[Review] ‘Maybe A Split’ A Short Play By Agbaye The Source

Apart from the title that is so befitting for the short video, Talent, creativity, great presentation and amazing approach towards tackling the societal issue of violence in a relationship or marriage aren't enough to describe the idea in “Maybe A Split” A two-hander short play produced by Olaniyi Rildwan (Agbaye).

The two-hander short play portrays the lives of two bird lovers, whose love life one would certainly be jealous of. The first scenes show the love birds showing their public display of affection in a place which one can assume to be an open place. Injected between the romantic scene is a foreshadowing moment which prompts one to easily assumed that the love life of the lover birds would end in premium tears.

Fall in love with your type they say, a phrase which was romantically verified in the short movie as the lover boy proposed to ‘Ajoke baby’ in a very comical way without a special show-off or gathering of people, saying “ YOU GO MARRY ME OR YOU NO GO MARRY ME?”, “YOU GO DO OR YOU NO GO DO” without being on his kneel as it is a common way of proposing in the world of today, even tho, Ajoke said Yes with no much ado, this portrays the duo to be seen as one who is seriously in love with each other, one can easily complement it as the visual representation of the word ‘Agape’. As the one-minute and twenty-seven seconds play shows how love can be fun with the right person.

The romantic love play wasn't only limited to the PDA and their comical way of playing ludo, not even how the man proposed to Ajoke, but also how Ajoke appears in his man wears just to display some creme De la creme love life and romantic moments.

The love was sweet, even viewers who have given up on love can easily revive their feelings with how the two-hander shows that love is a beautiful thing and of course worth trying over and over again.

Until the love turns to violence and the love birds started assaulting each other; as if Ajoke was never a special person before, the man was seen holding a weapon in a bid to attack Ajoke, as if the man was a yam, Ajoke was also ready to pound his head, a terrifying climax stage.

As if love was never the beginning, the lovers which viewers might be jealous of from the beginning turn the love into war, as Ajoke was seen locking his man's clothes and securing his back to the wall in a bid to penetrate her violence conveniently.

Since love has turned into sorrow, another disagreement erupts, Ajoke ran to get hold of his man to start the violence as usual until she slumps on the two-step staircase, and hit her head on it which hereby leads to her death, her body was shown laying lifelessly on the ground beside the mini staircase, with blood assume to have split out of her head.

Love turned to happiness and peace, peace turned to violence and sadness, and all of it lead to the death of Ajoke, which her man was beside her lifeless body greaving her in a sorrowful manner which one can simply tag as a “had I know” moment of sadness, which however prompts the man to also eat poison and die right beside Ajoke lifeless body.

“MAYBE A SPLIT” is a well-matching title for the short play, which aim to preach that a split might be the best option if a relationship isn't working out to avoid the danger which can lead to death and of course everlasting sorrows.

The two-hander short play aims towards solving a societal and relationship issue that is common in the world of today by reminding the audience that “If It's not working, maybe a split will be the best option”.

The short play contains a good message but lacks good cinematography, and also serves unsolvable suspense to the audience as no one knows what causes the violence and why such sweet love turned into war.

Also, the lady was known as Ajoke but the short play failed to give a name to the man, which left the audience with no name to address the male lovebird in the play.

Nevertheless, the short play injected all it takes to preach against domestic violence, the presentation is appealing, and the background music is quite persuasive alongside the message that the play is passing towards the audience.

Over the world, and especially in Nigeria, there have been various cases of domestic violence, even one where a wife burnt her husband to death, one where the man burnt himself because of his wife's verbal assault and many more.

Therefore, apart from fulfilling the role of entertainment, ‘Maybe a split’ also passed a golden message to solve the case of domestic assault in society, by raising serious and meaningful advice in an appealing form to the audience.

“IF IT'S NOT WORKING, MAYBE A SPLIT WILL BE THE BEST OPTION”. “SAY NO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE” - MAYBE A SPLIT

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Olaniyi Dolapo Ridwan is a graduate of Mass Communication from Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, he is known for his special talent for creativity. He is a singer and an educator and he is consistent in movie production.

https://youtu.be/ICbhQDiF5Lg

Watch the short play on youtube.