The Beauty of Stage Plays

Precious Igwe

On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you love stage plays? It is a solid 12/10 for me, yes! I would pick watching a stage play to seeing a movie, either at the cinema or in my own space.

The first stage play I saw, asides the school and church plays we all participated in as kids, was in 2018. I was mind-blown. That was my initiation to the world of stage plays, and there has been no going back since then; I’ve been stuck, happily stuck.

Now, one of the best things in UI is the Theatre Arts stage plays. Last session, I was always using my ‘last card’ to buy stage play tickets. My friends and I were frequent viewers, we never missed.

Down to the gist, why do I love them so much? Right now, I’m beginning to feel like “love” is an understatement for how I feel. Obsessed much.

There’s just something about stage plays, feels more real than movies, don’t you think so too? I mean, it’s not rocket science. A stage play is being performed right in front of you, live and direct, so it’s definitely going to feel more real than a movie ‘inside TV or phone screen’ (lol). Asides the realness, it’s exciting to see all elements of drama unfold before your eyes, the costume, setting, everything is raw. I love how all the scenes happen in one place, on one stage. One stage holds different settings and scenes, different encounters amongst all characters. Tell me that you find it amazing as well, or is just me?

In movies, they shuffle between scenes, transporting to different locations while shooting, and all that, or an advanced industry like Hollywood that’s got studios with these animated settings like Marvel and then serve you a perfect platter after they’re done shooting. I don’t hate it, that’s why it’s a movie, and we all like it like that. But the rawness of stage plays makes it appealing. It makes me really appreciate acting way more than I do normally.

I love to sit in the Wole Soyinka Theatre and watch them unfold a hundred different locations on one stage, rapidly change the setting before the next scene while the lights are out. Talking of the lights, I love looking back at the lighting department and watch them change the whole setting to suit the situation. Sunrise, sunset, dark, etc. Or the sounds? See how it deepens the effect of the play. Is it raining in the play? You’ll hear rain sounds. Gunshots and bomb blasts? E dey. Crickets and night sounds? They have it. Ominous situation? They’ll represent.

Also, how they manage to represent the main theme or nature of the play through the paintings of the setting. They can give that river setting, forest, a home, a refugee camp. Just anything. You’d take one look at the stage, and you already have an idea of what the play is about.

I can’t even finish this eulogy if I don’t give honor to whom honor is due. The actors themselves! The thespians, I like to call them Hollywood materials, because why not? Abeg, I’m manifesting for them.

These people are so perfect. They understand the assignment every single time, and they give more than they are supposed to give. They take in every role, they understand and internalize the character, and they serve the viewers hot sauce. Raw acting right in my front! I will cry.

So, the stage, the lighting, the sound, the costume, and the amazing actors come together to give sweet undiluted stage play. Give stage play its medal, please. If you watch these stage plays, I know you agree with me. If you’ve never watched, just check out their next plays and get a ticket to watch one. Come back and thank me later. You are welcome.

Let me mention some really intriguing plays I’ve seen at the Wole Soyinka theatre. There is Embers, Palmwine Drinkard, Lovesong for my Wasteland, Valentine’s Day Show, and a whole bunch of others that I cannot recall their names.

Also, I really think the department of Theatre Arts should pay me for this hot unsolicited advertisement. You know?