ROPE – laughing at Uganda’s dark side

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Uganda’s biggest open secret is that we all know things are not well, but no one really says so. We get up in the morning to yet another day without water and load shedding. We dodge out-of-control boda bodas, sit in taxis whose seats were last washed a millennium ago, and travel on roads full of potholes and dust. We go to jobs where we pretend to work and the boss pretends to pay us, then go to pubs and seem to have a jolly good time.

But all is not well in Uganda, and Rope, a play written by Lloyd Lutara and ably directed by Kaya Kagimu Mukasa, is one man’s attempt to peel away some of the layers and expose the darkness beneath.

Linda (Esteri Tebandeke), the daughter of a businessman and aspiring politician has disappeared. Has she been kidnapped, maybe by her father’s business rivals or political enemies? Who is responsible for her disappearance?

Esteri Tebandeke as Linda in the play Rose, showing at the National Theatre. (PHOTO BY KALUNGI KABUYE)

The play is a series of monologues as six people who knew Linda are called in for questioning by the authorities, who also are the audience. They talk to us, telling us their side of the story.

First up is Linda’s father, Ezekiel (Charles Mulekwa), who is convinced the culprit is his good-for-nothing son-in-law, Desmond (Allan Mwanja). He sees Desmond as an entitled, arrogant sot who talked his way into Linda’s life, and thinks he’ll talk his way through life.

Allan Mwanja as Desmond in the play Rope, showing at the National Theatre. (PHOTO BY KALUNGI KABUYE)

Desmond, on the other hand, thinks the old man is out of touch and does not appreciate his genius in getting things done. He also thinks Linda is a spoilt brat who probably ran away just to spite him. He also admits to ‘slapping her only once’ (remember Specioza kazibwe?).

Brenda Ibarah as Conso in the play Rope, showing at the National Theatre. (PHOTO BY KALUNGI KABUYE)

Then there’s Conso (Brenda Ibarah), Linda’s sister from a side-chick, who knows about her sister’s nefarious going-ons. Conso is the one who reveals what Kampala’s married women usually get up to, and also thinks that Linda does not deserve Desmond.

Eronie Bazongere plays Ophelia, a ‘madame’ who provides services to fulfil Kampala corporate fantasies. Is this the world Linda disappeared into?

Eronie Bazongere as Ophelia in the play Rope, showing at the National Theatre. (PHOTO BY KALUNGI KABUYE)

Michael Tamale as Bernard in the play Rope, showing at the National Theatre. (PHOTO BY KALUNGI KABUYE)

It would be spoiling if I told you what the other two monologues are, but Michael Tamale puts in a brilliant performance as Bernard, while Esteri Tebandeke is Linda. The story plays out as a ‘whodunit’, as we try and piece together the story of what really happened to Linda from the various testimonies. There are plenty of twists and turns, and one at the end had almost everyone out of their seats with a collective “Noooo!!!!’.

ROPE premiered on Friday at the National Theatre. I don’t usually like premieres, too many irritating people who are there mostly to be seen or, in this case, heard. And those requisite speeches can test one’s patience, already thin after being held up in traffic for close to 30 minutes because some big shot was passing.

But we forgot all that when the play finally started, and this was as star-studded a cast as we have seen in a long while. Dr Mulewa had not been seen on stage for almost 20 years, and it was great to see Esteri back acting again after her health struggles.

The applause was long and hard, and it got louder after each actor took their turn on stage, culminating in that explosive reveal at the end.

Someone said that Ugandans do not relate to theatre these days, but this is about us, and what goes on unsaid in our society. Great acting, great directing, and at the end a great 2 hours.

The play Rope is showing at the National Theatre till March 30.