‘Games Men Play’ comes off this weekend

Another masterpiece has been cooked by the man who clearly seems never to lack ideas.

James Ebo Whyte has for the past 13 years cooked some of the most amazing productions at the National Theatre and his latest work, ‘Games Men Play’ is no exception.

The play, which showed for the first time at the National Theatre Thursday night, is an excellent craft. It is witty and superbly woven.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June in Brazil and before the referee’s whistle blows for the first kick of the prestigious tournament, Ebo Whyte and his Rovernman Production team have already taken a bit of the action.

But their showpiece is not nerve racking, there is no heart breaks or disappointments. On the contrary, one is assured of a perfect dose of laughter and excitement as Uncle Ebo Whyte dribbles his way into the hearts and minds of patrons.

‘Games Men Play’ captures scenes from the senior national team, the Black Stars’ hotel in Brazil.

Series of interesting tales unravels when the coach is caught in an undesired, but not too strange a web of an arrogant ‘Best’ player, a juju man, a match fixer, a Ghana football boss, and a very tempting journalist.

Ahead of the Black Stars match against the USA, a juju man, whose praise names are: “The only Nana with swag; the only Nana with the Better Ghana Agenda; and the only Nana with spiritual six-pack”, approaches the coach with an offer.

The juju man asks for $10,000 for the only goal in the match, a deal the coach, Nana Badiako rejected. As if that is not enough, a juicy offer from a match fixer follows.

Just when he manages to run away from those temptations, including a sexy female journalist who was ready to give her all, the coach was sacked a few hours to kick off.

‘Games Men Play’ is full of drama and unadulterated comedy. The hundreds who trooped to the National Theatre Thursday night couldn’t have asked for more.

The play gave them the needed fun and excitement. The intermittent laughter and applause said it all.

Patrons who spoke to the media after the play thanked Ebo Whyte for “another masterpiece” and that they wouldn’t hesitate to watch it “again.”

‘Games Men Play’, plays at the National Theatre on Saturday, May 24, Sunday, May 25, on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. There would be two showings at 4:00pm and 8:00pm each day of those days.

Credit: Roverman