Entertainment of Monday, 15 September 2003

Source: Linda Safoa Antwi

Wedding Behind Closed Doors

Theatre lovers were last Sunday, given a rare treat at the Banquet Hall of the State House with the successful production of the play titled Wedding Behind Closed Doors.

The play written and directed by Ebow White and produced by the Roverman Productions, managed to draw quiet a sizeable crowd of curious theatre lovers and if the rousing applause that followed the production is anything to go by, then it can be said to be very successful.

The encouraging attendance itself was an indication that there is a theatre audience who are willing to patronise productions if they were available. Wedding Behind Closed Doors is a play that seeks to give its audience an insight into the workings of a modern radio station. It focuses on trust, integrity, forgiveness, political tolerance and the role of the media.

The play opens with the acion ties on the eve of a decisive presidential election and the two front runners are keenly aware the election will be won or lost in the media. Meanwhile at the leading private radio station, a woman is desperate to stop her husband from wedding someone else.

The star presenter is threatening to resign unless he is given more money and the award winning queen of the airwaves, walks out of the studio in the middle of a crucial interview which is turning out to be an embarrassment to her; it is also the wedding of Fiifi Senna, the Chief Executive of the radio station, but why does he find himself locked in the toilet of all places?

The play has its share of conflicts, humour, surprises, witty language and most importantly suspense. Talking of surprises, Sarah, the receptionist, was both surprised and infuriated when she finally finds out who her husband Fiifi Senna was marrying and her frustration simply added to the excitement of the play.

Chantal absolutely hates the guts of one of the front runners of the presidential election because of a perceived betrayal on his part and is more than willing to destroy him through a live interview but the outcome of that interview was shattering for the star presenter.

DJ Marvellous the presenter who is threatening to resign because according to him, he is not well paid was good. He takes Payola, but refuses to play the music and is almost lynched by an angry music producer. DJ Marvellous’ character is well played out and some radio presenters can identify themselves with his character.

Acting is generally good and Theresa Ahwireng as Chantal deserves to be congratulated being her first major role in theatre. Edinam Atatsi as Sarah was also very good. She acted out her part well, Charles Tweneboa-Kodua as Dr Aikins also deserves mention. However Joseph Owusu-Asare as Kwame Bonsu even though acted out his part well kept repeating the mistakes he had made and corrected himself over and over again.

One scene that caught attention was when the two Presidential aspirants met at the radio station and exchanged pleasantries much to the surprise of the staff as they had both on their campaign trails made unsavoury comments about each other. It was a sight to behold to see those two laughing and talking about the names they had called each other.

Maybe politicians can learn from this play that they do not have to be enemies just because they are on the opposite sides of the divide. The play Wedding Behind Closed Doors is a play that emphasises the fact that nothing is really what it seems. It is a good play with lessons for us all.