Play of the week – The Caged Bird Sings
Theatre Personality of the Week – Wambui Terry. PHOTO| CHARLES KAMAU
What you need to know:
Born Marguerite Johnson 86 years ago in St Louis Missouri, Maya had lived a full life mixed with horrors and honour in equal measure.
Born she credited her brother for the name Maya and her second name is form her first husband. Her poem Phenomenal Woman is a classic that has been taught in many Universities in Kenya and the World.
So mighty was Maya’s pen, Kings requested her to honour their enthronement with her flowing and rhythmic poetry.
This is a stage adaptation of selected poetry by American poet Maya Angelou who passed on last year after a colourful and interesting life, delivered in music, dance and elocution.
The iconic Maya Angelou rested in peace in May, 2014 , but just like Shakespeare, her work will outlive her for centuries.
Born Marguerite Johnson 86 years ago in St Louis Missouri, Maya had lived a full life mixed with horrors and honour in equal measure.
Born she credited her brother for the name Maya and her second name is form her first husband. Her poem Phenomenal Woman is a classic that has been taught in many Universities in Kenya and the World.
So mighty was Maya’s pen, Kings requested her to honour their enthronement with her flowing and rhythmic poetry.
For instance in January 1993 US President Bill Clinton invited Maya to write and recite a poem in his inauguration on the Mall and she aptly called it the Pulse of Morning.
Theatre Personality of the Week – Wambui Terry
Q. Give us a little of your acting history
A. I started acting in church when I very young, the love for acting has never died. When I joined high school in 2011,i was given a major role in a school play and soon became the star in school. I knew from then that acting was my biggest passion.
Q. How many theatre houses have you acted with?
A. Only at Phoenix. I only finished high school last year, so I do not have much exposure, yet.
Q. Tell us a little about the part you are playing?
A. The play is a collection of Maya Angelous’ poems and I am reciting the Phenomenal Woman. Although not beautiful or built to suit a fashion model size, this phenomenal woman is not like any other woman. She’s mysterious in a way and other women wonder what her secret is. She gets the attention of men without even trying.
Q. Do you have an actor you look up to in Kenya.
A. Yes. Mkamzee Mwatela.
Q. What would you change about the theatre scene in Kenya?
A. I would change the fact that some productions are not original and some don’t even relate to our day to day lives. Maya Angelou’s, I know why ‘The Caged Bird Sings’ is the perfect example of plays that relate directly to our lives, and I am not saying this because am performing it but because I can feel its originality.
Q. If you were not an actor, what would you be?
A. Probably in law school
Q. Married, single and searching or other wise....
A. Single and happy
Q. Asked to choose between theatre and screen, what would you chose?
A. I would refuse to change as I would want both. I have gained a lot in the theatre and it has been a beautiful experience learning so many new things from my director, George Orido and fellow cast members thanks to the US embassy for sponsoring the tone theatre production. I am sure screen would be another experience that I would love to be part of.
Q. Favourite food and can you cook it?
A. Spaghetti and yes, I can cook it well
Watch Terry Wambui and the cast at Phoenix on Parliament Road. Grand opening, in the presence of US Ambassador, on Thursday March 5 and 7.00pm, Friday March 6, at 7.30pm. Saturday and Sunday.
The play will be showing for the three weeks every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For enquiries and booking,
