By
Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted 2 August 2018)
Was he
‘Legally insane’ as Back to Basics theatre troupe entitled their newest production?
Or is the ‘legal’ status simply a label that his greedy wife hopes to get affixed
to him so she can claim his company and vast wealth?
According to
Justin Miriichi’s ingenious psychological drama, one might never know for sure.
But what one
was easily assured of last weekend when this surprisingly powerful four-hander premiered
at Alliance Francaise was that Gilbert Lukalia is an awesome actor who played Ian,
the schizophrenic CEO and family patriarch with spellbinding flips in psychic
flow.
He’s been shipped
off to a psychiatric ward by wife Muthoni (Wanjiku Mburu) aftehe apparently
‘went mad’ at a Board meeting and beat up one board member.
Muthoni
wants him committed permanently since she’s been beaten brutally by Ian
throughout their marriage. It would seem she’s taking this opportunity to get
revenge. However, her motives are unclear since he seriously seems to have gone
off the proverbial deep end.
Certainly,
as he wakes up from a heavily-sedated sleep, he behaves like a baby, fearful of
invisible demons and apparently unaware of who are his wife and driver of 20
years, Hannington (Nick Ndeda).
But then,
after fleeing to the bathroom, he comes out apparently restored to his overbearing
self, scornful and abusive his wife. Calling her a whore and accusing her and
Hannington of scheming to lock him away forever, it would seem he’s far more
lucid than one would’ve thought.
All the
while, an invisible shrink is in the room appraising the father and family’s
conduct. The doctor had refused to take Muthoni’s proposal at face value. After
all, Ian’s behaved like a rich bully for years.
The turning
point comes with the arrival of ‘prodigal son’ Junior (Bilad Mwaura). Disinherited
by Ian, he’s become a beach bum. Embittered towards both his parents, he taunts
Muthoni with the same allegation as Ian’s, that he isn’t even his dad.
Bilad Mwaura’s
performance is masterful, mean and almost as lavishly lunatic as Lukalia’s.
But then
something unexpected transpires. Ian apparently returns to his senses, sits his
son down and invites him to take charge of his estate.
Suddenly,
Muthoni’s true colors apparently come out and the two men align themselves
against her, blaming her for everything
‘Legally
Insane’ is a fascinating, but deeply misogynous script. Muthoni gets trashed
and Miriichi offers no critique of either bullies, fascists or the status quo.
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