The Rapture of the Church interrupts events of a day in a four-act play titled In the Blink of an Eye.
It reimagines the event in which Christians believe that the living and the dead will ascend to heaven.
It follows the lives of ordinary Kenyans as they go through addiction, family conflict, ambition, strained relationships and questions of faith on the day of the Rapture.
The stage play, adapted from a novella of the same name by author Paulie Mugo, is staged on August 2, 9, 16, and 23 at Brookhaven Gardens.
The play is set over one Thursday evening, from sunset to 11:50 pm. Every act follows different characters and their experiences of the same extraordinary night.
In Nairobi, a couple whose constant arguments affect their young daughter are forced to confront their troubled relationship. In Thika, a man living with his family struggles with a gambling addiction. In Nakuru, the wealthy owner of a betting company pursues political ambitions while his family faces its own problems.
The first act opens with Javan (Sago Onyieni), also known as “Tops”, a 30-year-old man living with his parents and struggling with a gambling addiction. He is sitting at home on his phone while his mother takes care of the household.
“He bets every day, convinced that one day he will hit the jackpot and turn his fortunes around. Though he was raised in a Christian family, his father repeatedly confronts him about his gambling,” Onyieni explains.
His lack of responsibility sparks a heated confrontation with his father. The conflict between Javan and his father is part of the first act, which is set in Magogoni, Thika, in Kiambu County.
“He doesn’t see gambling as bad. He feels that one day he will be successful. He lives with the hope that he will win a jackpot,” he says.
Javan has a girlfriend, Chichi, who visits him on the day of the Rapture. His mother, a committed churchgoer, is surprised by Chichi’s appearance and encourages her to attend church.
He is watching football when a trumpet sounds, followed by a blackout and complete silence. A second trumpet brings confusion and noise before the third, which says when the Rapture actually takes place.
“The story reaches as far as Njoro and the boda boda rider,” Onyieni says.
The second act follows Dan (Amos Imbiaka) and his ex-partner Kahaki (Stella Wakesho) and their daughter. Dan is a heavy drinker who is abusive towards Kahaki in front of their daughter.
Their relationship is strained by his drinking problem and his limited involvement in their daughter’s life. His drinking contributed to their separation, and disagreements continue whenever he comes to visit.
“The couple’s arguments happen in front of their daughter, which traumatises her, and it highlights the impact that destructive behaviour can have on children,” Imbiaka says.
Kahaki also knows about God and Christian teachings but is not committed to Christianity. She confronts her complicated relationship with faith during the events of the Rapture.
The third act tells the story of Larry KK (John Musingo) and Kez (Martha), his wife. KK is an aggressive millionaire and owner of the betting app that Javan uses.
The fourth act follows Leila and Nicky as two teenage children in a toxic family environment, and Rhoda (Michelle Oyando), their faithful and discerning housekeeper, provides another perspective on the family.
Musingo says that KK is a self-made businessman who built his wealth through betting. KK wants to be the senator of Nakuru County and sees political office as the next achievement in his pursuit of wealth, influence and status.
KK has built a world around his wealth and influence, but he does not see the harm caused by the betting business. The company is a means to an end.
“Everything he does has to be over the top. He believes respect has to be earned, and what matters is the amount of money in his account. He doesn’t care about people like Javan, who uses his app,” he says.
On the night of the Rapture, KK hosts a party to announce his intention to run for senator since he believes that the wealth generated by his betting company has earned him the right to pursue political power.
But the play questions what happens when people become so consumed by what they want next that they fail to consider what could happen in the present.
Author Paulie Mugo wrote the book in June last year after reflecting on the amount of information available about the Rapture.
“I wanted to write a purely Kenyan story. The novella has six interconnected stories set in Nairobi, Thika and Nakuru. Each follows a different family and examines the circumstances around the Rapture. The idea is inspired by a false prophecy about the Rapture that circulated widely and misled people,” she says.
Mugo shared the novella with his pastor, who is also an artist and has a strong interest in drama. Andrew Odanga handled the casting and directing, while Mugo adapted the story for the stage.
The play also aims to show how separate lives can be connected by one extraordinary event. The play explores social vices that can destroy lives, such as gambling, alcoholism, domestic conflict, infidelity, drug use and the pursuit of wealth and power.
She explains that the play takes its title from the biblical description of the event happening in the twinkling of an eye, that is, a moment when people are suddenly taken while others are left behind. The characters face the consequences of the life they have been living.
Mugo says that the play will be expanded into a television series of 10 to 12 episodes.