar or a mother try to bump themselves off.

The scary thing about the monologues is that they reveal true stories. They are collected mainly among americans, although there are three out of the 19 assembled by thom and buck, that are by Kenyans,

Starting with those two, one was written and portrayed by elsaphone njoka, who told the terrible tale of his treasured sister who committed suicide. The inexplicability of her deed still haunts him clearly. Her passing clearly affected him deeply and we feel his sense of loss. We too are affected by his tears.

Charles Ouda told an equally haunting tale, but this one was about his own life experience. Repeating the 4our words he says he heard often before he left, you are so lucky, ouda’s life experience was more like hell than heaven, filled with more pain than pleasure, penury than plenty, hate than love. But the myth of America land of hope is what got him suckered him into leaving warmth of home.

Stories of suicide were shocking

Stories of alcoholism and its tragic consequences, destroyed homes, broken promises, tears and fears and loneliness and stress.

Sounds like a depressing show to see? Well, it could have been except that it was such a privilege to get back these amazing 8 back onto the stage, to one we had never seen before at Western Heights near best western nestled deep in Westland's.

Cast included two mentors, Julisa who taught most of cast at aystar University, and Mugabi also her former student, whose part of improv group…..

Auudi Rowa, Wakio Nzenge, Elsaphan Njora, Nick Ndeda, Charles Ouda last seen in Cheaters Guide, Nyokabi on drug regime, Shaline Lucas, Vikash Pattni….

Opening all the horrible words associated with manic—nuts, crazy, etc

Nairobi theatre braver, more daring, address untouchable topics, stigmatized issues, ones kept hidden but JJ believed the best way to bring them into the light of day and addres them so people may understand them….not dispise them,…so mm were born just before pandemic times in the uss.

Enhanced with 3 from Kenyans portrayed by elsa, chas and pattni, 3 of amazing cast assembled by mugambi after his being called by his therapist jj to direct the scrip that she had seen and wanted to bring to kenya.

He got cast together,,,,,8 great ones…..sensitive, emotive,smart, and stage savvy cast.

Venue unbelievable and new. Excellent stage and seating.

Explosive works…… impactful…difficult to watch

How many did I identify with? Many? The guilt, the suicidal brother, the disparaging father so she decided to sucide instead..