‘Waiting Room’ a healthy satire on hospital services

Depending on the hospital that each of us visits, we must all have a memory of an annoying experience. An instance where you dragged yourself to the hospital, sick to the bone, and when you tried to explain your condition to the receptionist, she simply referred you to the waiting bench as she kept scrolling through her phone.

And when she finally decided to lend you an ear, you struggled to explain your symptoms while she chewed her gum loudly and pressed her keyboard noisily. Without even staring you in the eye, she simply told you to go back to the bench and would call you once the doctor was done with the current patient.

Getting to finally see the doctor was a relief and, considering his kindness, the question of why such a kind-hearted doctor would agree to have an inconsiderate receptionist kept floating in your mind. Once the visit was done, you heaped gratitude on the doctor for his services, then your mood suddenly changed once you walked out and came face to face with the receptionist. Nonetheless, you had to maintain your calm as you paid the doctor fees.

REALITY ACTED OUT

This scenario was what was playing in my mind on the evening of Saturday the 7th of August as I made my way to the Kenya National Theatre, Main Auditorium, to watch one of the much-anticipated plays of the year. Titled ‘The Waiting Room’, it’s synopsis read:

‘In a chaotic hospital waiting room, tensions mount as anxious relatives await news about a critically injured patriarch. Secrets unravel, misunderstandings abound and comedic yet dramatic confrontations ensue.

‘Amidst the chaos, unexpected twists reveal hidden lies and shocking truths, weaving a thrilling tale of identity, deception and the unpredictable nature of family bonds.’

Based on this, the play promised to delve into the challenges plaguing Kenya’s healthcare system, focusing on issues as commonplace and pertinent as health insurance. Having watched all the seasons and episodes of ‘A Nurse Toto’ on YouTube, I thought I was prepared for what I was about to see, but lo and behold!

The play was written and directed by Martin Abuya and produced by Wreiner Mandu. It had a talented cast, which included Kennedy Kithia, Lisa Odhiambo, Jeff Obonyo, Vanessa Gichio and Edna Kariuki. Others were Harold Kerry, Lydia Mamati, Prince Kamselele, Linda Kamuri, Sammy Waweru, Annan Obwocha and the beautiful Muthoni Njoki.

Set in the reception of Uzima Hospital, the play opened with a comical conversation between the hospital receptionist and the hospital security guard. They discuss a couple of issues, such as how they intend to prioritise patients with private insurance, as compared to those using the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF); reason being NHIF no longer covers most of the in-patient costs. And what of the confused transition to SHIF?

Additionally, they talked about the orders they were given to hit a particular target of patients served, upon which they’ll receive a bonus. Well, it’s quite cynical to have hospital targets, because then, does it mean that you are praying for more and more people in the society to fall ill so that you may benefit?

It’s almost like a coffin maker praying to have a successful month for his business, because then, that means that more people need to die for his business to boom. Quite evil, isn’t it? In between this weighty conversation, nonetheless, we witness the security guard flirtingly throwing pick up lines at the receptionist in a bid to woo her.

As I watched this part, I couldn’t help but notice how the security guard closely resembled Crazy Kennar, seeing how funny he was (the shape of his head and body demeanour notwithstanding). This was a very humorous opening to the play.

TWISTS IN THE TALE

Almost abruptly, two women and their kids arrive at the hospital, asking to see Mr Matano, a patient who has just been admitted after a severe accident. In an unexpected turn of events, they both claim to be the wives of one Mr Matano, and both claim to have been married for more than 15 years. None of them has the faintest knowledge of the other, and so they begin getting dramatic and fight over the fact that they are co-wives.

The uncle, too, is present. Known as Uncle Banda, he comes out as a very religious but also greedy family member. At the report of any news, he immediately starts praying, armed with a Bible in hand. But no sooner that he says ‘Amen’ than he appoints himself as the chairperson of Mr Matano’s burial committee.

He even begins breaking down the expenses to be incurred in the funeral as well as the procedure to be carried out, much to the chagrin of the rest of the family members, who are all praying for Mr Matano’s recovery.

Well, another twist comes in upon the realisation that their kids have been dating each other, and both have actually been sired by Mr Matano (at this exact point, the 1974 song ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd started playing in my mind, and for obvious reasons).

While the families are fighting, the doctor, well-versed in anatomical jargon that he felt obliged to let us know, walks in. He tells the families that Mr Matano would need to undergo a kidney transplant if he is to survive. The families, then, decide to put their disputes aside and come up with a quick resolution.

The son, Tandale, decides to be the one to give up his kidney. The families stay behind, fingers crossed that the operation goes on successfully, and that Mr Matano survives. After a while, Tandale comes out of the operation room, limping and in despair. When the family members rush to him to assist him, he says that the Mr Matano who was in there wasn’t actually his father.

The receptionist rushes to take the visitor’s book and reads the full details of the Mr Matano who had just been booked in. It is only then that one of the families, Tandale’s actually, realises that they had rushed in to the wrong hospital. They receive a call from the other hospital, that their Mr Matano had been booked earlier, treated almost immediately and discharged.

They all heave a sigh of relief, grateful that their Mr Matano did not, actually, have a second wife. But they are all mad at the receptionist for not clarifying the full details of Mr Matano when they had earlier inquired. Then the show ends.

THEMATIC ISSUES

Some of the thematic issues prominent in this show include the matter of infidelity. This has been a particularly prominent theme in both theatre and film this year. From ‘Second Family’ on Showmax to ‘Disco Matanga’ on YouTube to ‘The Waiting Room’ on theatre’; it seems like time is ripe for us to now address the issue.

Additionally, the issue of poor record-keeping and customer service in hospitals was highlighted. I was glad to see that because it’s an issue I’ve been facing constantly, especially when I visit public hospitals, where the receptionists claim to be tired because of attending to so many patients that day. Any attempt to tell them to hurry up a bit is always met with a ‘You are not any special!’ response.

All in all, I really enjoyed the show, and was sad that it ended just an hour and a half later. Nonetheless, Igiza Arts is doing a great initiative in the theatre scene. Their goal is to inspire Kenyans to embrace theatre as a form of leisure and reflection.

They will be having another performance scheduled for November 1, 2 and 3. You can mark your calendars early enough and be sure to attend them. More details about the show will be shared on Igiza Arts’ official website, as well as their Instagram page. Don’t miss it!