creation stories and all the important importants – 29 September 2026
creation stories and all the important importants chronicles the stress of thegrownwoman (Abigail C. Onwunali) on her very last day of possibility for successful IVF. This breathtaking epic, kept to Aristotle’s single revolution of time, expands into a philosophical stratosphere that dares to go beyond dreams— it dares to play. In a world full of structure, thegrownwoman believes she must fully optimize every moment to live up to her full potential. In the process, she abandons her inner child, little girl/the uncome (Savannah Commodore) and walks in blurry, bleary circles around the world without really seeing it. Failing to see a way forward without children does not mean failing at life, and the show’s spiritual, cosmic ending dips a toe into a surreal world that illuminates thegrownwoman’s ability to feel alive again and inspire others through stories only she can tell. Magical, surreal, and breathtaking, creation stories and all the important importants encapsulates this journey in a hug of Nigerian culture and classical music, offering many relatable moments along the way. It feels simultaneously modern and ancient, giving the vibe that stories like this have always been here and exist outside of time, with a pain and a patience uniquely their own.
The acting style in this show is neither naturalistic nor realistic, yet it achieves the feeling of a second skin. Though the idea of the protagonist literally narrating a day in the life of herself as “thegrownwoman” sounds like it might border on sarcasm, playwright Mfoniso Udofia steers clear of that. From the beginning, the tone is a little bit funny and a little bit whimsical, but it never crosses the line of portraying this protagonist without dignity and pride. For her part, Onwunali was a worthy vessel for the story to inhabit. She upheld this dignity with grace, and was captivating even in moments on stage in which she was completely alone. Commodore’s role understandably had less dimensional depth, but Commodore managed to pull on heartstrings and did an excellent job of interacting with the world being built around her. The final performer, rounding out this trio was Donnetta Lavinia Grays, in the roles of the raffia, alexa, and mr. cornell. This track leaned into the absurdity of the piece, and Grays fully commits to delivering a high energy performance that keeps the kinetic energy of the ending fully fueled.
Some of the most fantastic elements of creation stories and all the important importants were created by scenic (Jason Ardizzone-West), costumes (Sarafina Bush), lighting (Alan C. Edwards), sound (Bailey Treierweiler & Uptown Works), and projections (Katherine Freer). Each of these elements seemed to send a particular message about thegrownwoman’s world. Scenic design comprised of multicolored boxes that were placeholders for most items, as a reminder that material possessions are temporary. The primary real-looking props on a literal level were the little girl/the unborn’s blanket and trombone, emphasizing tahe validity of the past. Costumes were the most grounded in the real world, speaking to the here and now in order to show thegrownwoman’s disregard for it. At one point, she wipes blood on her shirt and doesn’t notice or care that she’s stained it. Lighting held the possibility of magic if one continues to maintain hope despite evidence otherwise, and sound grounded thegrownwoman in temporal space, emphasizing times when she needed to come unmoored. Projections were the piece de resistance— they journeyed through time serving as memories, futures, and the expanse of possibilities.
Though centered around a serious topic, it’s important to note that creation stories and all the important importants isn’t sad or heavy. Udofia’s script is incredibly well written— sometimes time flies and sometimes it lingers, but the familiarity of thegrownwoman sits comfortably with the audience, even in moments of the character’s distress. By allowing us to sit comfortably with the stressful minutia of living, Udofia allows us to sit comfortably with the stressful expansiveness of the universe such that we experience vastness in the hands of someone we trust, without terror or denial. Centered around the loss of thegrownwoman’s ability to be everything she expected to be, we taste the grandeur of everything she didn’t expect to be. creation stories and all the important importants showcases the importance of a good cry, and it is truly a remarkable show.
I attended this performance on a press pass from DKC/O&M.
