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A CurtainUp Review
Our Lady of Kibeho
By Elyse Sommer
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There is a saying in our country, Rwanda is so beautiful that even God goes on vacation
here.— Father Tuyishime
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The Cast of Our Lady of Kibeho (Photo: Joan Marcus)
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That foreboding "Before" connects Hall's fascinating story of a trio of Kibeho schoolgirls' claim to having visions of the Virgin Mary to a down-the-road tragedy— when a civil war turned once peacefully coexisting neighbors against each other and the beautiful village of Kibeho became the site of a brutal massacre.
Hall's drama plays out in the all-girls Catholic school over a period of two years (1981-1982). Alphonsine Mumureke (Nneka Okafor), the daughter of a banana farmer, is the key visionary. It seems that the Virgin Mary has chosen this simple girl to be an urgent messenger to Rwanda's President so that the bloodshed that was part of her miraculous sighting could be prevented. But like many messengers bearing news people would rather not hear, Alphonsine's vision is met with hostility and disbelief, both by her classmates and most especially by the school's head nun, Sister Evangelique (Starla Benford) who is convinced that this is an attention-getting ploy.
Alphonsine's only source of support and understanding is the school's principal, the handsome Father Tuyishime (Owiso Odera), on whom all the girls have a crush. The plot deepens and becomes much more than another Song of Bernadette story when two other students — Marie-Claire Mukangango (Joaquina Kalukango) the oldest and initially most firm non-believer, and Mandi Masden (Anathalie Mukamazimpaka)— turn this into a triple miracle. With the arrival of the head bishop (Brent Jennings)and a representative from the Vatican (T. Ryder Smith), the school and the surrounding village become surrogate explorers of questions larger than the validity of the miracles.
The cause and effect of a miraculous vision' mushrooming into a headline making story literally turns Kibeho into a global village. It also turns Our Lady of Kibeho into a complex drama that explores how individuals, groups and countries deal with moral, economic and political repercussions of such events.
The excellent performances from the multi-tasking ensemble as well as the actors in the pivotal roles make Ms. Hall's play as entertaining as it is challenging. You don't have to believe in miracle sightings to be moved by Nneka Okafor's ethereal Alphonsine.
As cogently portrayed by Starla Benford even the play's biggest doubter, the strict and determined Sister Evangelique, isn't all meanie as evident when she reveals how she came to her commitment to save the girls in her charge from a life of drudgery and too many babies. Actually, it's because there are neither villains or heroes here, and because the dialogue is often quite funny, that Our Lady of Kibeho is free from being doctrinaire or polemical.
Some of the most compelling scenes involve the three very different priests. T. Ryder Smith is a source of both scary high drama and wry humor as Father Flavia, the representative sent by the Vatican to test the validity of the girls' visions.
Director Michael Greif has given Ms. Hall's mesmerizing, multi-faceted play the deluxe production it deserves. He's not only gotten the right performances from the main players but helped the ensemble to handily navigate multiple roles. His inventive use of all the Irene Diamond Stage's aisles, including the one between rows G and H, puts the audience right in the center of some of the most vivid group scenes.
As the actors spilling into the orchestra section encloses the audience in the play's action, so Peter Nigrini's projections effectively broaden and clarify Rachel Hauck's lovely, place defining set. Emily Rebholz's costumes add authenticity. Ben Stanton and Matt Tierney lend haunting visual and aural support. A scene showing the girls levitating and a remarkably realistic storm (courtesy of designers Greg Meeh and Paul Rubin) round out a truly impressive production.
Too bad that even though the Kibeho girls' miraculous sightings were declared to be real, there was no miraculous acceptance of and preventive acting on the dark future they foretold.
Links to other Katori Hall plays reviewed at Curtainup
Hurt Village-2012
The Mountaintop-2011
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Our Lady of Kibeho by Katori Hall Directed by Michael Greif Cast: Starla Benford (Sister Evangelique), Jade Eshete (Student/Villager/Girl 3), Danaya Esperanza(Student/Villager/Girl 2), Niles Fitch (Emmanuel), Kambi Gathesha (Villager 1), Brent Jennings (Bishop Gahamanyi), Joaquina Kalukango (Marie-Clare Mukangango), Mandi Masden (Anathalie Mukamazimpaka),Irangu Muto (Viillager), Owiso Odera (Father Tuyishime),Nneka Okafor(Alphonsine Mumureke), , Stacey Sargeant (Student/Villager/Reporter/ Girl 1), T. Ryder Smith (Father Flavia),, Angel Uwamahoro(Student/VillagerGirl 4) and Bowman Wright (Nkango) Scenic design: Rachel Hauck Costumes: Emily Rebholz Lighting:Ben Stanto Soung: Matt Tierney Projections: Peter Nigrini Special Effects: Greg Meeh Aerial effects: Paul Rubin Original music, arrangements and music direction: Michael McElroy Fight direction: Rick Sordelet Dialect coach: Dawn-Elin Fraser Props and set dressing: Faye Armon-Troncoso Stage Manager: Michael McGoff Running Time: 2 1/2 hours includes 1 intermission. Signature Theatre Irene Diamond Stage From 10/28/14; opening 11/16/14; closing 12/14/14. Reviewed by Elyse Sommer at 11/12/14 press preview |
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