Aaaaand…we’re off!!!!!
Live theatre is back, and for many of us, Mlima’s Tale is the kickoff. It’s the initial offering of the season from The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and it looks like they’re heading right for the end zone.
If you’ve heard this is a story about an elephant, don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re getting The Lion King. While there are some physical similarities, this is a far darker story. Lynn Nottage’s elucidation of the ivory trade is a stunner, even if you’re basically familiar with the sad details.
Kambi Gathesha is Mlima, both before and after falling prey to poachers. Mlina (the “M” is almost silent) is what we learn is called a “tusker”, an elephant with amazingly long tusks, traditionally those touching the ground. He’s a wise and experienced bull whom hunters have tried to bring down many times. It is, of course, his tusks that the humans want. The journey of the tusks and the people, whether by choice or unwittingly, involved in it is carefully, seductively offered up, with nary a note of didacticism from Nottage. Gathesha’s work in this very physical role is almost hypnotizing.
Those humans (and three other elephants) are played by Ezioma Asonye, Will Mann and Joe Ngo – for a total of 28 characters as the tusks move through and out of Kenya, then transit Vietnam and go into China. The changes are clear and easily followed, in part thanks to Helen Q. Huang and her wondrous costumes as well as the work of dialect coaches Julie Foh and Barbara Rubin.
Mlima’s Tale is a good example of how the parts of theater arts that we sometimes don’t think about all merge to give a full experience. The direction and design is by Shariffa Chelimo Ali and she’s done a bang-up job. The set of You-Shin Chen starts things off – is that a lake onstage? Jasmine Lesane’s lighting gives us, among other things, shadows on the wall of the Berges Theater at COCA that add to the overall effect. And the sound from composer and sound designer Avi Amon greatly heightens our awareness. Special attention needs to go to Kirvin Douthit-Boyd, listed as choreographer, but whose work, one suspects, went far beyond the dancing. Just watch those elephants move.
Yes, the show is not on the Webster Groves campus, but in a new building at COCA – see what they’ve been up to while we were sheltering in place? – called the Berges Theater. It’s a lovely space with good acoustics and comfortable seats. Parking is directly across the street in a garage Webster and Washington U’s share. (Use the entrance with the yellow lift gates.) Temperature on entering, masks required in the building. The audience is carefully spaced.
Ninety minutes, no intermission.
Mlima’s Tale
through July 11
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Berges Theater at COCA
6880 Washington Ave, University City