Play: The Burial
Theatre: The Albany
Playwright: Bola Agbaje
Review by Natalie Gormally
The Burial, sees Laurence Olivier Award winning playwright Bola Agbaje deliver a satirical take on the serious and complex nature of British-Nigerian cultural traditions, faith, religion tensions and family breakdown, with mixed results.
London-based Nigerian Funmi (Kemi-Bo Jacobs) is barely coping with a recent miscarriage before being hit by the news of her father’s death.
Struggling to know she should feel or react, Funmi’s emotional indecision is amplified by the frenzied arrival of her father’s designer-clad and boisterous two wives, Ngozi (a Christian) and Muslim Aunty Iyabo. Attention seeking and self absorbed, their hilarious arguments centre on whether to bury him as a Christian or as a Muslim.
Matters are complicated by the fact that Muslim-raised Funmi and her father were estranged over her decision to marry a Buddhist. Despite this fractious relationship, it is up to Funmi to decide on her father’s burial arrangements and final resting place.
The play moves unevenly between the serious and the hysterical. Without a doubt the scenes between Ngozi and Aunty Iyabo, brilliantly played by Pamela Okoroafo and Karlina Grace, are memorable, entertaining and demonstrate Agbaje’s flourishing ability to write skilful observational comedy.
Ngozi and Aunty Iyabo’s colourful quarrelling has the audience in stitches, reminiscent of the response to her first satirical play Belong at the Royal Court last year. Both actresses give a highly entertaining and energetic performance, almost to the detriment of the rest of the play, which seems slow in comparison.
The vibrant production reinforces the West African influence through an assortment of singing, chanting, drumming and traditional costumes. The mood lighting helps to distinguish between the dream sequences and reality, while the percussionist Sola Bankola adds a rhythmic tone to the production. Being performed in the round helps to create an intimacy with the audience, which is particularly potent during the eerie dream sequences peppered throughout the play.
Funmi’s husband Ike (Tunji Lucas) shows remarkable patience, based on his Buddhist beliefs, in the face of the chaos whipped up by the wives and his wife’s indecision. Meanwhile Funmi remains unclear as to how to mourn for someone who is no longer part of her life. She is acutely aware of the missed opportunity to reconcile with her father. As she is forced to confront her painful past she begins to question her own Buddhist beliefs.
True to form, Agbaje delivers an enjoyable and bold story on a sombre subject that is more hit than miss. Her astute writing and ear for dialogue are compelling. The Burial is a crowd pleaser – and there is nothing wrong with that.
The Burial runs at The Albany until Saturday 11 May 2013.