At its core, Nkenna Akunna’s monologue is a breakup story. Over the course of 1 night we journey alongside Woman (Tiajna Amayo) as she crashes her oldest buddy Gemma’s twenty fifth birthday celebration – despite the fact that they haven’t seen one another for six months. However, how may she miss it? They’ve identified one another for mainly their entire lives. But, their time aside has made them unusually however starkly completely different.
So, as a substitute of being the life and soul of the celebration, Woman makes a scene. Unwilling to let go of their lengthy historical past and the right image of the individuals they as soon as had been, their overdue reunion implodes. Akunna’s writing exudes the panic and uncertainty of life your early 20s. Woman is uneasy, however masks her anxieties with sharp-tongued outbursts and one other massive swig of wine. Advised by the solo voice of Woman, the play may be very a lot one aspect of the story: the explanation for his or her distance is blamed, primarily, on Gemma. She villainises and loathes each new buddy of Gemma’s that she meets. The night time is shared with the viewers – her confidants – with sarcasm, eye rolls and rudeness as if we’re robotically on her crew.
However regardless of all her mayhem, it’s exhausting to not heat to Woman. Tiajna Amayo – who, after struggling an harm in rehearsals, performs on crutches once I see the present – revels within the messiness of her character, mocking celebration company eagerly and screaming out in frustration. But, Akunna’s script typically makes her look dizzy. Woman breaks out into songs – which really feel flawed inside an in any other case spoken piece and her repetitive insults come out so quick, they begin to tire.
Nonetheless, there’s an axiomatic disappointment to the play’s trajectory, which is directed by Chinonyerem Odimba. Two associates who’ve shared a lot collectively have misplaced their means. For anybody who has ever reluctantly taken a special path from a cherished one, this play will soar with relevance: a vital division, tinged with lasting grief.
