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written and directed by d’bi.young

anitafrika! dub theatre, Toronto Fringe Festival,

Theatre Passe Muraille Mainspace, Toronto

June 30-July 6, 2010

Word! sound! powah! is the third part of d’bi.young’s sankofa trilogy about three generations of African-Jamaican women that began with the acclaimed bloot.claat and continued with benu.  The third part finds benu under arrest and interrogated by police, who think the poetry group she belongs to was responsible for a political assassination.  This is a workshop production with young using the evolving script for reference.  It is still a powerful experience as young, channelling immense energy, plays at least ten different characters including the hypocritical politician, to chart benu’s radicalization and her acceptance its dreadful consequences.

©Christopher Hoile

Note: A version of this review appeared in Eye Weekly 2010-07-01.

Photo:  d’bi.young.