The Observer is a must see

Review by Athena Kugblenu

A play about the days leading to and after a first election in a generic African state could so easily have got things wrong. I prepared myself for patronising clichés, sentimentality and moral high ground aplenty. The play does start with every signifier of a generic African state you can imagine; Adinkra symbols, khaki uniforms and a Scotsman being sick in a bucket. It’s also littered with deliberate references to several West African countries; Ghanaian beer, Senegalese names and a Nigerian language guide.

All this is to be overlooked: sticking with it is a joy. This play is a tense, gripping tale where characters unravel and draw you utterly into their world. It’s aptly staged with reference to the 24hour news format we’ve become accustomed to and has a narrative style that counts down the days and gives a passing nod to the real-time drama ‘24’. It makes two and a half hours pass by in moments.

The story has something to tell us about those who participate in the democratisation of a country; the incumbent leadership, the citizens, the journalists and, of course, the observers. The narrative revolves around decisions made by a supposedly impartial mission of international observers, sent to ensure a fair election. What follows is a deconstruction of the role the West plays in the transformation of a country. It serves as a warning to anyone who dares intervene in the self-determination of a nation.

The play didn’t have to be set in Africa; it’s a work of fiction that could apply to any country and is particularly apt considering our involvement in the Middle East. But this is minor – the play does no disservice to the continent. It avoids the usual old chestnuts with an invisible president, a vile, but considered head of the military, and a range of characters that represented several walks of West African life.

The cast expertly play a range of international characters each with their own story to tell, but are so smartly written we are able to take in their predicaments without being spoon-fed their life stories. The play is witty (the depiction of a bitter journalist, in particular, raises several laughs), intelligent and most of all, sincere.

The Observer is at the National Theatre Cottesloe Theatre, Southbank