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“I just want to be whatever I want to be,” was the constant cry of protest by Bolatito in the play, ‘Anatomy of a Woman’.

Written and
directed by Wole Oguntokun, it was staged on April 3 and will be
performed every Sunday this month as part of the initiative of Theatre
at Terra to revive Nigerian Theatre. As its title suggests, the play
provides insight into the seemingly complex nature of a woman, her
sensitivity and ever changing moods.

It opens on a note
of suspense. Just as everyone is set to watch the play on stage, a loud
shriek comes from among the audience. The owner of the voice is seen
when she jumps from her seat violently and accuses a man next to her of
taking advantage of her. Another young man comes between them as the
voices rise to a crescendo and asks if she knows him. She replies that
she does and in fact came with him. This scene sets the pace for events
that follow. While the young lady is never seen again during the course
of the play, her outburst keeps the audience in suspense.

Bolatito

The first scene
on stage is one with Bolatito and her supposed boyfriend who travels
“seven hours by road” to visit, or so he says. Bolatito, popularly
called Tito by other characters, is played by Eyimife Gold Ikponmwosa.

Although she
claims that she is not every woman, she represents a typical woman who
is constantly under pressure. Women from all walks of life, including
female bankers who have targets to meet; single ladies who are under
pressure to marry; and young females who try to make ends meet for
themselves and siblings, are under similar pressures. As a result, they
succumb to pressure from men to get material benefits. Bolatito lives
in a well furnished apartment rented by her male boss, drives a car he
bought for her and holds a job he offered her. Yet, she ignores his
obvious advances and prepares to take him on a wild goose chase. “I
will give him the impression that good things come to those who wait,”
she says.

She raises the
question, “What does a woman really want?” It is a recurring question
in the play and draws attention to its title. Bolatito provides a
simple answer, happiness. She argues that for most women, happiness
comes in the form of a good job, good families, and a good car but for
her, it is a “man’s brain, mouth and money.” However, as events unfold
in the play, she makes it clear that she is not only after money but
believes strongly in love.

Mohammed

Mohammed is the
boyfriend who returns after disappearing for two years. He expects that
Bolatito will be waiting for him, but is soon proved wrong. He finds
that she has other suitors. Her aunty who describes him as a man with
“no ambition, no future, no hope, and no shame” is correct, for he
turns out to be a lazy man who wouldn’t be bothered about getting a job
but does not mind leaching on a woman.

Aunty Jebe A much
older woman is introduced in the fifth scene and attempts to take
centre stage very quickly. Played by Ijeoma Grace Agu, Aunty Jebe is a
saucy woman whose quick and sharp tongue seems too much for her small
frame. Her exaggerated actions help create humour in the play. She is
all too concerned about choosing a marriage mate for her niece,
Bolatito. “What other priorities can a woman have?” she asks, when
Bolatito says that she isn’t thinking about marriage. The importance
placed on marriage is emphasised when she adds that if a woman remains
single till 28, she is looked at like a damaged good.

The old fashioned
woman is of the opinion that a woman’s place is in the kitchen as
portrayed by her words, “Women are not designed to have fame and
fortune.” She maintains that love is inconsequential in a marriage and
regards money to be the most important thing. She quickly changes her
mind about the men in Bolatito’s life as soon as she finds out that one
is richer than the other. Her disdain for Mohammed because of his poor
status is apparent by her attitude towards him.

The boss

Bolatito’s boss
whose name isn’t mentioned in the play, easily calls to mind a rich
sugar daddy with too much money to spend. He equates love with money
and assumes that Bolatito’s love can be bought. He sends the audience
reeling with laughter, with his dramatically heavy Igbo accent; and has
a special place in Aunty Jebe’s heart, for she describes him as “a man
that is ready-made” for marriage.

He is however
given a shock when Bolatito rejects him with the question, “So what if
you bought me a house? Does that give you mortgage over my life?” James
Another one of Bolatito’s suitors is James, played by Austine Onuoha.
Aunty Jebe regards him as perfect because he owns a house. Of course,
this is before she meets the boss whom she realises is richer than him.
Much like the boss, he assumes that Bolatito will accept him in return
for his largess. She does what he least expects by shouting, “You
assumed that because I went to the movies with you that I loved you.”
This leaves him puzzled and he asks in shock, “What is it you really
want?” to this, she answers, “I want to be what I want to be.” As the
play reaches its climax, it is obvious that Bolatito is still
misunderstood by the men in her life. The female sex is portrayed as an
enigma, but she maintains that it is what makes her a woman: “It is the
enigma of a tiger that makes it a tiger.”

Setting, Costume and Design

The stage was set
to suit a modern house with a small dining area and sitting room with
all necessary gadgets including a television set, furniture, and
painting hanging on the wall. Since all the scenes took place in the
sitting room, the setting did not change. The lighting however helped
improve the setting. The costume of each actor was appropriate until
Bolatito went out on a date with James on bare feet. The bare feet
seemed out of place with the dinner gown and some members of the
audience could be heard mumbling about this. But all in all, it was an
interesting play, well acted by actors who understood and interpreted
their roles correctly.

‘Anatomy of a Woman’ is at Terra Kulture, Lagos, twice every Sunday in April.