At the start of Danai Gurira‘s ambitious, arduous new drama, The Convert, a 15-year-old African girl named Jekesai is poised to take a leap from the frying pan into the fire. What a shame that Gurira leaves her to simmer for such a long time first.
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It’s 1895, and we’re in Salisbury, the British outpost that will eventually become Harare, present-day capital of Zimbabwe. Jekesai’s father has just died, and her greedy uncle, eyeing a generous “bride prize,” plans to marry her off to an older man who already has many wives. Headstrong Jekesai will have none of it. She flees to the home of Chilford, an African Christian who does missionary work and also aids the local British authorities by arbitrating disputes between villagers. When the irate uncle comes looking for her, Chilford issues a swift, telling judgment. “I will not be on the standby and release allowance to you to practice polygamy and the selling of a young woman’s body under my very nostril,” he declares. “It is not of wonder the white speaks of our savagery. Dispute settled.”
But Jekesai’s sense of safety is illusory. She’s blind to the danger of turning her back on her people at this critical historical moment—just as the First Chimurenga, a brutal and bloody anticolonial rebellion, is about to erupt.
Through 3/25: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, goodmantheatre.org, $12-$32
