DAl Theater Clan Held Port Harcourt’s Audience Spellbound with Ola Rotimi’s Gods are not to Blame

By Eric Olusesan 

Stage theatre in Nigeria is in a declining state because of the absence of patronage from Nigerian audiences. A lot of reasons have been advanced for this phenomenon such as the rise of the television and video mediums, but DANIEL KPODOH, an Actor, Director, Dance and Choreographer based in Port Harcourt, Rivers state has refused to give up. 

Daniel Kpodoh and his  DAl productions and the theater Clan recently wowed its audiences  to its artistic display of  The Gods are not to Blame on the 13th|14th  of May @The Arena event center located at number 30 Tombia street GRA Phase ll Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The play written by Ola Rotimi and directed by Daniel Kpodoh  was a chilling taboo as odewale’s parents tried to stop fate by decreeing his death at infancy. So begins the tragic tale that leads to heartaches, deaths and sorrows, which will have audience asking “who’s to blame?” In  the play, the revelation comes from Baba Fakunle, an Ifa Priest, who sees into the future of the new born baby in his arms. The baby later grew into a strong willed man who becomes the very thing he ran away from.

The day began with the famous comedian Angel ‘d’ laff who cracked the audience with his mastery of jokes, then later on  the drama group gave the audience who were well seated in the perfectly lighted hall sonorous songs. 

Daniel Kpodoh gives the ageless story a new spin, with a fresh perspective that makes Ola Rotimi’s book a classic. Focusing on the Yoruba tradition, the play spotlights Yoruba gods, giving Sango, Orunmila, Ifa, and Ogun prominent roles throughout the play – as King Odewale, King Adetusa (Odewale’s father), Queen Ojuola (Odewale’s mother), Aderopo (Odewale’s brother), the Chiefs and other characters in the play refers to them often. The set was the fictional town of Kutuje with other historical cities like Ede, Oshogbo and ilorin playing dominant role in the play. 

Odewale’s character as acted by Amaebi Ekiye, who experienced different phases of confusion, almost painful in its helplessness, that the audience became  sympathetic to his plight, cursing fate for dealing him with such a heavy hand. 

One of the things the audience loved the most about the Gods are not to Blame was the infusion of the Yoruba culture with the melodious songs, and how parables and incantations were stated. Odewale was in touch with his supernatural side, and was quick to call on Ogun, going so far as to swear on the deity which eventually led to his downfall. 

It was also an interesting play to see how Odewale’s destiny led him back home, especially when he turned out to be a good ruler of his people. The Gods Are Not to blame is full of irony, despair, and disillusions. At the end, one is left with a ringing conclusion – one can never outrun fate.

 All the actors of the DAl productions and the theater clan gave the play The God’s are not to Blame the talk of the town performances which made the play a must watched any day, anytime.

Among the  dignitaries who were part of the audience are Pastor Olawale Arije, Pastor and Mrs. Olawale Arije, Pastor & Mrs. Abayomi Akinwole, Micheal kpodoh (art lord gallery), Michael Ogolo, 

Endy Ojo Abas, Deborah job, Kio London, Angel Attah (angel the laugh), Kunle Tatafo, Dr Ovunda Ihunwo(NANTAP chairman rivers state), Iyowuna Obomanu, Clarizza Tammy (KAFRICODIP ), Sunday Edum, Florence Ekiy and Helen walter fashion (costu6).