Simon Ward reviews Fragments at the Etcetera Theatre

In this astonishing piece Nigerian writer and performer Pearl Ada pulls no punches as she tackles the intersecting issues of colonialism and its legacy, racism, and patriarchy. Put like that, it sounds like a grim hour, whereas it is anything but. Ada knows her audience – although the details and specifity of her story may be unfamiliar, she draws us in with humour and charm as she shares the story of Ifemelu. Like the author, Ifemelu is a Nigerian woman whose childhood and early adulthoood is spent in rural Nigeria. Having thus lured us in, she continues to beguile us even as she relates stories which turn darker and touch on violence and horror. Her gaze is unflinching and she refuses to let us look away either. We learn, too, of the injustices and unkindness Ifemelu has experienced as a Nigerian woman living away from home, where suddenly she is ‘different’ and ‘other’. We laugh, but there is an awkward sense of complicity.

Under the direction of Catherine Mieses, scenes of traditional music, dance and poetry are interwoven into the narrative, as though they represent some of the coping mechanisms which have helped deal with the challenges she has faced. These are powerfully resonant and provide a glimpse of the underlying culture laid waste by centuries of colonialism and its aftermath. Again, the feeling is of righteous anger, but controlled and moulded into a powerful work.

This is not, however, a one-woman show. The emergence in the latter half of Ifemelu’s father (Cedric Dumornay) is at first somewhat disconcerting. She has conjured up her life so vividly it feels unnecessary to have another actor. But the scenes they share together are utterly absorbing. The face off between the two stands for every obstacle that has been thrown at her. And her anger and determination that he should reckon with everything he has done is defiantly and explicitly not aimed at him alone.

This is a compelling and essential piece of theatre that deserves a much wider audience. It takes a special talent to bring levity and wit, as well as passion, to such challenging and disturbing themes. It is a magical transformation of the bits and pieces of memory, of joy and pain, that make up a life into something profoundly moving. The fact that the show ends on a note of hope and happiness is a testament to the resilience and strength that Ada demonstrates in abundance. An unflinchingly honest portrait, a magnificent performance.

Fragments is running at 7pm on 16th November and 6pm on 17th November at the Etcetera Theatre, above the Oxford Arms, 265 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BU