Our Lady of Kibeho
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Cititour.com Review
Questions of faith and belief – and not just in God or miracles – provide the central theme for Katori Hall’s engrossing new play, “Our Lady of Kibeho,” which is being given a first-class production at the Pershing Square Signature Center. For some, the work, based on a true story, may engender some post-show discussion, especially about the practices of the Catholic Church. However, the play is most successful as a character study.
Set in Rwanda in the early 1980s (which is rather too telling about the outcome of one the central plot points even if it wasn’t based on fact), “Our Lady of Kibeho” is set in a local Catholic college run by the handsome, kind-hearted Father Tuyishme (a convincing Owiso Odera) and aided by the sharp-tongued Sister Evangelique (an effective and ultimately affecting Starla Benford).
It is Evangelique who is remarkably doubtful that sweet-natured pupil Alphonsine (a wonderful Nneka Okafor) has begun seeing visions of the Virgin Mary, and her skepticism is hardly quelled after two other pupils, the shy Anthaleie (Mandi Masden) and the hard-nosed Marie-Claire (an excellent Joaquina Kalunkango), also make the same claims, and strange happenings begin to occur in the girls’ dormitory
Father Tuyishme, who is grappling with his own issues of faith, isn’t sure what to think (especially given his semi-romantic feelings for Alphonsine), while the rather cynical Bishop Gahamanyi (Brent Jennings) changes his position once he realizes the girls have become a tourist attraction that can bring fame and money to his small diocese. All of this is a bit too predictable, and one’s attention can lag at times during the first hour.
The conflict goes into high gear in the second act with the arrival of Father Flavia (the superb T. Ryder Smith), a Papal emissary whose job is to ensure – by somewhat barbaric means – that the girls are telling the truth before being considered credible by Rome. Here, Hall brings up some interesting issues about whether Flavia is treating this case more harshly because it is taking place in Rwanda, which the Italian priest sees as a true third-world country, and which Tuyishme treats as the equivalent of Switzerland and a “place where God goes on vacation.”
A prior knowledge of African history could be helpful as a fair amount of time is spent talking about the two main warring tribes of Rwanda, the Hutu and the Tutsi (another foreshadowing of the central conflict), but Hall fills in enough of the blanks, and the parallels to any racist or classist society cannot be avoided.
Director Michael Grief creates some wonderful tableaux on Signature’s Irene Diamond Stage, and makes good use of Rachel Hauck’s simple set, although I think Greif and designer Ben Stanton have too-dimly lit some crucial scenes. However, Matt Tierney’s sound design, Peter Negroni’s projections, and Michael McElroy’s original music all make significant, welcome contributions.
As she has in such previous works as “The Mountaintop” and “Hurt Village,” Katori Hall once more proves to be a voice worth listening to. Her great work, however, still awaits.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://www.signaturetheatre.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=3752
Cast
Starla Benford, Jade Eshete, Danaya Esperanza, Niles Fitch, Kambi Gathesha, Brent Jennings, Joaquina Kalukango, Mandi Masden, Owiso Odera, Nneka Okafor, Stacey Sargeant, T. Ryder Smith, Patrick J. Ssenjovu, Angel Uwamahoro, Bowman Wright
Open/Close Dates
Opening 10/28/2014
Closing 12/14/2014
Box Office
212-244-7529
Theatre Info
Pershing Square Signature Center
480 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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