Mdyangu creators go on stage with Mulamu

Theatre lovers will have a rare opportunity to witness the premiere of a new drama production Mulamu by the creators popular television series Mdyangu and Mfumukazi.

The play is a Florete Theatre production under Neptune Production Company owned by seasoned actress-cum-producer Flora Suya, who also wrote and directed the play. Mulamu is expected to debut at Gymkhana Club in Zomba on Saturday and Jacaranda Cultural Centre in Blantyre on Sunday.

Mulamu centres around a married woman who has a younger sister. Trouble begins when their mother  encourages the younger sister to  seduce her in-law.

The mother seems determined to go all the way to achieve her wish, including sourcing charms so that her son-in-law can fall for her younger daughter. However, it does not end well as the marriage eventually crumbles.

In an interview yesterday, Suya said the narrative is a reflection of what is happening in society as some parents want to impose their values on their children’s marriages. 

“There are a lot of things going on in our socities which offer little logic. But the bottom line is that there are factors that influence such things. Mostly these are things that can surprise a lot of people once brought to the fore,” she said.

The play’s includes Mafumu Matiki (Mlelemba), Enifer Chiwaya, MacBain Mkochi, Ferguson Magona, Tiyamike Mwafulirwa (Queen), Mercy Upindi and Robert Magoda (Chuma).

The producer said she believes  that the cast will adapt to the demands of stage drama since most of them owe their background to stage drama. She said they will also try to leverage on the popularity of Mdyangu and Mfumukazi television series.

Suya said she is appreciative of the challenge before them to woo people to patronise their live shows since the numbers have drastically gone down nowadays. She, however, said she has faith that the adventure will work out.

She said: “The coming in of television and various online streaming sites has made things difficult for live theatre. But I believe that as theatre practitioners we should make efforts to revive and sustain that hunger for live theatre.”

Suya said their plan is to take the play across Malawi and she has since called on corporate players to partner them.

In a separate interview, Matiki said he looks at acting as a social obligation and the live performance will accord them the opportunity to interface with their fans which will allow a creation of a common understanding.