The current show at Round House assures many laughs, admiration for the set and lighting design, envy for the amazing costumes based on African fabrics, and a few tasty snacks as well. What’s not to like?
The plot is admittedly light and fanciful. Nothing profound or weighty, but if you are looking for a perfect rom-com escape for these warm summer nights, this is it. The acting is consistently hilarious, matched to parts of the ingenue, the wacky sidekick (sister), the handsome leading man, the nemesis, and a facilitator or two. All plot twists one expects are fully present, including the ending. (Happy ending? I bet you can guess!)
Ayamma, a naïf dreaming of making it big in the Nigerian film industry, marks time while working at her parents’ travel agency along with her sister, Dede. Dede has a crush on Wale Owasu, a big star in said industry. Suddenly, Ayamma has a chance to audition for a film starring Wale. A complication: the leading role opposite Wale is all but assured to fall to the established actress, Fayola. Plot twists and hijinks ensue.
A recurring conceit, and one of the best treats, of the show finds the theater audience cast as the viewers of the Adenikeh Show, whose eponymic embodiment sports ever-more fabulous costumes as the evening progresses. Is textile porn a thing? Can I make it one? Adenikeh’s personality matches her outfits. As with all the actors, she is a treat to watch.
And speaking of treats, the café at Round House is offering African dishes and specialty cocktails to complete your sensory experience. I’ll quote the Round House Food and Beverage Manager, Frank Manganello, as he describes the offerings:
“We have a thematic menu for every show, and try to incorporate food and drink options that enhance the experience of coming to see the performance. I’ve incorporated the Suya spice blend to add a smoky/spicy kick to a homemade ‘BBQ sauce’ for a shredded chicken sandwich and also as a spicy dusting on roasted peanuts. We’re also featuring the West African superfood, fonio, in a bowl with lots of fresh veggies, herbs, and a tangy yogurt sauce. We partnered with Nigerian-owned Egunsi Foods to offer two items on the menu, a savory and vegan brown-eyed-pea stew called Gbegiri (reminiscent of lentil dahl) and Ata Din Din, a sweet and spicy red pepper sauce, that comes served as a dip with plantain chips. And of course, Dede’s favorite snack (ginger cookies) can be found as well!
“For cocktails, we’re featuring three for Nollywood Dreams. At opening, we were serving ‘Bringing Love’, which contains two locally-owned products! Blackleaf Vodka, Pratt Standard ginger syrup, lemon, and soda water. We’ve got a low-alcohol version of Nigerian Chapman spiced up with Campari, and a Bourbon Old Fashioned with homemade tamarind syrup called ‘The Comfort Zone.'”
At the Opening/Press Night, food was being sampled as well as Blackleaf Vodka, locally imported by entrepreneur Kevin Larkai. A sip revealed it to be both smooth and complex.
And when the cast paraded out for their flowers and hugs, they were resplendent in African fabric duds. Yao Dagbe, especially, who as Gbenga Ezie sported the most extravagant designs of the male cast, seemed ready for his close-up as boulevardier.
Nollywood Dreams at Round House Theatre, by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Raymond Q. Caldwell. Through July 3.
