Dear Child: Play by Nakuru group explores the challenges single mothers face

Paul Munyua as Jan, Faith Chepkirui as Martine and Hophine Kerongo as Dominique in a scene in Dear Charles.

With harsh economic constraints ravaging numerous households and causing unexpected problems that have led to family breakups, Playmakers Theatre Group is exploring the challenges single mothers face throughout their lives.

They aim to address these issues in a comedy show titled Dear Child, which will be presented at Nakuru Players Theatre on October 12 and 13.

The comedy play, written by Allan Mellville, takes a humorous look at family life and the complexities that come with it.

Set in Paris, France, this adaptation by Playmakers Theatre focuses on the struggles a single mother endures in her pursuit of dignity and respect.

The play features several characters, with the lead being Denise Darvel, portrayed by Winnie Amdany. Darvel finds herself in a difficult situation when her two children become engaged and prepare for marriage.

Darvel feels compelled to legalize her status as a married woman before meeting her in-laws and allowing the wedding to proceed.

In an effort to choose a suitable husband before the wedding, she makes the mistake of inviting all three fathers of her children. The situation becomes complicated as none of the men can agree on who should marry Darvel, as they have all been out of touch with her for the past 20 years.

The three men are also coming to terms with the fact that each of them fathered a child with Darvel, a woman they once greatly admired. This unexpected revelation brings a hilarious twist to one of the latest comedy shows that has captivated theatre fans in Nakuru city.

Play director Michael Kamunya emphasized that the play offers valuable life lessons for single mothers.

"Some of these challenges exist in our own homes, and the play draws from various aspects of everyday life," Kamunya told The Standard.

The play will be staged at Nakuru Players Theatre on the weekend of October 12 and 13, with performances at 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm each day.

It was previously staged at Playmakers Centre in Kiamunyi, on the outskirts of the city, for the past two months.

The cast includes Winnie Amdany, Hophine Kerongo, Fidel Muhando, and Faith Chepkirui.

Playmakers Theatre mentors the youth of Nakuru and Rongai sub-county in culture and the arts. They are also involved in community awareness campaigns on mental health and sexual and reproductive health in the sub-county.