New Jersey

REVIEW:  Learning through a child’s eyes in Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s ‘Kufre and Quay’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Imagining your first day in a new place can bring excitement, anxiousness and dread.

However, Kufre is optimistic his first day will be wonderful as he arrives from Nigeria to his new home in Inwood, New Jersey.  He daydreams about all the friends he will make and how much everyone will like him when he starts at a Harlem Youth Center in Harlem, New York.  However, things do not turn out quite like he imagines. 

Insightfully directed by John Adekoje, Boston Arts Academy with Wheelock Family Theatre continues the world premiere of Mfoniso Udofia‘s Kufre and Quay, the fifth production in the Ufot’s  nine-play family cycle which features three Ufot Nigerian-American family generations, live and in person at Boston Arts Academy in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday. July 26.  This bilingual production runs approximately two hours with one intermission and boasts open captions that come in handy during the performance.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Levi Mngomezulu in Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Kufre n’ Quay by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje. Running July 10 – July 26, 2025 at Boston Arts Academy Main Stage Theatre (174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215). Photo credit Annielly Camargo.

Having seen Ufot’s second production The Grove and the fourth production Her Portmanteau, it was wonderful to see the progression in the Ufot Family after watching things from Iniabasi’s perspective in Her Portmanteau and seeing things through her son’s eyes in this production.  However, you can witness and enjoy this production without watching the others.

Lighting designer Karen Perlow with Projection designer Justin Lahue innovatively lay out in multiple strips that elegantly reveal black and white photos of Harlem to framed family photos to the solar system to subtle streams to the green landscape of Nigeria.  Cliff Notez’s rich and catchy sound also contributes to the transformative quality and cultural aesthetic of this production in daydreams and reality.

The cast of Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Kufre n’ Quay by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje. Running July 10 – July 26, 2025 at Boston Arts Academy Main Stage Theatre (174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215). Photo credit Annielly Camargo.

It’s the hottest day of the year on Sunday, July 21, 2018 and Levi Mngomezulu as 12 year-old Kufre, the son of Iniabasi Ekpeyong and grandson of Abasiama Ufot, is adorable right from the start.  Bright eyed and charming, Mngomezulu as Kufre doesn’t realize the kind of impression he will make on the other kids and along with Ayannah Joseph as Aissatou, they have their own ideas about this new boy from Nigeria.  Until Kufre meets Ngolela Kamanampata as warm and theatre loving 13 year-old Laquasha Price or ‘Quay’ and under the guidance of Jalyse Ware as counselor Miss Ey Yo Miss, Kufre has encountered more challenges than he ever expected. 

Jackie Davis, Levi Mngomezulu, and Ramona Lisa Alexander in Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s
production of Kufre n’ Quay by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje. Running July 10 – July 26, 2025
at Boston Arts Academy Main Stage Theatre (174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215). Photo credit Annielly Camargo.

Jalyse Ware beautifully portrays compassionate counselor Miss Ey Yo Miss, who helps to run Harlem’s The Zone Youth Center.  As this production does, Miss Ey Yo Miss uses theatre though a talent show to establish connection and navigates this youth group with clever finesse.  Composed of Zay Williams, Selah Thande, Jedrian Latimore, Ezra Schwartz-Bart, Londyn Lacy, Shai-Anne Neufville, Ja’Mon Johnson and Ayannah Joseph, the group shares a real rapport with each other as individuals and as a collective as they speak over one another and make humorous comments as they embark on new activities. 

Ngolela Kamanampata and Levi Mngomezulu (in foreground) in Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Kufre n’ Quay by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje. Running July 10 – July 26, 2025 at Boston Arts Academy Main Stage Theatre (174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215). Photo credit Annielly Camargo.

Kamanampata is delightful as Quay as she attempts to bring Mngomezulu as Kufre out of his shell, especially demonstrated in an imaginative theatre activity that Kufre is hesitant to learn.

Ramona Lisa Alexander as Iniabasi Ekpeyong and Jackie Davis as Abasiama Ufot both deliver powerful performances as they discover more about Kufre and his experiences at the Zone.

Kufre and Quay is a moving coming of age tale that gradually increases in intensity, especially in the second act.  It tackles language, misunderstandings, cultural disconnect, and how each generation affects another while discovering new ways to relate and grow together.

