How the official launch of 'The Manic Monologues' went down (Photos)

Piece by: Dennis Milimo

08 October 2022

• The Manic Monologues launch was graced by Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong'o and Dorothy Nyong'o among other notable names.

• The Manic Monologues – has been running a series of premieres from October 5th through October 8th, 2022.

On Thursday, evening all roads led to the Signature Auditorium (Western Heights) for the official unveiling of ‘The Manic Monologues' – a play created by Zack Burton and Elisa Hofmeister.

The exclusive event hosted members of the Fourth Estate, the cast, the crew, and several guests who honoured the invite to be part of history.

The Manic Monologues – has been running a series of premieres from October 5th through October 8th, 2022.

The play (The Manic Monologues) – is out to showcase and honour diverse true stories of mental health and illness to disrupt stigma.

The play came in the wake of Burton’s May 2017 bipolar diagnosis while a Phd. student at Stanford University.

The play premiered to a standing ovation at Stanford in May 2019 with sold-out live shows following in November 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa, and February 2020 at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Fast forward to October 6, 2022, a section of Kenyans got the opportunity to be part of history as The Manic Monologues showcased real stories from prolific Kenyan actors and actresses.

The cast for the play includes Wakio Mzenge, Nyokabi Macharia, Elsaphan Njora, Charles Ouda, Julisa Rowe, Auudi Rowa, Vikash Pattni, and Nick Ndeda.

Apart from the cast and crew, The Manic Monologues’ private launch had the pleasure of hosting notable names in the film industry and other sectors.

Some of them are; musician Eric Wainaina, Sarah Hassan, Governor Anyang Nyong’o, Fareed Khimani, Ciru Muriuki, Brenda Obath, Esther Kazungu, Foi Wamboi, Carol Radull, Wanjira Longauer, Anne Mwaura, Michelle Arscott Njuguna, Mary Mwikali, June Gachui, Pinky Ghelani, Mumbi Kaigwa, Dorothy Nyong'o (Lupita’s mother) and others.

Speaking about the play, Shalini Bhalla-Lucas who is the executive producer noted that mental health has been her passion since her first breakdown and subsequent hospitalization with clinical depression at age 27.

“As I dealt with depression, I was also very aware of the stigma surrounding my illness, and kept it a secret for many years, until I realized that I had nothing to be ashamed of.

Mental illness, just like physical illness, is something that affects us all to some degree,” Shalini Bhalla-Lucas said in part.

She added that; “I am now hugely vocal about the mental illness that I have experienced over my adult life…mental illness is complicated, and yet we don’t seem to give it the respect it deserves.

Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o who also graced the occasion said that mental health is something of a priority in Kenya and it should be given the attention it deserves.

“I heard about the show from my wife actually and she heard it from somebody also and the chain continues.

The reason why I was interested in this play is that it kinda runs with Vagina Monologues and I wanted to see this version which revolves around mental health. That was my curiosity.”

A lot of people got through depression and the only difference is the degree….”

Nyong’o also promised to promote the play at the county level.

During the event, director Mugambi Nthinga explained what The Manic Monologues is all about.

“It’s a series of 19 monologues performed by eight actors, all of them revolving around mental illness.

It is true stories about people living with mental illness… It’s not entirely original. We got the rights from a gentleman called Burton. We have three original Kenyan monologues written by two of the actors Charles Ouda and Elsaphan Njora and one more written by a therapist called Shiro Ngigi. They are all based on real-life experience,” Mugambi said.

Mugambi added; “Mental health is one of the most urgent conversations we should be having right now."

Filmmaker Wanjiru Njoroge said; “The show is a very good presentation of what within the mental illness community and I would like to see this conversation move beyond the stage.

Media Personality Carol Radull also contributed to the conversation saying; “I have worked with most of the cast and a lot of the things in the play are very relatable. It’s heavy but necessary. And I would like the play to help stop the stigma around mental illness.”