Chocolate Woman - Not What I'd Call Mind Candy
Talking Stick has brought Vancouver a new show from Toronto's Chocolate Woman Collective. It was originally staged in Toronto in June 2011. Created and performed by Monique Mojica, this is a work that layers multiple stories together to tell a tale of a Kuna woman who finds her way in the world through her culture.
I agree, that may be what the artist thinks she is doing. But as an outsider to her Kuna culture, I definitely wanted more guidance on what was happening onstage. For those unaware (as I was before Googling), the Kuna are an indigenous people of Colombia and Panama. A significant chunk of the text in this performance is in Kuna - which you will not understand. At times, I felt like I was watching a creation story of another culture and thought to myself, "Is this what it's like for a non-Christian to hear the Nativity story for the first time?"
The story is told by Mojica herself and supported by a second actor who chiefly acts as a narrator. Played by elder Gloria Miguel (who has quite a stunning voice and is Mojica's real-life mother), the narration to me mostly seemed to support the action rather than lead it. I understand that Miguel is in her mid-80's, making a full performance like this quite a feat.
The set features a highly visual interpretation of Kuna mythology on three stunning vertical banners which are let down one at a time throughout the show. On the floor is a magical suggestion of the universe and its stars. But the strongest part of the staging was the use of a hammock which Mojica crawled on, swung back and forth, wrapped herself in and even knelt upon. It was an incredibly physical use of one human body moving through space and time to tell an emotional story. And as much as I admired the sheer inventiveness and heart of what I saw onstage, I think the attempt at integration of storytelling and performance is very complex. For me as an audience member, I was not able to follow the stories completely which meant I found the entire evening to be somewhat unsatisfying. I also did wonder how much of this is due to the fact that as an adult I rarely listen to stories anymore... at one moment in the performance, I closed my eyes and just listened... in the stillness, what had seemed to be nonsense slowly began to make sense to me.
Taking a risk on new work is an important part of what it means to be a festival producer. I salute Margo Kane for bringing this show to Vancouver and I challenge local audiences to check out a new performance that is truly a showcase for two mature artists who share a life and a cultural history unknown to you.
Written by Monique Mojica
Directed by José Á. Colman
Performed by Monique Mojica and Gloria Miguel
Original Score by Marden Paniza