By Damilola Ademakinwa

The vibrant thespian hub in Victoria Island, Terakulture, once again came alive on Sunday when the play “Oh how dearly I detest thee” was enacted by established performers, Omoye Uzamo, Toyin Oshinnaike, Olarotimi Fakunle, and Timi Charles Fadipe to thaetre enthusiasts who relished a masterpiece work worth enjoying.

A scene from the drama

It was produced by Thespian Muse, a theatre group and directed by Toritseju Akiya Ejoh, a tested actor, director, costumier production manager. The play reflects the relationships in African traditional homes. It shows how arranged marriages have been in place for centuries and how it ruins some couples’ relationships which wouldn’t be built on love  and hence, generate hatred.

The main characters, Tambe and Akobo were in an arranged marriage for 3 years but were yet to consummate the marriage. She was still a virgin and she claimed he was too weak to perform his manly duties. They argue whenever over irrelevant issues. Since the 3 years of their marriage, she has always planned on killing him.

He goes out to pick his friend from the airport but never returned alive. And instead of hearing her husband’s voice on the other side of the door, she’s hearing her in-laws voices and they come to give her the news about her husband’s death.

It dawns on her that she’s alone and would have to marry one of her husband’s brothers. Now, she misses their arguments, she wants him to stand up and shout at her; she wants him to threaten her like he used to, but she knows he can’t. An idea comes into her head on what she can do to avoid embarrassment from her in-laws on herself and her husband. She decides to drink poison as the play ends in tragedy.

The audience basked in the euphoria of the play as the show lasts. It was a real tragic-comedy but with a deeper meaning. This is common in African homes; forcing daughters into arranged marriages, subjecting them into marrying men they don’t love and spending the rest of their lives with them. Sometimes it works out but most times, it ends in tragedy.

Comments from some of the audience were stupefying. “Great play! I’m definitely not going to miss the next one” commented a guest and another couple said, “I would rather encourage the need for people to go to theatres and watch more informative performances. And this made me realise how much I love my husband and appreciate him.”