Accra, May 7, GNA – The National Theatre has seen many productions, but few have drawn as much consistent praise for a single performer as Fiifi Coleman’s I Told You So.
The name on the lips of many theatregoers is veteran actress Mynna Otoo, who plays Araba Stamp, the quick-witted mother of young Rosina.
Mynna Otoo, a seasoned stage and screen artist with over two decades of experience, has turned what could have been a supporting comic role into a scene-stealing masterclass.
Her delivery of Fante dialogue is crisp and natural, and her comic timing lands reliable.
Yet in quieter moments, when Araba Stamp’s confidence falters, Mynna Otoo reveals a vulnerable woman who genuinely believes she is helping her daughter.
The result is a performance both hilarious and deeply human.
Fiifi Coleman, who directs and produces the adaptation, did not hide his admiration.
“Mynna Otoo is an absolute sensation and a delight to watch,” Coleman said. “From the first day of rehearsals, she brought energy and commitment that lifted the entire cast. When she steps into Araba Stamp, she does not just play the part. She lives it. That is what real experience looks like. I am lucky to have worked with her.”
The play, a stage adaptation of the 1970 Bob Cole classic, tells a familiar Ghanaian story. A mysterious rich man arrives in a small 1970s community seeking a wife. He chooses beautiful Rosina.
Her uncle and mother push for the marriage. Only her father objects.
The cautionary message, that all that glitters is not gold, has resonated with audiences in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.
Backstage after the Friday, May 1 performance, Otoo spoke warmly about her character.
“Araba Stamp is a specific woman from a specific time,” she said. “The dialect work was key. Fante has a rhythm that carries the emotion. I grew up hearing women like her. I did not want to make her a caricature. I wanted audiences to recognize their own mothers, aunties, neighbours.”
She also praised the production team. “Fiifi Coleman gave us room to breathe. That is why seasoned actors could find new layers every night. The comedy is there, but so is the warning. That balance is what makes this play stay with you.”
Since its March opening as part of Ghana’s independence celebrations, I Told You So has enjoyed extended runs and road shows. The encore performance on May 1 sold quickly. The cast includes highlife legend Gyedu Blay Ambolley, veteran Fred Amugi, and comedian Clemento Suarez. Yet Otoo’s Araba Stamp has emerged as a consistent highlight.
One audience member, speaking after the May 2 show, said: “I came for the nostalgia. I left talking about Mynna Otoo. She made me laugh, then she made me think. That is rare.”
When asked about her next move after such a gratifying role, Otoo revealed that renowned Casting Director, Mawuko Kuadzi who is an Africa Image Ambassador with the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) had approached her backstage with his team after the May 2 performance. The team commended her work and proposed that she joins Build it Here Project, part of a plan to use leading African creatives to project a positive image of the continent. Mynna Otoo serves already on the management team of the Africa Monologue Challenge (AMC) and has participated in ACCP diplomatic engagements with several embassies in Ghana.
“I was honoured by their words,” Otoo said. “ I am glad they have seen me worthy of that call, especially after seeing this performance. I am still hungry for roles like Araba Stamp. They remind me why I fell in love with acting. If continental work comes, I will embrace it with the same energy. I am ready to collaborate with other Africans to tell authentic stories that show the good side of our continent.”
Otoo’s credits include Small World, A Stab in the Dark, Woe to Men, Last Laugh, Run for Your Wife, See You in Amsterdam and Children of the Mountain. She has worked with NAFTI, Sparrow Productions, Farmhouse Productions, Ad Visors, Revele Films, Ingenious Africa, Roverman Productions and DSTV Ghana. She is also CEO of Mynegy School and a philanthropist.
I Told You So continues to draw audiences. For Otoo, the role is both a highlight and a promise of more to come.
“I am not a newcomer,” she said with a smile. “But I am still hungry. That is the truth.”
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
May 7, 2026