By Margaretta wa Gacheru (22 May 2024)
It was pure
coincidence that two of our favorite comedy theatre companies staged shows this
past weekend.
It’s even
more of a coincidence that both were reflecting on the condition of the conman
and con-woman, and how so many Kenyans have taken their hustle into that space.
It’s not a coincidence however that several who played a central role in the
formation of The Crony were once members of Heartstrings.
Indeed, even
Heartstrings’ assistant director to Sammy Mwangi shifted to Crony where he’s
now the man in charge of directing this talented team of actors. Yet HS
director Mwangi has dealt with many young actors who come and gain immense
experience at Heartstrings, and then move on, especially into film. He’s
developed HS into a brilliant training ground where newcomers to the stage get
their chance learning how to listen, act, and work with an experienced director
like Sammy.
It was Crony
Players who illustrated not just that conmen are everywhere these days, which
is why the title, ‘Red Flag’ is appropo. It’s also that Kenyan con-artists are
turning out to be some of the most ingenious, quick-thinking crooks that we’ve
seen on stage or socially.
Red Flag
begins with a trio of hustlers living on the edge of slum life in a tiny room
with one narrow bed. From there, they all work for a mafia-type guy from whom
they swiped Sh150,000 and he’s not going to let them get away with it. He comes
banging on their front door, throwing them into a panic. They all rush to their
online con tricks, hoping to make some quick cash.
But then, Osoro
gets a call from a supposedly-American woman he’s gotten to know online. She’s
so hot to see him in person that she’s just arrived apparently from abroad. Now
there’s even more pressure. But what’s worse is that the mother of Osoro’s
child arrives, lambasting him for his not giving her child support. That whole
scene breaks down into Act 2.
Now they’ve
moved over to the Westlands side of town where they’re supposedly renting a
beautiful flat. The man showing them around (Humphrey Maina) is actually the
caretaker, but he’s posing as the man in charge. They have no cash. Just enough
to tip Humphrey so they can use the place for now for nothing. Then, just
before the ‘American’ shows up, the woman wanting child support arrives. But as
she is a trouble maker, she gets thrown into one of the bedrooms with her hands
tied and mouth gagged. Then when the ‘American’ arrives, she’s got a big bag
supposedly stuffed with cash. Of course, the trio are after the bag; but then
the cops (Ben Tekee) show up and start arresting everyone present. All mayhem
breaks loose as nobody wants to go to jail. But in the turmoil, the American
takes off with the Sh150,000 the trio had somehow raised to bribe the cop;
meaning both she and the cops were in cahoots to leave the amateur conmen her bag
filled with dust and no cash inside.
The final
blow comes when the single mother gets unleashed from the physical lock-down
they’d thrown her in to keep her quiet. When she’s let out, one more truth is
revealed. She had been conning Osoro all along. In reality, it’s Humphrey, the
Caretaker who is the baby’s father. And that’s the final punch line.
Meanwhile,
across town from Braeburn Theatre where Crony was performing, Heartstrings was
staging ‘Right Place Wrong Time’ at Alliance Francaise. But something went
wrong this time with the company. What they brought us was by no means a
comedy. There were a couple of con-artists, but they weren’t the key players in
this month’s melodrama.
The lead in ‘Wrong
Time’ was Fischer Maina playing a sickly old man who’s miserable and busy
inflicting his negativity on those around him, especially on his wife (Jerita Mwake).
He shoots down all her positive plans with sharp mental darts, poisoned with
booze that he drinks nonstop.
She wants a
child but he can’t have one since his private parts got somehow smashed in
between double doors. He also needs a new kidney so when one arrives, all on
stage are tested for their blood type. That’s when we meet a young girl (Lydia
Wabosha) who he’s prepared to adopt since he believes she is his child. But no,
she has also been spawned by the Caretaker (Mitch Osibori).
It’s
disappointing, especially to us who came for comedy, not disheartening tragedy.
No comments:
Post a Comment