Following three generations of Caribbean-Canadian women, we meet Ms. Lovely at different stages of development and pivotal moments/ages in her life as they relate to her understanding of herself, especially with the awakening of sexual identity.
Her relationship with her body, men and sex becomes a trap she cannot seem to escape – The play attempts to mirror these personal stories with historical content and to place them in a cultural and pop-cultural context.
Evoking the spirit of Sarah Baartman (The Venus Hottentot) as homage for the historical image of black women’s sexuality, Lovely’s confusion, anger, cynicism and heartache resonate with Sarah’s experience, creating an echo effect. All of this coupled with the reexamination of Dark Matter and Blackness come together to be the story of Lovely’s emancipation. We imagine that Lovely wakes up to the fact that she has the power to break the cycle and become free, and rejects the image of herself that she’s been buying into, finding self love and emancipation.
“Powerful and important. A fierce, funny and moving performance"
Glenn Sumi | NOW Magazine
Creative Team
Written & Performed by Ngozi Paul
Directed & Dramaturged by d'bi young anitafrika
Music & Sound Design by Waleed Abdulhamid & L'Oquenz
Choreography & Assistant Direction by Roger C. Jeffrey
Assistant Choreography by Catherine Foster
Costume Design by Jeannette Linton
Lighting Design by Chris Malkowski
Publicity by Amelia Sargisson
Originally Produced by Ngozika Productions in association with Pandemic Theatre
Produced by Jivesh Parasram
Production History
August 2015 • SummerWorks Performance Festival • Toronto, ON