by Inua Ellams
seen at the Kiln Theatre on 4 May 2019
Nancy Medina directs Rakie Ayola as Modupe and Kwami Odoom as Demi in a play which mixes elements of Yoruba and Greek mythology in a contemporary setting - Demi is the child of Zeus and a human mother Modupe, and is a star basketball player, even though there is (apparently) a convention that demigods should not take part in sports events.
Very soon, it becomes apparent that basketball is not really the point, although Kwami Okoom's adolescent athleticism brings an infectious energy to the stage. Once the boy has progressed from local success to being part of the Nigerian Olympic team in 2012, and hence a challenge to the Olympian Zeus which is impossible for the jealous god to ignore, the play turns to examine the abusiveness and misogyny lurking beneath the many stories of Zeus's amours with human women. Modupe in her grief raises an impassioned revolt against the predator god in a climax of astonishing rage and power.
