Black and Kinky Amongst Brown Waves hits a wonderful stride as soon as Margaux Belotte-Bennett takes the stage and starts her story, inspired by a seven month sojourn to India as part of a work project at Gallaudet University. What’s a sign-language teaching, kinky headed sister doing on a Passage to India? Stick around for the journey of a lifetime, luggage and all.
Well, actually, the carefully packed suitcase didn’t quite make it to New Delhi, but that didn’t phase her. Margaux establishes immediate rapport with the audience with her easy manner and genuine approach in each segment of the story. She relays the wonder about all things Indian even before setting foot on the land– the place just seemed to call her as much as she was drawn to its exotic mysteries. Her lyrical poetry comes from the heart when she ponders why she is regarded as such an alien amongst the population where skin shades range from light to dark and decides, it must be the hair. She then presents a skit that hits the ultimate authentic nerve about sisters and their hair that Everybody should see, since it puts the whole “hair thing” in hilarious perspective.
In clearly demarcated sections Delotte-Bennett tackles coming to grips with the unwanted attention to her curvaceous body and makes peace with being the foreign alien eliciting gawking stares even from regulars who see her daily on the bus ride to work. So much for assimilation.
Still, her love for the culture comes through in her endearing reflections of her office mates, the delicate way she wraps her scarves, her descriptions of the delicious food, the melodious tones in the background, and in the fleeting embrace with an almond-scented lover. In one of the final passages, she describes a harrowing experience of living through a treacherous monsoon, something she extended her trip to be sure to see. In the midst of the deadly force of nature, with water seeping everywhere, swirling and churning up everything in its path, she wondered aloud if she’d actually make it out alive and mentally prepared for the worst if she didn’t make it back in one piece or at all. This is a story of a woman who has made peace with herself and her God. It shows in her demeanor and the sound of her voice for a remarkable turning point in the production.
Margaux Delotte-Bennett covers a lot of territory in an hour and fills the room with a peaceful energy. In her program notes she writes: “…I wanted to not only share my perspective, but also to allow you to explore your own notions of who you are and how you are perceived in the world.”
She describes her own journey as an “odd-ysy” and seems to be most content when she’s geared up for world travel. She also notes that only when she is totally different from those around her does she really get a sense of who she is. As a story about seeking a sense of placement and identity, Black and Kinky has depth and a universal appeal with sights, sounds, aromas and images that will linger with you long after the Festival is over.
Black and Kinky Amongst Brown Waves
Written and Performed
By Margaux Delotte-Bennett
Directed and Dramaturgy by Regie Cabico
Reviewed by Debbie M. Jackson
Running Time: One hour
Read all the reviews and check out the full Capital Fringe schedule here.
Did you see the show? What did you think?
Lovely review
This sounds like a very interesting show. It reminds me of an experience I had when I went to south america. I guess it was my tan, but everyone in the airport thought I was Brazilian. Is this a traveling production or will I have to come to DC to see it.
Juliette Samuel
As much as we’d love to take credit for the production of another Fringe show, The HoboJungle Theater Company did *not* produce Black and Kinky Amongst Brown Waves. I believe it was produced by Margaux Delotte-Bennett. Thanks. [Editor’s note: Thanks for letting us know. It’s corrected.]