UNION- “Mala Aria”, written by Gloria Majule and directed by Jamil A.C. Mangan, made its debut at the Bauer Boucher Theatre at Kean University on July 17. The 80-minute play followsAmazia (Shiro Kihagi) who receives an opportunity to leave her family in Tanzania to work towards her PhD in America. While studying, she is determined to find a way to eradicate Malaaria after her mother dies from the disease. As she faces rejections from her findings, Amazia also experiences love and loss causing her to struggle on going down a new path in life or returning home and fulfilling a promise.
Kihagi is captivating as Amazia, bringing out the many layers to her character right from the play’s beginning. She is witty yet wounded and able to fill the room with laughter while showing the many internal struggles Amazia faces while she is inAmerica.
Nazira Cisse is a joy to watch on stage as the supportive and sweet Kezia,Amazia’s younger sister who is trying to find herself. Feeling stuck between supportingAmazia and wanting her to return home, Kezia’s character wonderfully shows that joy and sorrow can co-exist. Euegene Nesmith as their father, BaBa, is a standout on stage. Their emotional complexity moves effortlessly between comedy, and tragedy, creating a performance that is unpredictable, deeply human, and unforgettable.
Anita Welch-Smith as Jasmine, Amazia’s love interest, is a magnetic presence who seamlessly blends humor and emotional depth. She is a steady presence for Amazia but doesn’t shrink away from who she is and what she wants from the life they build together. Welch-Smith and Kihagi have amazing chemistry on stage as their romance grows and struggles throughout the play.
Though “Mala Aria” focuses on Amazia’s story, it does not shy away from discussing how malaria is still an issue in Africa and how they lack certain treatments for the disease. In the playwright’s note, Majule wrote: “ I wrote ‘MalaAria” to reckon with what it means to live in a world where you can lose a loved one due to one mosquito bite, what it means to live in a world where a disease that should have been eradicated decades ago continues to devastate lives.”
Aside fromAmazia’s struggles with her family and acceptance, she struggles to receive support from her colleagues regarding her discoveries to eradicate malaria. Something that is viewed as a non-issue to them but to Amazia has taken loved ones from her and those around her.
“MalaAria” is a standout and should not be missed, telling a beautiful and thought-provoking story of love, death, and acceptance. Bringing the audience to tears of laughter and hurt, “MalaAria” will be at Bauer Boucher Boucher Theatre until August 2. For more information, visit premierestagesatkean.com, call (908) 737-4092,oremailpremiere@kean.edu.
