A comedy play, Till Debt Do Us Part, examines debt, deception, unemployment, social comparison, and the high cost of performative success. Presented by Creative Arts Hub and JCC Parklands, the play hits the stage today, on June 28, at JCC Parklands.
The fast-paced comedy follows Doreen (Levinah Omuse) and Douglas (Richard Ndege), a young married couple living in Kasarani. Even though they hold engineering degrees, they are unemployed and look for ways to make ends meet.
Their modest but content life takes a dramatic turn when Doreen unexpectedly bumps into Sophie, a former high school classmate, while shopping for discounted items at a supermarket.
Embarrassed by her circumstances, Doreen invents a glamorous lifestyle, claiming to be a successful professional who travels the world. In a bid to maintain the illusion, she puts their budget aside and spends beyond her means, pushing them into debt.
It starts as a harmless lie which spirals into an obsession with keeping up appearances to her former classmates, which Douglas opposes.
Frustrated by their struggles, the couple question why educated and hard-working people are stuck while those who take shortcuts thrive.
Desperation leads them to make a plan to swindle the public online, a move that brings conflicts between the two.
Playwright and director Antony Ndung'u says the story was inspired by what he sees in society.
"Nowadays, people don't trust the process and are getting into debt to show that they are living the good life. We are depicting the dangers of comparison and the temptation to seek shortcuts," he says.
Ndung'u observes that financial pressure has become one of the biggest challenges that relationships go through. The issue is not whether people have money or not, he says, but how they handle finances.
He chose comedy because humour can be an effective way to address difficult issues. Doreen represents many people who become dissatisfied with their lives after comparing themselves to others.
"She is someone who is okay until she meets somebody who seems to be doing better than her. She assumes she is being judged when she really isn't," he says.
On the play's exploration of online fundraising scams, Ndung'u says people fail to conduct due diligence before donating to protect themselves from those who take advantage of Kenyans for being sympathetic and gullible.
The play also portrays the challenges facing young professionals in Kenya, including graduate unemployment. He hopes audiences will reflect on the dangers of comparison and the temptation to seek shortcuts.
“We have graduates who are still tarmacking while people who took shortcuts seem to be doing well. There is a temptation to think shortcuts are the way out," he says.
Levinah Omuse says that she found her character, Doreen, relatable to the things she sees in society, especially people chasing social media validation.
Omuse is captivated by the complexity of portraying a character who shifts between her real self and the image she wants others to be.
"There are scenes where she has to uphold a certain façade. Being one person while presenting different versions of herself intrigued me. In doing so, she represents so many people in society," she says.
She describes Doreen and Douglas as a couple who genuinely love each other and have accepted their circumstances until she meets her former classmate.
To prepare for the role, she wanted to understand Doreen’s motivations and build chemistry with her co-star. She says that she is motivated by the fear of her peers knowing her struggles. Desperation also contributes because they have been trying to do the right thing and still face financial challenges.
"It was about understanding what the role demanded from me and making it relatable to society. Spending time with Douglas and listening to the director also helped me understand the character better," she says.
One of the most difficult aspects of the role, she says, was portraying the emotional breakdown of a woman who blames her husband for their financial struggles. She believes the play highlights the importance of discussing how to handle the low and high financial seasons in relationships.
Richard Ndege says he was fascinated by Douglas’ determination to be successful and his desire to live large. His motivation comes from wanting to help his father, who is sick and needs dialysis.
"He wants riches through righteousness but no longer has the will to wait because he sees people who take shortcuts living large. What pushes Douglas towards deception is financial pressure and comparison," Ndege says.
The Creative Arts Hub, which was birthed by the church through JCC, provides a platform for young creatives to nurture and showcase their talents.