The play opens on Marvelous (often called Marvi by other characters), Donald, and their youngest daughter Nyasha awaiting the arrival of Tendi and her fiance Chris (who is white).
Tendi and Chris tell Marvelous and Donald that they wish to perform the Roora ceremony (or bride price), a Zimbabwean wedding tradition, and have it facilitated by Anne.
Gurira weaves issues of cultural identity and displacement, generational frictions and other meaty matters into dialogue that flows utterly naturally.
Her engaging characters are drawn with sympathy and, under the crisp direction of Rebecca Taichman, Familiar stays firmly on course even as the complications pile up".
Of the New Haven production Anita Gates of The New York Times remarks "Familiar is a turn from world politics and international crises toward domestic comic drama, and she [Gurira] makes the transition seamlessly".