Sitting through theatre productions like “Bad Girls of the Bible” reminds you why we cherish this craft. Yes, you’ll laugh. Absolutely, you’ll cry. But by the final curtain, you’ll quite literally have that come-to-Jesus moment—and I mean that in every sense of the phrase.
Game Show Glory with a Biblical Twist
This play is unlike anything you’ve seen on the Kenyan theatre scene before. Imagine this: a high-energy game show that impossibly brings together women from both testaments of the Bible onto one stage. As writer Yafesi Musoke brilliantly explains, this format creates the only conceivable scenario where these characters from vastly different eras could ever meet, and my goodness, do they have stories to tell.
The ensemble, led by the charismatic Mugambi as Mr. D.A., doesn’t just perform, they transform. What does “D.A.” stand for? Now, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? You’ll just have to see the show to find out (trust me, it’s worth the price of admission just for that reveal). Mugambi embodies every inch of your quintessential game show host, complete with the charm, the timing, and that distinctive host energy that keeps the audience hanging on every word. And just like any respectable television program, we’re treated to commercial breaks, “a word from our sponsors” delivered with scene-stealing brilliance by Justin Karunguru. These interludes will have you simultaneously in stitches and marveling at their creative genius.
The Original Bad Girls Squad
The cast is nothing short of phenomenal:
- Joyce Musoke as the seductive Mrs. Potiphar
- Wakio Mzenge as ahem Queen Jezebel (as she’d insist on being called)
- Kerry Kagiri bringing unexpected depth to Sapphira
- Lucy Wache as The Guide, or, “the Original” (who exactly? Now that’s a twist I won’t spoil for you. Let’s just say it ties everything together in a way you’d never expect.)
- Lucy Kwe capturing the conflicted Mrs. Lot
- Nkatha Nkirote as the Woman at the Well
- Ivy Shiko embodying the manipulative Delilah
- Mwajuma Belle as the resourceful Rahab
Between you and me, these notorious women are cleverly categorized: some who should have known better, others who made the best of dire circumstances, and those who were simply trying to survive in a world stacked against them. Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so too.
Breaking the Fourth Wall with Biblical Proportions
What makes this production exceptional is how it dissolves the barrier between audience and actors. The fourth wall doesn’t just break—it shatters, with characters directly engaging the crowd throughout the show. You’re not merely watching; you’re practically part of the game show audience yourself. And don’t be fooled by those people rushing around in crew t-shirts—they’re not confused stagehands or actual ChemiChemi technical staff. They’re brilliantly playing the game show’s behind-the-scenes crew, creating that authentic television production atmosphere, capturing all the chaotic energy and frantic movements that happen when cameras cut to commercial, or when chaos erupts in a live TV show. These “crew members” are deliberately part of the world-building, showing you what happens both on-camera and during those off-air moments that television audiences never get to see.
Beyond Entertainment: A Vision Fulfilled
ChemiChemi Players have long held the vision of bringing healing through theatre, and this production delivers on that promise beautifully. The script is masterfully crafted, the cast executes with precision, and by the end, there’s a powerful resolution to each character’s story that might just challenge everything you thought you knew about these biblical women.
Against All Odds: A Theatrical Triumph
In a stunning testament to creativity transcending constraint, ChemiChemi Players have turned limitation into inspiration. During a candid moment, Julisa Rowe, the CEO, acknowledged the uphill financial battle they faced bringing this vision to life, a struggle familiar to theatre companies everywhere. Yet what they’ve accomplished with their resourcefulness is nothing short of mindblowing. The economic challenges aren’t visible on stage; instead, we see ingenuity, passion, and artistic excellence. This isn’t just theatre prevailing against obstacles, it’s therapeutic storytelling that entertains while it heals and challenges, proving once again that the most potent art often emerges from the crucible of limitation.
Do you really want to miss the battle of the original baddies? The original spies, the original Queens who did the most? I didn’t think so. With only few more performances remaining, TODAY at 6 PM and TOMORROW at both 2 PM and 6 PM at the Daystar University Auditorium, you’re running out of opportunities to witness this game-changing production. Tickets are selling fast at madfun.com.
To book exclusive events with a TICKETING PARTNER, check out tickets.sanaapost.com 😎👊🏾
