Scene Five

Scene Five
 STAGING
• Use of NIGHT-TIME, the MOON, QUIET
• Use of TWO CULTURES trying to communicate (or not) – the proverbial Yoruba
and their religion v. the practical colonial authority with their law and order.
Pilkings now wears his police uniform.
• Positions on stage: bars, lines and dead bodies
• No DRUMS just Dirge singing
• Whistles, screams
 Powerful and precise stage directions!

• Page 67 – the opening of the scene – the barred room for keeping slaves
• Page 73 – Elesin stares at Jane – contempt for the woman
• Page 74 – Iyaloja “with sudden anger” – and the words that follow
• Page 77 – Iyaloja steps over the line – piercing whistles
• Page 78 – Iyaloja speaks “passionately” – and the words that follow
 Powerful and precise stage directions!

• Page 80 – Entry of the Yoruba procession – lamenting, well positioned

• Page 82 – revealing of Olunde’s body – a simple gesture
• Page 83 – Elesin’s suicide – violent swift action – colonial panic – unfazed Yoruba.
• Page 83 – Iyaloja’s scream – Pilkings must not touch the eyelids
• Page 83 – Elesin’s bride – she performs the closing of the eyes.
• Page 84 – end of the play – we end with the Yoruba as we started with them.