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Culture Stage

Review: All Our Yesterdays

ALL OUR YESTERDAYS by Chloé Hung (AnOther Theatre Company/Next Stage). Factory Studio. Jan 8 at 7 pm, Jan 9 at 4 pm, Jan 10 at 2:15 pm, Jan 12 at 7 pm, Jan 14 at 9:15 pm, Jan 15 at 8:45 pm, Jan 16 at 5:45 pm, Jan 17 at 8 pm. See listing. Rating: NNN


In this dramatic two-hander, Nigerian sisters Ladi (Amanda Weise) and Hasana (Chiamaka Umeh), kidnapped from school by the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, sit captive in the dwelling of the man Ladi will be forced to marry. As the girls try to make sense of their situation, and wonder if any hope for their future freedom exists, their history unfolds through a series of flashbacks.

Playwright and director Chloé Hung focuses mostly on exploring the sisters’ family history and rivalry, which she does deftly with rich detail. However, she misses the opportunity for deeper political and religious inquiry. Although the shifts between scenes from past to present feel static after a while, Weise and Umeh are always compelling to watch, forging a believably strong sibling bond.

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