Convocation play causes excitement in LASU

Life returned to the stage at the Lagos State University, Ojo when Sunny Ododo’s play, Hard Choice, was performed. It was the 19th convocation play, which made the university’s Theatre Arts department, as well as the cast and crew to ambitiously invest in the play directed by Ayodele Adeshina.

At the end of the show, so pleased was the VC that he gave an indication that the authorities would facilitate regular dramatic performances.

He told the cast and crew, “I want to say thank you for putting together this wonderful play. You have done very well and you should keep it up. I want such plays to be performed every semester and it can be a source of revenue to the department when gate fees are introduced.”

With a title that will remind stakeholders of Ahmed Yerima award-winning play, Hard Ground, Hard Choice is a socio-political drama that dwells on the extreme moves that politicians make to get power. In the work, the queen of Emepiri Kingdom (Aishat Ibrahim) exchanges the life of her daughter for political power, with the agreement that she dies on her wedding day.

“The choice seems easy at first, but it becomes sour when the queen realises that her womb is closed. She attempts to substitute a royal blood for the life of her only child. As part of her plan to avert the consequence, she plans with Chief Ubanga (Ogunnote Stephen), who admires her daughter, to steal the crown of King Igi-nla, whose son is bethrothed to the girl. These actions affect the peace between the two communities. The indomitable warlords of the Igedu Kingdom, who by all means seek to recover their crown in order to preserve the life of their kingdom. Igedu threatens Emepiri Kingdom with war, the producers say, adding that Princess Azingae (Awhangasi Maume) of Emepiri kingdom, in order to avert war, eventually sacrifices her life.

They add that during the play, the students made good use of the stage and their costumes complimented the various roles in the play. They were able to infuse the use of traditional and contemporary music in the play, which depicts a shift from the traditional village to modern village lifestyles. Also the students danced to the various tempo of the drum beats.

Adeshina also noted, “The play looks like a theme that is relevant in all sectors of the economy. The masses are complaining and they are wondering if there is a government in place with all the things going on in the country. I feel so happy that I have been able to articulate the things happening in the university into the play. People need to make good choices and the consequences of their choices and how hard the consequences will be.”

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