EGUSI SOUP
Egusi Soup was produced by Menagerie Theatre and opened at the Mumford Theatre in Cambridge on 18 May 2012 followed by a transfer to the Soho Theatre, London and Mercury Theatre in Colchester. This production was directed by Paul Bourne with the following cast: Ellen Thomas (Mrs Anyia), Rhoda Ofori-Attah (Grace Olaleye), Anniwaa Buachie (Anne Anyia), Nick Oshikanlu (Dele Olaleye) and Lace Akpojaro (Mr Emmanuel).
Janice Okoh’s hilariously funny family drama Egusi Soup explores the chaotic household of the Anyia family as they prepare to fly to Nigeria to attend John Anyia’s memorial service. The play explores the theme of ‘family pressure’ as the two daughters in the Aniya family struggle to live their life according to their African parents’ expectations. Egusi Soup looks at interracial relationships, marriage breakdowns and contraception.
About the Playwright
British-born Nigerian playwright Janice Okoh, initially wanted to be a novelist, however, when she was introduced to radio plays she realised that she was more interested in writing dialogue. Okoh has written for radio SE8, From Lagos with Love, A short Ride to Dusseldorf, Carnival (part of the ‘From Fact to Fiction’ series) and an adaptation of Malorie Blackman’s cult novel Noughts and Crosses for the Saturday Play. In 2011 she won the Bruntwood playwriting competition in association with the Manchester Royal Exchange for her play Three Birds, which was staged at the Bush Theatre in 2013.
Other published plays by Janice Okoh include Three Birds.
Summary (Extract)
It has been a year since the passing of John Anyia and the family are packing their suitcases to attend a memorial in Nigeria. Ever since MRS ANYIA’s husband died, Nigerian Pastor Emmanuel, an out-of-work of the Celestial Church of Christ and alleged former Midland Bank work colleague of her husband, frequently visits the house to offer his support to his late friend’s wife. As the play unfolds, Pastor Emmanuel shows his true intentions and makes a move on Mrs Anyia telling her that God has instructed him to move into her family home. Mrs Anyia begins to question his connection to her late husband and suddenly realises that her husband never worked at Midland Bank.
There is no need. (A pause.) Do you know my husband did not have one day of illness? Not a single day. He always knew someone would do something. Whenever we went home I did all the cooking. He would never touch what the housegirl prepared. Different ones each time. But there are always people coming to the house, begging for favours. ‘Someone’s going to kill me.’ That is all I ever heard from him. This strong man. I didn’t believe it. But really. I know they hated him and people could plot and plot but this was our house. I left it. The soup. I left it unattended. I was called out and I left it. For five minutes. We all ate it but he fell ill right after that. We left Nigeria the beginning of August. He was dead five weeks later. So I believed it. I believed that someone poisoned him. He died not because his body betrayed him, lied to him, pretended that it was well and then allowed the cancer to kill him, but because someone wicked simply wished it. It explained the injustice, the suddenness of it all. Yes, my husband worked in security pastor, but never at Midland Bank.