The Grove at The Huntington Brings a Powerful Story to Life
The world premiere of the riveting second play of the Ufot Family Cycle
PHOTO COURTESY of MARC J. FRANKLIN
PHOTO courtesy of MARC J. FRANKLIN
The Grove
Written by Mfoniso Udofia
Directed by Awoye Timpo
The Huntington Theatre (264 Huntington Ave, Boston)
Available to stream online for the next month
The Ufot Family Cycle is a series of nine plays written by Nigerian-American playwright Mfoniso Udofia that will be produced at various theaters across Boston over the course of two years. The cycle tells the stories of three generations of a Nigerian-American family across several decades. The Grove, the second play of the cycle directed by Awoye Timpo, is a fantastic piece that weaves a complex tapestry of emotions together to tell a compelling and resonant story.
The play follows the story of Adiaha Ufot (Abigail C. Onwunali), the child of Abasiama (Patrice Johnson Chevannes) and Disciple Ufot (Joshua Olumide). She is the eldest of three and lives in New York while her siblings, Ekong (Amani Kojo) and Toyoima (Aisha Wura Akorede) live at home in Massachusetts with their parents. Adiaha is the perfect daughter. She is respectful, willing to help her parents, went to an elite college where she studied creative writing, and won awards — the list goes on and on. However, she carries a large burden as she struggles to talk with her parents about being gay. As much as she wishes to avoid a (likely) massive fallout with her parents, she is also pressured by her girlfriend Kimberly (Valyn Lyric Turner) to defend their relationship, pushing her to engage in the difficult conversation with her parents.
The Grove vividly depicts what it is like to be gay and Nigerian, specifically Nigerian-American. There is not much representation of this in the media, so Udofia tackling this topic in The Grove is particularly impactful. In Nigeria, being gay is illegal and socially unacceptable, creating an environment where LGBTQ+ individuals often face rejection, discrimination, and pressure to conform to societal norms. These attitudes frequently extend into the Nigerian diaspora, making it difficult for individuals like Adiaha to reconcile their cultural identity with their personal truth. At one point, Adiaha states that you can’t be Nigerian and gay. However, through the course of the play, this notion is explored and pushed back upon.
Udofia does this through five characters referred to as the “Shadows” (Patrice Jean-Baptiste, Ekemini Ekpo, Janelle Grace, Dayenne CB Walters, Chibuba Bloom Osuala). The Shadows are ancestral figures that commune with Adiaha, influencing the events of the play in subtle yet powerful ways that are at times touching. Their looming presence in the play adds a mysterious and alluring layer to the narrative.
Another great aspect of this play is how it ties back into Sojourners, the previous play in the Ufot Family Cycle. While The Grove easily stands alone, the connections between the two plays add depth to the narrative. Abasiama and Disciple, also present in Sojourners, have transformed and become parents in The Grove, where we see these characters in new ways and understand them further. Abasiama is initially empathetic, opinionated, and learns to stick up for herself, but in this second play, we see the limits of her empathy toward her own children. Though she remains opinionated, she remains in an unhappy marriage even as her children disapprove of it. Disciple, once a philosophical, optimistic, and persistent man, becomes bitter and angry as he watches his wife’s career flourish while his life stalls. He remains persistent, though not for the better, and he strikes fear in his family at times. The evolution of these characters, built from having spent a previous play with them, makes emotionally diving into The Grove all the easier.
Amidst these struggles and tensions, The Grove manages to be funny and entertaining as well. Adiaha’s uncles, Godwin (Maduka Steady) and Udosen (Paul-Robert Pryce) in particular, bring life and comedy to the play with their banter, bickering, and big personalities. This lightness and laughter are balanced by Udofia throughout the play and make watching it even richer.
Ultimately, The Grove is a deeply moving and thought-provoking play. It skillfully navigates and explores themes of family, sexuality, and acceptance. Mfoniso Udofia’s writing combined with Awoye Timpo’s direction, the stunning cast performances, and the technical design create a beautiful and engaging experience. The play, while shining light on the struggles of a young woman trying to reconcile her cultural and sexual identities, also uplifts history, resilience, and love.
This production is no longer running, but it is available to stream digitally via The Huntington’s website until April 6th.