The play ­ whose style is a major shift from Sondhi’s earlier works such as Parlour Games, Room Service and Kiosk, pieces that took a direct attack on the ills afflicting the society ­ employs The Water Pipe as an image through which several messages are delivered.

While other neighbours lack water, the village has plenty of it, the supply of which Patel, a rich Asian businessman offered to the chief as a gift after he came to his aid when he got stuck in the village.

The water has remained free over the years but the chief’s younger son, Persie (acted by James Gathitu), who has not had the opportunity to go to school, has other ideas.
Villagers’ chagrin He starts selling the commodity to the chagrin of villagers who had all along been used to getting it for free.

His brother Andrew (Patrick Ochieng’), a doctor who was educated by the Patel Foundation comes back home from studies overseas to find a village that is pessimistic about change. He faces resistance from his brother who is perplexed by his return and who views him as a threat to his supremacy in the village.

The plot thickens with the arrival of Vinod (Ashik Yusuf ), Patel’s son who comes to check on his father’s investments but also wants some land in exchange for the goodies his father has extended to the community.

As it goes now, deals have to be cut between Vinod and Persie, not much different from what happens with typical Kenyan businessmen or politicians out to strike deals to benefit themselves without caring about the common mwananchi.

There is also Angela (Eunice Nduku) a black American who volunteers at the local hospital and who falls in love with Persie the village boy. The play, whose plot climaxes with a conflict revolving around love (Vinod is also interested in Angela), greed and the clamour to save the village, is directed by Hillary Namanje and Joel Godiah while Joseph Mwangi manages the stage.

A team of dancers ­ Jane Njeri, Amina Ali, Annete Odusi and Mercy Ireri ­ keep the audience entertained as they dance to the renditions of late South African songstress Brenda Fassie, choreographed by Alistair Lowe, a stage coach expert.

Cultural centre The play which premiers on Monday December 7 at 7pm is being performed at LTC at a time the club’s management is seeking to transform the facility into a one stop cultural entertainment centre, according to chairman Skipper Jones.

The proceeds of this first show go to the LTC refurbishment kitty. And already, the Tourist Trust Fund has donated some Sh5 million that will be used to renovate the club.

The renovation will see the auditorium reconstructed with changes on the stage, the toilets and lobby, lighting system and installation of new chairs although the renovations will only be on the interior as the club is a National Museums of Kenya gazetted monument with reconstruction restrictions, Jones says.

Set up museaum “We want to turn the club into a tourist destination where guests will be able to sample coast culture. We will present skits and other performances during lunch time and there will also be a restaurant offering coastal dishes,” says Jones, who is also the general manager Kenya Easy Safaris, a tours and travel operator.

“There are some artifacts that date back over a century ago and we will use them to set up a museum in order to attract tourists. We will seek more funding to hire a fulltime director and support productions so that we do not have to wait for artists to come up with plays in order for us to stage a play,” Jones adds.