In the latest theatrical offering at the National Theatre in Kampala, Strip Poker by French playwright Jean-Pierre Martinez masterfully weaves a dark comedic tale that explores romantic relationships and revenge which erupts with an unexpected ending. Set in the main couple’s apartment; Dave (Byamukama Bryan) and Victoria (Mara Jollie) invite their new neighbours James (Kayiwa Nicholus) and Pam (Immac Shantel) for dinner; a dinner that, through a game of strip poker, takes a dark turn.
Each character is meticulously written, clearly portrayed and though some moments bordered on clumsy, the actors had visible chemistry and interacted well with one another. The two men in the cast are two thirds of the performance trio ‘Acting Beasts’ and have several film and television credits under their belts. Byamukama, most recently seen on stage in Charles Mulekwa’s Man to Man also had the gargantuan task of directing the play and seemed to have been able to balance both duties well. His standout portrayal of Dave was natural and believable; at some points outshining his fellow actors.
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The first few minutes of the show begin with Victoria (Mara) on a phone call in which she set the tone for her character’s dry comedic sense of humour. James (Kayiwa)’s performance has the audience in stitches with his mostly well timed jokes. His wife Pam (Shantel) seemed to be the most grounded character. The actor brought the neutral air the character called for, making her role in the twist ending much more shocking.
Though the set is functional and it’s clear an effort was made, the set design was unremarkable, consisting solely of flats that create a generic living room backdrop for the action. This choice, while practical, is the main alternative to a painted canvas backdrop often used at the theatre and lacks the visual interest that could have enhanced the setting and the entire experience.
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Some minor details helped build the world of the play, for example a lit cigarette that was smoked by the actress, and a functioning door and working light fixtures. However, there were also details that were overlooked with the props- food and drinks that were visibly not what they were mentioned to be, as well as both (allegedly happily) married couples not wearing rings, though slight, these are details that enhance the believability of the piece.
The simple single lighting state throughout the play further contributed to the quotidian, realistic world of the play, until the big finale where the lights snap to red just before the final blackout. This sudden change was an excellent juxtaposition to the warm white light that covered the stage for the entirety of the show.
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Despite these production flaws and late start, Strip Poker is a thought-provoking play with a cast that succeeded in portraying the subtleties of relationship dynamics and individual struggles. The script and performances provide enough substance to make the experience worthwhile.
Strip Poker directed by Byamukama Bryan was staged at the Uganda National Theatre on September 6th & 7th 2024.
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