Mlima’s Tale

CL Critic Kevin C. Madigan Recommends: The spirit of a male elephant named Mlima, killed by Kenyan poachers for his tusks, haunts this poignant account of the international black market and its deadly consequences. “Those of you who don’t believe in ghosts are likely to think again after seeing Lynn Nottage’s beautiful, endlessly echoing portrait of a murder and its afterlife,” wrote Ben Brantley in the New York Times . “Each character, inhabiting a rung on an ascending ladder of power, is very clearly defined but without grotesque caricature. (Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nottage) packs a wealth of cultural, political and economic detail into each scene, from Maasai superstitions to the statistics of the illegal ivory trade.” The play is based on “The Ivory Highway” by Damon Tabor, an article published in Men’s Journal in 2014. According to 7 Stages, Director Lydia Fort visited Kenya to research the complex relationship of elephant poaching with life and society there. Fort began the trip in the Tsavo National Parks where Mlima was from, speaking with scientists, rangers, local organizations and community members. As a result, 7 Stages announced it will provide a free platform for an open dialogue related to the themes of Mlima’s Tale during the run, as well as a Service Saturday event, providing community resources and opportunities for action. A spokesperson added, “This poetic tale gives voice to the objects we consume, the lives we exploit, and the planet we put at risk.” — KCM