Inspired by the song ‘Lose Sleep’ by REMI, this is a play about how it feels to be a mixed race brown person in Australia. summary
Rating
Ok
Black Voice, White Noise is delightfully witty, clever and an insightful piece of writing. The audience are taken on a journey into the lives of Caterina (Joanna Ventura) and Gabriel (played by the writer Kwami- Teye Canaco). Both re-enact scenarios that encapsulate frequent occurrences towards individuals of a brown race.
In one scene, Ventura as Caterina is in the bathroom setting her hair and make-up whilst Canaco play portrays a white feminine character. The white woman feels the need to fill the awkward silence with a casual compliment towards Caterina’s Afro. Caterina thanks her but flinches when the woman tries to touch her curls. Not feeling satisfied the woman then asks her a barrage of stereotypical questions; “Where are you from?” “You look exotic.”
The actors then go on to play out various scenarios from dating scenes to office life. I related to Kwami-Teye Canaco’s perspective when asked by his co-star, “How does it feel to be the only brown person in the room or in your family?” His response sparked interest; it is refreshing, honest and authentic for him to feel as if it made no difference at all in his upbringing, his friendships and relationships. Maybe he questioned his skin colour when he was young but as he grew older it did not make the slightest bit of difference.
Caterina, however, portrays a more affected, sensitive brown girl who second guesses her identity. Her inability to live without questioning or feeling ‘brown’ among the whites clearly reveals a massive chip on her shoulder.
As a person from a mixed race background myself I have related to both these characters at various times in my life. Let me be clear that I empathise with both points of view. However there are many essential and key moments in the script where the N word and the term mother****er are used and unfortunately all flat. The delivery is timid and not in keeping with the content of the script. Ventura’s monologue by does not produce adequate impact and her story feels rehearsed and not as raw as it should.
There is no doubt that the subject matter is sensitive and difficult to deliver, especially in front of an all-white audience, and there were definitely some moments when Gabriel and Caterina were debating whether race affected their lives where the audience could feel the punches and were forced to take a look at themselves. The show makes it possible to relate to being that judgemental person or perhaps the curious one.
The lighting, sound and set design by Eliot Sergeant and Anna Prechard-Howarth are simple and effective, allowing the actors to take centre stage.
Canaco is a talented young writer and Ventura is clearly hungry to share her story but the show needs polish. I hope to see this play for a longer run and I am confident that, with a little more rehearsal time, the audience could really feel the poignant message of this production.
Written by: Kwami-Teye Canaco
Produced by: Burstellar Productions
Directed by: Jasmine McHayle
Black Voice, White Noise has finished its run at Etcetera Theatre.
