da Kink in my Hair returns to Toronto for an exciting 20th Anniversary Celebration

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is much excitement in Toronto as the ground-breaking production, “da Kink in my Hair,” returns for its 20^th anniversary celebration. It was in 2003 that it was written by award-winning playwright and producer Trey Anthony. The play is set in a hair salon located in the cultural district known as Little Jamaica on the Eglinton Ave strip. The importance of Toronto’s Eglinton West community has a major influence on many Black families who came from the: Caribbean, Africa, and the world. While the play centres around the lived experiences and social realities of the Black female characters that frequent the hair salon, its message of hope, love, friendships, resilience, and faith is universal. The lived realities and social experiences of its female actors resonate with audiences worldwide wide

The award-winning play, which was the winner of four NAACP awards including best new play, features many members of the original cast. The smash hit play inspired the television series which ran on Global Television from October 14^th, 2007 to May 14^th, 2009. It was in 2001 that the play debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival. The play has been performed across Canada, the United States, and England. The play features four of the original cast members: Ordena Stephens-Thompson, Shaboor Ordena, Miranda Edwards, and D’bi.Young Anitafrika, and new actors: Olunike Adeliyi, Tamara Brown, Shakura Dickson,and vocalists Alana Bridgewater,Chelsea Russell and Tiffany Deriveau.

Producer Trey recalls the challenges that she faced during those early days, “20 years ago when I wrote ‘da Kink in my Hair’ my first reading was in a venue that could hold about 35 people and I thought, ‘Wow I sold out two nights. I’ve made it!’ Later we had no costumes and rehearsed on the sidewalk in New York. I photocopied flyers at my night job because I couldn’t afford to pay to get them printed.”

Trey gets emotional as she reflects on the long journey that has taken her to where she is today.

“Last night I sat in rehearsals for, “da Kink in my Hair,” and just got still, and at the end of the night I just cried. There were so many crewmembers, I couldn’t remember everyone’s name. My little show is in an 876-seat theatre, my name is in lights, we have: swinging sets, choreographers, hair makeup, sound design, set designers, a marketing team! Folks are snatching up tickets, we are talking about sold out shows! My face is all over the city and I just need to take this all in. I’m just a girl from Rexdale.”

Soulpepper Theatre Artistic Director Weyni Mengesha who was also part of the original production in 2001 directs the play. She was with the show during the Toronto Fringe production, as well as directing it during its run at the Theatre Muraille in 2003 and Mirvish in 2005. In addition, she wrote the Dora-dominated score and lyrics for the production in 2003.

Michee Mee, Canada’s Queen of Hip-Hop was a special guest artiste and performer at the opening night. It is significant that the play highlights the Eglinton West community, particularly at this time when attention is on the Little Jamaican Cultural District Plan. It was great that the set featured several well-known Black-owned small businesses and reggae lane murals.

It is important for those who plan on attending that they are warned in advance. The content features discussion about topics that can be triggering such as: sexual assault, suicide, homicide, rape, identity-based discrimination, and harassment.

Preview performances were held on December 6^th-8^th, 2022, and they continue until December 23^rd, 2022, at the Bluma Appel Theatre at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.