The performance In Red and Brown Water was a story about a
talented runner named Oya. Many obstacles were placed in her way in order to
redirect her from achieving her dreams. She was offered a scholarship in order
to run in college, but she declined the offer because she wanted to stay home
and take care of her mother, who was extremely ill. Eventually time passed and
her mother passed away. After her mother death it seemed like the little fire
left in Oya died also. Symbolism is displayed many time throughout Oya life.
For example when she is running her life seems to be on track but once she
stops it all falls apart. She also falls in love with thing that she can’t
have. She falls in love with an unfaithful man who is taken away from her
because he is fighting in the war. Everything that Oya loves is taken away from
her.
I think that the tribal music was the most compelling thing
about the performance. The music played as the narrator of the story. By the
different tempos you could almost predict what was going to happen next. The
audience was aware of when something bad was about to happen. The music helped
to build suspense throughout the play.
Oya decision making was the most compelling parts in the
play. For example she invested her time in things that she couldn’t have. She
fell in love with Shango who was actually unfaithful. He actually got another
girl pregnant. I think that she was down so down for so long that she didn’t
think that she could do any better. Many times throughout the performance we
see that Oya looses hope. I think that once opportunity was there she wasn’t
ready but when she was in need it didn’t come.
The only thing that I didn’t understand by watching this
show was where exactly did this show take place. When I first saw it I thought
maybe it was in Africa because of all the tribal music. Otherwise it was not
that hard to follow.
This was not my first time seeing a live theater
performance. This performance ended up being better than I thought. I felt like
it kept the audiences attention and it was realistic. The performance shows
that based on your decision obstacles in your life can change for the good or
the bad. In Red and Brown Water it shows us that everything may go wrong at
onetime but life goes on and it is your choice to recover or not. As long as
you maintain hope there is always away.
