Saro The Musical, quite interesting!

Austen-Peter

The Managing Director of Terra Kulture, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters is the creator and producer the latest birthed musical stage play known as Saro The Musical.

Prior to the day the play was previewed on Tuesday September 10, at Terra Kulture, Victoria Island, Lagos, rehearsals commenced on August 9. 

Peters revealed that the premiere of the show has been slated for October 25 through the 27th at the new banquet hall of the Lagos Oriental Hotel at 3 Lekki Road, Lagos. According to her,

  They are ready to give viewers “the biggest and most impressive theatrical offering in recent times.”

She said that running Terra Kulture for over seven-years has added a plus to the musical play.

 In her words: ”We are not afraid to embark on a project of this scale because we have been through it all in the past seven years. We have encountered lot of challenges in running the Theatre@ Terra but we have also mastered how to surmount the challenges; so we understand the way to handle a project of this magnitude. Through our engagement with the Theatre, we have been able to create over 500 jobs for both young and old. We believe that it is only in the art that our country has comparative advantage and; though there is no funding from government or private individuals, many people like musical stars 2Face, D’Banj and others have triumphed against all odds.”

She hinted that Theatre@Terra, and now SARO The Musical are driven by enterprising spirit and determination that have led to the international breakthroughs of Nigeria’s music and movie industry and added that Nigerians are some of the smartest people in the world, but are yet to actualise their vocation due to lack of funding.

Mrs. Austen-Peters also said that Saro aims “to serve as inspiration to the youths to go out there and survive; thriving on their talents or doing legitimate businesses.”

"Saro is the story of hope and determination to survive in Lagos. You will get to see the positive sides of Lagos as the play progresses. This is but a little preview. The production team of this play has been out-of-this-world, wonderful in their individual contributions: Ayo Ajayi, Music Director; Kenneth Uphopho handling the drama; Gbenga Yusuf doing the dance; and of course, the Executive Director Makinde Adeniran, have all been wonderful; they are young but well experienced at home and abroad; and that is the hit for us. It has been a pleasure working with them”. 

She showed appreciation to those who have extended hands of support to the project, including Zmirage; MNet Africa; EbonyTv, all media organisations and so on. She implored corporate organisations and Nigerians to sponsor the 14-scenes musical play.

Guests were treated to four of the 14-scenes during the unveiling of Saro The Musical. Austen-Peters said a large turn-out of about 200 young people of various local and international backgrounds looking for a platform to showcase their talents turned out for the auditioning.
 “Over the past three months we started, other people have come on board to lend support to our dream which they share and believe in. What we have alongside the supports have taken us to where we are right now. Alhaji Teju Kareem, CEO of Z-Mirage, has been outstanding”.

With this, the producer invited the guests to savour a foretaste of the Saro The Musical.. Though mainly the opening sequences, the excerpt was like a dessert to whet the appetite before a sumptuous meal that SARO The Musical really is. 

The show kicked off with a lonely drummer who appeared on stage to set the tone for a rich tapestry of exquisite orchestra performance conducted by Ayo Ajayi, an infectious love story between a dreamful guitar player/singer, Olaitan, and his beautiful love, Rume. The scene was romantic; and as the two young lovers went through cadences of emotions. 

This was followed by music, dance, acrobatic displays, stunts, rich costuming, colourful lighting and tips of the numerous twists and turns of experiences that first time visitors to a bustling city of Lagos would encounter.

Basically, Saro The Musical is a story of four ambitious young men who left their rural homestead in search of hope and fulfilment in a strange city of Lagos. The play captures their various experiences as they seek realisation of their dreams and career fulfilment in the land of freedom -- Lagos. It is a story of adventure, youthful dreams, sheer determination to succeed; and eventual hope; a very positive, hopeful story indeed. 

Personalities that graced the occasion among others include: Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Mr Disun Holloway, former Artistic Director of National Troupe of Nigeria and current Dean of Humanities at the Redeemer University, Professor Ahmed Yerima, veteran actress, Mrs. Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, the Consul General of the French Embassy, Francoise Sastourne and renowned dramatist, director and culture journalist, Ben Tomoloju;

 Others are: chief executive officer of EbonyTV, Mo Abudu, lawyer, art patron, Mrs Myma Belo-Osagie, amiable actress, Mrs. Joke Silva, actress Kate Henshaw and renounced singer, 2Face Idibia.

A playwright and director Prof. Yerima, applauded Mrs. Austen-Peters for coming up with the project; which is needed at this time of a seeming cultural renaissance in the country and also appreciated the engagement of the youths to execute the project, saying that Nigerian youths have incredible talents that should be fully tapped through projects such as Saro.
Some of the actors share their experience in Saro. Ogun Mawiyo (Area Mama) said her career in the theatre started over 20 years ago. Though she studied music technology and was trained to be a dancer and an actor, once in a while she also dub into the costume part of theatre.
On how she joined to perform at Saro, Ogun said her friend invited her to join. “Actually, I have never heard of Saro, so one day she called me that they were having reversal that we should go together. And luckily, I was given the chance to join the Saro drama and musical cast.
If she was not acting, according to her, “then it is music. If it is not music then it is dance.”

On her challenges, Ogun said: “The first challenge I ever had was to be an actor when somebody was meant to play the role of a aarrator in a full length play, started misbehaving and under the stage of that person, I was always reciting the person’s lines. So somebody just whispered into the director’s ear that I think Mawiyo has this line and she can actually do it. With that particular project I was able to tour 10 universities in Nigeria as an Actor for the first time in my life and it was a worthwhile experience.

In Saro The Musical, “I think am one of the utility persons. I am the lead chant person  and also playing the part of the Area Mama.
Which other special ability do you want to discover? She was asked. “Maybe in Photography, because I have always loved colours and also directing. I have tried that once and I loved it,” Ogun said.
Franklin, who acting as the police officer, said theatre is a gift “and what I love to do, I grew up into it.”
If theatre is not your full time job, what else do you do? He was asked: “Well I have worked variety of shows over the past few months and these include dancing, acting and choreography. The one thing they all have in common is that I’d rather be doing theatre.” On his favourite thing about his role in Saro The Musical, he hinted that “It is my ability to be able to twist the show, to be able to make it funny and interesting.”
He heard about Saro through a friend and I went for it. He feels great acting in Saro The Musical.