THE THINGS THEY CARRIED
The fourth episode in Mfoniso Udofia’s ambitious nine-episode Ufot Family Cycle, Her Portmanteau, takes us deeper into the fascinating story of a very specific Nigerian-American family whose struggles remain universal. Gripping performances by Patrice Jean-Baptiste, Jade Guerra, and Lorraine Victoria Kanyike create an immersive and emotionally charged one-act play that kept me enthralled.
Patrice Jean-Baptiste
Set in 2014, Her Portmanteau focuses on the effort of Abasiama Ufot (Jean-Baptiste) to reconnect with her first daughter, Iniabasi (Guerra), newly arrived from Nigeria, after decades apart. Adiaha (Kanyike), Abasiama’s younger daughter and Iniabasi’s half-sister, is eager to welcome Iniabasi, but a botched airport pickup leaves Iniabasi suspicious and hostile, and Adiaha’s hopeful generosity is slowly eroded. Iniabasi, carrying the titular red portmanteau, is further incensed to realize that she will be staying not in her mother’s Massachusetts home as promised, but in Adiaha’s modest New York City apartment. The suitcase is a well-chosen symbol of the burdens of time and loss carried by all three women. It ultimately triggers the much-needed revelations of the pain and costs of Abasamia’s long-ago choices.
Jade A. Guerra
Tasia A. Jones’s direction is courageous. She is not afraid of silence, not afraid to let gesture and expression convey all that needs to be said. Shirley Barish’s scenic design is spare—Adiaha’s apartment is simple yet neat; JFK airport is conveyed with a single pay phone, aided by Arshan Gailus’s sound effects.
Lorraine Victoria Kanyike
Much of the dialogue is in the Nigerian language of Ibibio, yet non-speakers will have no difficulty understanding the emotional arcs of these complex and compelling characters. With Her Portmanteau, Udofia continues to craft a narrative cycle of increasing depth. The anticipation for episode five, Kufre n’ Quay (coming this July), is well-earned. The emotional cargo of this family’s journey continues to grow heavier—and more essential to witness.
Lorraine Victoria Kanyike, Patrice Jean-Baptiste
photos by Maggie Hall Photography
Her Portmanteau
Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective
Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge
Tues (April 15), Wed-Fri at 7:30; Sat at 2 & 7:30; Sun at 2
ends on April 20, 2025
for tickets (starting at $25), call 617.576.9278 ext. 1 or visit CST
for more shows, visit Theatre in Boston
