Play takes peek at life in city estates

By JECKONIA OTIENO

Friends Ensemble actors perform the play For Better or For Wife at the Alliance Fraince. [PHOTO: JECKONIA OTIENO/STANDARD]

The sometimes-chaotic life in city estates was put under the spotlight recently when Friends Ensemble presented the play, For Better or For Wife, at the Alliance Francaise in Nairobi.

Directed by Vincent Zicoh and Linus Odhiambo, the play is set in a noisy neighbourhood characterised by hooting vehicles, barking dogs, and nagging neighbours.

The plot revolves around Melvin, a sales executive, who lives with his wife, Edna, on seventh floor of a rental house in one of the states. Melvin, played by Joe Kinyua, loses his job but decides not to let wife Edna (Doreen Mwajuma) know about the turn of events.

As the play opens, Melvin is seated on a chair in the wee hours of the morning, worrying himself sick about what his joblessness portends for him and his wife.

His wife tries to get him back to bed but to no avail.  The brief commotion draws the attention of a neighbour who is not amused that he has been roused him from his sleep and he tells the duo as much.

Further, the nocturnal activities of a twilight girl who live a few doors away, makes peace and quiet in the neighbourhood even more elusive.

Melvin soon realises not disclosing the news about his sack to his wife is taking a toll on his mental health and decides to pour his heart out to her.

Lose household items

He arrives home and, unknown to him, thieves have made away with household items. Apparently, his wife had gone to the nearby grocery shop, leaving the door open.

But he is too lost in his thoughts to even notice and it has to take his wife to bring this to his attention.

This incident captures the rampant insecurity in crowded neighbourhoods where thefts happen in a split second.

Melvin’s wife captures the distrust with which city dwellers in residential areas treat each other when she says: “All our neighbours are always suspicious looking.”

The robbery incident makes the couple to take drastic measures to ensure they live within their means.

Melvin has to give up gym sessions, and the money he uses to buy magazines has to be channelled elsewhere. What is more, the wife has to go to work to support the family.

But Melvin is not accustomed to living from hand to mouth and soon his mental health goes from bad to worse. He has to seek psychiatric intervention.

The playwright uses the opportunity to highlight the hypocrisy among blood relations.

When Melvin’s condition worsens, for instance, his siblings offer to help but on condition he returns a hand when he gets well.

But first there is the little matter of how much each of them should give, which they can’t seem to agree on. They eventually bolt out without donating even a single cent to cater for Melvin’s bill, promising to return when he gets well.

The play also takes a jibe at the double-faced nature of human beings. As the play draws to a close, for instance, Melvin’s wife loses her job. Strangely enough, Melvin, whose condition has now improved, seems happy that they will now spend more time together.

The play ends on a more positive note by the couples resolving to soldier on with their life despite the colossal challenges life has thrown their way.