Levi Mngomezulu and Ngolela Kamanampata in Boston Arts Academy and Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Kufre n’ Quay by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by John Oluwole ADEkoje. Running July 10 – July 26, 2025 at Boston Arts Academy Main Stage Theatre (174 Ipswich St, Boston, MA 02215). Photo credit Annielly Camargo.

Boston Arts Academy with Wheelock Family Theatre continues the world premiere of Mfoniso Udofia‘s Kufre and Quay, the fifth production in the Ufot’s  nine-play family cycle which features three Ufot Nigerian-American family generations, live and in person at Boston Arts Academy in Boston, Massachusetts through Saturday. July 26. Click here for more information and for tickets.

REVIEW:  Witnessing transformation in Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s dramedy ‘The Hombres’

Posted on by The Sleepless Critic

Julián seems lonely and misunderstood, but not for long.

Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin delivers a moving performance as gay Latino yoga instructor Julián who has always been intimidated by macho men.  When he realizes he has to deliver a message to a group of construction workers above the yoga studio, he must face his fear to unexpected results.

Directed affectingly by Armando Rivera with sweeping choreography by movement designer Nathaniel Justiniano, Gloucester Stage Company and Teatro Chelsea co-presents Tony Meneses’ dramedy The Hombres continuing at Gloucester Stage in Gloucester MA through September 22 before concluding at Chelsea Theatre Works from September 27 through September 29.  The show runs 100 minutes with a 15 minute intermission.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Jaime José Hernández, Luis Negrón and Arthur Gomez in Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s ‘The Hombres’ Photo by Jason Grow Photography

A group of Latino construction workers composed of Arthur Gomez as Héctor, Jaime José Hernández as Beto, and Luis Negrón as Pedro are working above a New Jersey yoga studio.  This fascinating trio shares an easygoing and amusing rapport sharing dirty jokes, intriguing stories or fantasizing how good life must be for the gringos (people who are not Latino) working in the city.  In impressive glowing neon hard hats and jackets by Chelsea Kerl with vivid lighting by John Holmes, they strut and occasionally goof off while on break looking down at the city and the yoga studio does not go unnoticed. 

Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin and the cast of Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s ‘The Hombres’ Photo by Jason Grow Photography

Rivera cleverly overlaps the construction and yoga studio scenes depicting how vastly different these environments are until they inevitably collide.   Scenic designer Kristin Loeffler makes the most of the stage as it highlights these contrasting worlds structurally connected featuring candles, incense, crystal and brass offering bowls, yoga blocks and mats while movable scaffolding and various pieces of equipment adorn the background.   Julian Crocamo’s catchy sound design, highlighted by metal clanging infused rhythms and meaningful club and ruminating music, is a lively addition to this tale.

Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin and Patrick O’Konis in Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s ‘The Hombres’ Photo by Jason Grow Photography

In a bandana and loose and flowing clothes, Julián seems tuned in and often empathetic towards others.  An aspiring dancer, Julián is caring, funny, unassuming, sensitive, a bit of an over thinker and an amazing listener often finding himself engaging in other people’s problems and connecting to those around him more often by circumstance than by his own will.   Patrick O’Konis portrays conflicted and friendly yoga member Miles who is also a bit of an enigma.  Holguin is wonderful navigating the trepidation within Julián’s encounters with others with a mix of caution and relatable humor. 

Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin and Arthur Gomez in Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s ‘The Hombres’ Photo by Jason Grow Photography

Arthur Gomez as Héctor is earnest, vulnerable, and frustrated with his life and longs to make a change.  Gomez’s Héctor thinks Julián may have the answers to his problems.   The connections established in this show are stirring, heartwarming, and complex as it explores the lives and struggles of these Latino men.  Julián often expresses himself through dance which leads a number of uplifting and humorous situations.

Ricardo “Ricky” Holguin and Luis Negrón in Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea’s ‘The Hombres’ Photo by Jason Grow Photography

The Hombres is a well paced production with a captivating cast as each character undergoes some sort of mental, physical or spiritual transformation.  Even in its unpredictable turn of events, it is a hopeful show that explores friendship, brotherhood, and what is truly means to be a real man.

Directed affectingly by Armando Rivera with sweeping choreography by movement designer Nathaniel Justiniano, Gloucester Stage and Teatro Chelsea co-presents Tony Meneses’ dramedy The Hombres continuing at Gloucester Stage in Gloucester MA through September 22 before concluding at Chelsea Theatre Works from September 27 through September 29.  Click here for more information and for tickets.