Work began in earnest.Friendships were quickly established and like I had predicted one of the situations unfolded. The lines merged and disappeared altogether albeit too soon for me in particular, I spent a greater part of my first week bitching to my roomie; the super talented and so loveable Ifybrown Monye about over familiarity -the poor girl tire for me- but then as in all things about most Nigerians, I adjusted. Yes, about Nigerians, something very intriguing happened in the first week we moved into the hotel, our new Namibian friend came to the room one day to complain about dust in the rooms, said she was having allergies to the dust, and other things and was going to a spa for therapy of some sort(I used to think allergies were a foreign ailment, not for Africans although after this encounter I had to just specify not for Nigerians), I recall exchanging glances with Ify.I did that a lot in the beginning because I couldn't decipher her language, Ify had caught on to her accent faster luckily for all of us. However, in this case, the exchanged looks wasn't because I did not understand her, the contrary was the case.You see in Nigeria we have become so accustomed to hardship that we take it for granted, we don't even realize we are suffering anymore, we adjust to and ride out all forms of storms that are directed at us. Allergies ko, spa ni. When last did you see a Nigerian faint or hear about it? rather we hear about people who just slump and die. Why? because they weathered so much hardship till the body simply expired of its own accord. But I digress...truth is, we didn't know we should be having allergies or discomforts because of the starless hotel. When we knew, we met administration who did all they could -the Nigerian situation allowing- to make us comfortable. Good directors are unexpendable . They can point an actor in the direction of that wow factor. We had a good director.Israel Eboh. This would be my first time of meeting and working with him but his fame preceded him and that of others like Mr Dance himself who was the tallest with the Longest name that I have to shorten for my own pleasure Anthony Offiong, Frank Konwea and Uche Onah..
Then I met this most humble,warm and diplomatic producer whose heart of
gold can be seen on her beautiful face Bikiya Graham Douglas. So
eloquent. Been in her presence you can't help but feel like you're in
the presence of royalty. Reminded me of a physics lecturer I had in the
university Professor Eze who made us all want to ace Physics not for
ourselves alone but to make him proud because he hadn't seen it as an
inconvenience to teach freshers and had never made us feel inadequate
but rather was so truthful and encouraging that we just wanted to do
well to justify his faith in us.
I had some personal reservations about some of the cast from the beginning but two people absolutely astounded and shamed my thoughts. Anthony: I came with an albatross on my shoulders about 'Veterans' and 'fine boys' and he fell under both. The first time I saw him, I thought to myself "behold the peacock" but he turned out to be everything but all I had assumed he would be.He was truly humble. He it was who had the patience to teach everyone else their dance steps even though he was not obliged to, he it was who gave and demonstrated the best workouts to help us feel our joints again after the rehearsals, humbly made and served us cocktails, had our backs when Uche wanted to have our heads for not giving him his movements back perfectly, he was never too tired to be of assistance to any one although in retrospect I wish he had been then he won't have brought up that early morning jogging. There is a time in the morning when sleep is sweetest, he stole that part. I forgive him though. And there was the ladies teddy bear,the amazing medicine man Princewill Emanuel........
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