Live Theatre Bounces Back In PH …As Courtship Checklist, The Trials Debut

Live Theatre practice has
bounced back in Port Harcourt after years of Limbo. This was showcased on Sunday June 15th, 2014 at the Atlantic Hall of Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt where two contemporary dramas titled courtship Checklist and The Trials  were performed live on stage to mark the third edition of series of live theatre performances for family entertainment in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital.
The event organised by spur on stage and other sponsors, attracted families, lovers and fun seekers to the venue which was filled to capacity.
The Tide Entertainment gathered that the main attraction of  the guests was because the drama makes a special case for women in a male chauvinistic society.
The two drama performances were presented with professional expertise and flawless diction which unveiled the artistic prowess of the dramatists and impressed the large audience.
The first drama titled courtship checklist is written and directed by Tayo Isijola and featured Boma Godwin as Chris and Faye Briggs as Zara.
The drama tells a story of Chris, a lawyer who sets to engage his girl friend, Zara a nurse who turns on a pragmatic disposition in order to gain a good knowledge of Chris before obliging the courtship hence subjects Chris to the scrutiny of a courtship checklist.
However, inspite of the overwhelming differences between them which strongly points to separation, Zara considers Chris for his honesty and liveliness.
After this thrilling, educative and hilarious drama came the full length performance of Prof. Julie Okoh’s “The Trials as directed by Tayo Isijola and features dramatists Kester Nsirim (Sotonye), Lovely Ofigho (Ibiso) and Micheal Ogundu (Tamuno). It is a domestic comedy and  a comment on gender equity and equality as it strongly advocates for female freedom from male hegemony in the interest of a happy home.
The Trials is a call for corporation, tolerance and understanding amongst every member of the family in order to maintain a sustainable home and consequently a healthy society.
Commenting on the live performances of the two dramas, a  former Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT),   Prof. Donatus Okoh noted that the performances were thrilling and very exciting.
He disclosed that he had been resident in Port Harcourt since 1980 and in those days the drama house was in Niger Street in the Old Port Harcourt township and people within the city and its environs run to the place to watch interesting live dramas, but unfortunately, it died down which did not go down well with the lovers of drama.
The Prof. of Education expressed happiness with the turnout. He stressed that ‘The Trials’ teaches us how to relate as husband and wife and see the union as that of give and take. “It teaches that husband and wife should assist each other,” he said.

Children celebrating at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, during Children’s Day celebration.