Posted on Feb. 12: School of the Arts productions mark Black History Month
McMaster University's School of the Arts kicks off the Directors' Series 2004 this week with two plays that contribute to Black History Month celebrations on campus. The plays were written by two African-Canadian playwrights, whose works have increasingly spoken out about the lives and experiences of their communities.
The performance kicks off with da Kink in my Hair by Trey Anthony, directed by theatre & film student Amanda Guiseppi. The play unfolds in a Toronto beauty salon where Novelette recommends the latest trend and offers the odd trim on the house. The no-nonsense stylist sees all, hears all, and knows all, with the touch of her customer's hair . . . delivering a powerful and humorous performance as the engaging Novelette At the hair salon, we witness six of the most daunting monologues of betrayal, corporate slavery, sexual abuse, and family disconnection.
Playwright Trey Anthony is the artistic director of Plaitform Theatre. Her work has been staged at the Harbourfront Centre and Second City. da Kink in my Hair has toured and received critical acclaim in the Toronto Fringe Festival, the Atlantic Fringe and has recently been showcased in the New York Fringe and PSNBC, NBC's studio theatre. Anthony is a former television producer for Women's Television Network and a writer for the Comedy Network and CTV. She is also producer of Canada's Urban Womyn's Comedy Festival. This play is in development as a television series.
da Kink in my Hair runs Feb. 12 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m.
Showing next is A Common Man's Guide to Loving Women by Andrew Moodie, directed by theatre & film student Will Whitwham. In the play, just as the stag party is about to begin, the bride cancels the wedding. Chris, the jilted fianci is walking wounded but as his buddies attempt consolation we discover that they too are relationship-challenged. Four guys sit around and discuss sex, love, women and the meaning of life. Jocular and playful, these men can also be frank in revealing their vulnerability and profound desire for love and understanding.
Moodie is an Ottawa-born and raised actor, with extensive stage, film and television credits. Riot, his first play, was an immediate success with critics and audiences after premiering in 1995 at Toronto's Factory Theatre. It was subsequently remounted at the 1996 du Maurier World Stage Festival in Toronto and produced at Ottawa's Great Canadian Theatre Company. It won the 1996 Chalmers Canadian Play Award. His second play, Oui, premiered at Toronto's Factory Theatre in 1998. A Common Man's Guide to Loving Women runs on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m., showing second in a double bill and on Feb. 13 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Admission tp the shows is free, although donations are welcome. The productions take place in McMaster's Robinson Memorial Theatre, Chester New Hall, Rm. 103.
