By JAPHET ALAKAM

Entertainment industry welds a  lot of influence on people and is regarded as a strong tool to market anything and it was on that basis that Pink Crusade utilised it last week when it held its maiden edition of the pink crusade drama tagged Davis Tussle, an play that creates awareness about breast cancer.

The venue was the Terra Kulture home of art, and for two days, Nigerians and indeed theatre lovers were treated to a musical drama that was entertaining and educative.

*The women tell their stories in the play

Produced by a professional film maker and producer, Chinasa Ariole and directed by Joseph Ofili,  starring seasoned actresses like Obiageli Molobe, Lara Akinsola, Jennifer Ossamour and others, the cast were able to use the medium of entertainment to send the much needed message about breast cancer home to the audience.

With a beautifully designed stage to suit a  counselling unit of a hospital with chairs and tables as props, while the entire place was decorated with pink colours to suit the colour of the organisers and make it look feminine, they  were able to take audience to the emotional journey women go though while battling breast cancer.

For the over 65 minutes the play lasted, the audience were told about all that they need to know about breast cancer, the signs and symptoms, the risk factors and others. Through the play it was discovered that many women have died as a result of wrong diagnosis, so there is need for the victims to go to a qualified hospital and start the treatment early.

With a strong message fused with songs that captured the audience that made them relax and enjoy, the play opened with the visit of three women to a Pink Hospice after being diagnosed of different stages of breast cancer, with the hope of getting answers that will help them deal with the emotional journey of fighting breast cancer. There they meet other women who also have their own battle with breast cancer.

After their examination, they went for the open forum where the seven women each had a story to tell, but with the counselling of Dr Grace, they discovered just how much breast cancer binds them together and yet threatens to keep them apart in death if they don’t win the battle. So they opened up and agreed to tell the story and fight the battle.For example, the case of Mariam, the celebrity who refused to disclse her identity and that of Onome who refused to tell her daughter the truth about her medical state and that of her father

The drama brings to the fore the need to open up, as information is the key, tell the world what breast cancer can do, join the fight today.

A brilliant, entertaining and educative performance, fused with good songs about the topic that drove the message home. It was a good outing and the audience welcomed it with thunderous applause at intervals.

According to Chinasa, who doubles as the writer and producer, the play she intends to take around was inspired by a relative’s travail. The drama goes on to show that breast cancer affects women physically and emotionally, loved ones included. “ You cannot stop breast cancer from happening to you or your loved ones but the only key to survival is early detection and proper medical treatment.”