This is a show about how nurture can overcome the accident of birth. Twayna and her twin brothers were adopted by a white mother and knows full well that her existence as a ‘Black Girl’ would have been totally different had they remained with their black birth mother.
Twayna’s delivers her powerful story in a dead pan understated style which belies the seriousness of her message. She has embraced the cultural appropriation of middle-classdom and explains that she likes a conservatory and listening to the Archers as much as the rest of us.
The privilege and education that her adoption afforded her sits at odds with how black women are perceived in Western society and she speaks up against the system. A video collage of black women demonstrates how sexualised they are, with ridiculous ‘booty’ and no attempt to disguise the fact that they are only empowered through beauty and fame.
Twayna rather movingly tears this façade down and describes the challenges that black women face in a largely white world. There are some other brilliant black women here at the Fringe and they are all refreshingly different (London Hughes, Desiree Burch, Athena Kugblenu) in style and delivery. That said, how they are perceived is common and similar themes are tackled from various directions.
I loved it when Twayna suddenly smiled under the pressure of delivering her own serious and sometimes sad message. We are rewarded with a happy ending and I expect this show will go a long way towards getting her the recognition she deserves.
This is a cool, polished performance from a woman of our time. I look forward to seeing Twayna on Live at the Apollo and taking on the panel show ‘boys club’ very soon.
★★★★★
Twayna Mayne: Black Girl is at the Pleasance Courtyard at 16:45 until 27th August. For tickets and more information click here!
