"“Nollywood Dreams” is spirited and casual, with the knockabout rhythms and narrative shortcuts of Hollywood in its early years, before flickers became films...A play about the enjoyable makeshiftness of early Nollywood films therefore gets an enjoyably makeshift treatment: Form follows dysfunction. Ali’s direction emphasizes color and comfort over snap and discipline. (Dede Ayite’s costumes nail all four.)"
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"Director Saheem Ali’s production is handsome and fluid, flowing seamlessly on Arnulfo Maldonado’s multi-faced scenic design. But it’s the deft and lively performances from the cast, and characteristically knockout costumes by Dede Ayite, that animate the story with irresistible vibrancy. If Bioh’s plot seems somehow both predictable and far-fetched, that appears to reflect the style of Nollywood movies, as evidenced by a hilarious coda that offers a taste of them here."
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"Bioh’s dialogue is purposefully sitcom-ish and charming, whether it’s exaggerated or playing to emotions more subtle, and her language is seamless. Never allowing herself to be held down by the weighty, social-cultural constructs of class and money in Nigeria in the ’90s, Bioh’s fast-moving comic text is warm, wonky and laugh-out-loud funny. With that pace, cast and musicality, this version of Nollywood is, indeed, a dream."
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"Bioh also provides the actors sturdy platforms in the characters she writes...The performers keep us laughing throughout, grounding their characters' eccentricities in real objectives and insecurities."
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Bioh has enjoyed acclaim with the 2017 breakout hit School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play, and last summer's Merry Wives at Shakespeare in the Park, but this effort is a bit weaker than its predecessors. Nollywood Dreams, which showcases some talented young people and an attention-getting production design, is certainly good for a few laughs. But it also passes in a flash, not leaving much of an impression.
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"4 stars! You don’t have to be a fan of Nollywood movies, or even have a clue what Nollywood means, to thoroughly enjoy Jocelyn Bioh’s hilarious new comedy. Set in Lagos in the early 1990s, when the scrappy, low-budget Nigerian film industry was beginning its rise to becoming one of the largest in the world, Nollywood Dreams feels universal in its send-up of celebrity culture and show business dreams. While not quite as emotionally resonant as Bioh’s breakthrough work School Girls; or, the African Mean Girl Play, it delivers ample doses of the laughs and heart for which the playwright has quickly made a name for herself."
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"4 stars! This is to readily admit Nollywood Dreams is a generally lightweight confection that even includes a few weak spots along is merry path. But it’s also to acknowledge that, thank providence, lightweight comedies have an often-forgotten prominent place in literary circles."
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"A show about following your dream and what you can accomplish as your most authentic self, Nollywood Dreams (running at MCC Theater through November 28) is a charming and heart-warming comedy for everyone. Playwright Jocelyn Bioh (author of Merry Wives at the Public this summer and School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play) and director Saheem Ali take us on a simultaneously campy and genuine journey with these relatable and larger-than-life personalities."
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