COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio returns to the stage this weekend with a poignant play about love and loss.
Written by Nigerian-born playwright and actress Ngozi Anyanwu, "Good Grief: A Best Friend Play" is a coming-of-age story that follows a young first-generation Nigerian-American woman named Nkechi as she navigates life after the loss of her best friend.
"We see her go through this exploration about how does she start over, consider how her life is now without her best friend, and ask big questions about how do we stay remembered and, also, about how do we keep the legacy of those that we loved alive," explained Shanelle Marie who guided the production alongside co-director Alan Tyson. "It's a nice journey that goes through all of the ups and downs of the stages of grief, while also celebrating the joyful moments."
Presented in a thrust black box stage at the Riffe Center in downtown Columbus, The Contemporary's production of "Good Grief" takes full advantage of the beautiful set, lighting and soundscapes to evoke an otherworldly feel for the piece.
"We're trying to create a world that feels really dreamlike and an immersive experience," said Marie of the story which sees relatable, down-to-earth scenes juxtaposed with aethereal imagery inspired by mythology.
“Good Grief: A Best Friend Play” runs through Nov. 19 and you can find showtimes and ticket information on The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio's website: https://www.thecontemporaryohio.org/.
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