Run Oya, Run

Oya is a young girl who relies on her natural born running ability to pull her out of her dreary life in the projects. While her life is not as fortunate as she wants, Oya is still surrounded by many people who care for her and help brighten her darkest of days. Oya’s number one supporter is her mother, Mama Moja, who is a strong, loving woman who strives to protect and provide for her. Oya has an admirer from a young age; Little Elegba, who flirts and teases Oya in hopes of winning her heart. Other important characters in Oya’s life are Shun, Shango, Nia, and Aunt Elegua. These people all play a vital role in Oya’s growth into a woman and watch her struggle to make life-changing decisions. The story line followed Oya from her decision to turn down a college running scholarship through her first heartbreak with Shango to her inability to bear a child. Oya struggles internally as she wants nothing more than a child of her own. There were many relatable issues that Oya faced such as the death of her own mother, her friend leaving for war, and catty friends judging her every move. Many people go through the same things that Oya experienced which created credibility for the story line and appealed to audience’s pathos. Audiences were able to easily relate to Oya’s struggles and life which made the play more enjoyable.

Oya faced adversity throughout her teenage years and into her adult life, yet the issue that struck me the most was the fact that she was unable to become pregnant. Being a woman myself and hoping for kids one day in the far future, I can sympathize with Oya and understand her disappointment and frustration. After her running career ended, Oya focused her life on creating a family and she desperately wanted a child. Seeing her neighbors with babies crushed Oya’s spirits and I think her sanity was at stake in this situation because after her mother died, Oya did not know what to do with her life.  She thought a child would bring her stability and happiness and was truly discouraged because of her trouble with pregnancy.

While each of the actors and actresses put on an outstanding performance, I was most compelled by the character of Shango. I enjoyed the way his character progressed from a sex-driven teenager to a young adult with goals and a well-disciplined attitude. Even though Shango matures into a real man, he still has a little bit of fun in his personality as he teases Oya, who is flattered by his attention. The scene when Shango first returns from war, he tries to seduce Oya by cupping her ear in his right hand. His subtle actions show that he has grown up, yet still has a bit of his playful personality.

This show was the first one I have seen in the Penn State Theater, however I have seen many other live performances on other stages. The stage itself was much smaller than many of the other shows I’ve seen, yet I felt like the characters utilized the space very well. I enjoyed that in some scenes, the characters were closer to the audience such as the church scene. I felt connected to the characters when they got close to the audience and made eye contact with certain people. I was unsure of what to expect, as this was a college-level performance, not a Broadway show, which I am accustomed to watching. With this being said, I was very impressed with the amount of talent and skill these actors and actresses presented.