The Human Angle, a 65-minute play, written and produced by Ozi Okoli and directed by Ifeanyi Eziukwu will be staged all the Saturdays and Sundays except May 4 and 12 at the Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the writer and the producer, Ozi Okoli, a playwright cum journalist, the story delves into the journey of a couple whose profound love is tested by the agonizing ordeal of infertility.
As they navigate through the tumultuous landscape of family expectations, societal pressures, and personal setbacks over the course of seven grueling years, their bond is put to the ultimate test.
Notwithstanding their unwavering devotion to each other, they find themselves grappling with doubts and insecurities, questioning whether love alone can conquer the formidable challenges they face.
Amid the facade of outward appearances, they confront the harsh reality that things are not always as they appear, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and reevaluate their perceptions of themselves and each other.
Speaking at a media parley to herald the show, Okoli, an award-winning presenter of ‘Morning Show’ on Arise TV Lagos, described the playlet as a mother and son play and a must-watch because it mirrors the society, while revealing who we have become as a people.
He noted that the play is one of the products of his creative juices, being inspired during a residency programme, hence it is worth watching. “I started to develop this play at the Royal Court Theatre when we were there for a series of workshop, residency among other things.
“When I conceived this, we were five in number but I had churned it out as a large cast but the Royal Court Theatre always loved a few number of cast, and not having too many cast or too many scenes. So I had to now put that into consideration and that was why I narrowed it down to six characters,” Okoli said.
On his part, Eziukwu said the play is basically about what happens in a family and in the society and “it is what we experience every day between a mother and her son who says it is her duty or right to force her daughter in-law to procreate and give birth so that the family name can continue and other things that happens in the family, that we intend to play around.”
Eziukwu noted that the theatre company has in the past nine years, produced many stellar productions such as: Marriage Counselor, written by Tyler Perry; Women of Owu by Professor Femi Osofisan; Hard Ground by Professor Ahmed Yerima; Lion and The Jewel by Professor Wole Soyinka; Awolowo performed at the Lagos Theatre Festival in 2019 and 2020, among others.
“For the month of May, the play will take place at Terra Kulture on all Saturdays and Sundays except May 4 and 12. There will be two shows per day, 5:30pm and 7:30pm. The command performance will be on June 8 at Alliance Franciase, Ikoyi at 4pm and 6pm respectively,” Eziukwu stated.
