In the seven years they have been married — raising four children together — Justin and Sakina Mirichii have built lives both on and off the stage. Yet despite being seasoned thespians, the couple has never shared the spotlight in a performance.
That changes this weekend at Mayfield Guest House, when the two finally appear on stage together in a production titled It Takes Two. This play explores the joys, tensions and evolving rhythms of marriage.
Originally written for the US audience in the 80s, the play is currently directed by Julisa Rowe, who performed it in the US with her husband decades ago when they lived there.
At its heart, It Takes Two is a collection of stories that examine the intricacies of married life. Through humour, reflection and honest conversations, the play navigates the ups and downs that define long-term relationships, from romance and wedding bliss to parenting, misunderstandings and the conflicts that test even the strongest unions.
The narrative likens marriage to the life cycle of a butterfly. It begins with the intoxicating stage of young love and infatuation before evolving through marriage, children and the inevitable upheavals that challenge many relationships. Through these scenes, audiences witness marriage largely through the perspective of Sakina and Justin.
Sakina admits that parts of the script feel strikingly familiar.
“In the play, there is an instance where the couple goes to a marriage counsellor for help, and one day as we were rehearsing, I remembered when my husband and I also sought that kind of help. Whenever a couple goes for counselling, one of them is usually convinced they need help (mostly the woman), and the other often doesn’t understand what they are doing in that office (usually the man). Mostly, one realises that therapy is simply paying a professional to help you two talk to each other,” she says.
As she approaches her eighth year of marriage, Sakina says her personal formula for sustaining a relationship goes beyond just two people.
“God is the third person in our marriage,” she says. “Our spirituality has been fundamental in keeping us together. It has made our marriage stronger and sweeter.”
For Julisa who has 40 years of acting experience, working with the Mirichiis has been a nostalgic experience.
Watching them rehearse, she says, often reminds her of her younger self and her husband.
“The biggest help we got during premarital counselling was learning how to deal with conflict,” Rowe says. “Many problems in marriage arise when couples start attacking each other instead of standing on the same side and attacking the problem. The problem is not the person.”
That principle, she notes, forms one of the central messages of the play.
Beyond the performance itself, Julisa hopes the production will create an experience for couples in the audience.
“What we’re trying to create is an ambience where couples can step away from the busyness of life and spend meaningful time together,” she says. “It’s an opportunity for them to enjoy each other’s company and remember why they fell in love in the first place, while also reflecting on how they handle challenges.”
Ultimately, It Takes Two reminds audiences that love is not sustained by feelings alone.
“Feelings come and go,” Julisa says. “But commitment is what truly matters. When couples continue to work together through the years, marriage becomes richer and more meaningful with time.”
