Review
The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God
February 5 to 23, 2002
du Maurier Theatre
Toronto

Award-winning playwright Djanet Sears had a dream. She imagined a black theatre company working to tell the stories of black Canadians to all Canadians. With the $250,000 raised over the past two years, the Obsidian Theatre’s inaugural presentation of Sears’ play The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God has made her bold and brilliant dream a reality. (Sears’ last play, Harlem Duet, won the Governor General’s Award.)

This latest play is set in Negro Creek, a small community in Western Ontario where many Black Loyalists first settled in the early 1800s. It tells the story of Rainey, played by Alison Sealy-Smith (who is also the artistic director). She does an incredible job of showing the character’s complex grief as she struggles to accept her daughter’s untimely death and the loss of her one great love. Rainey searches for understanding by examining her heritage and spirituality.

The funeral scene included the soul-wrenching voice of legendary Jackie Richardson leading the procession of an angelic thirteen-member chorus. With the talents of people like Carlos Morgan, a Juno-Award-winning R&B artist, how could this chorus be anything less than magical? This scene also highlighted the play’s unique staging, which has impressed theatre producer David Mirvish (Mirvish Productions), who is considering forming it as part of the next subscription season.

Walter Borden, a seasoned Canadian actor, played Rainey’s father with impressive skill. He and his friends try to make a difference during their final days by “liberating” all the black lawn jockeys in their town. Their ultimate heist helps him — and ultimately Rainey — feel more prepared to accept his death.

The two-and-a-half hour piece was part of the 2002 Kuumba Festival: A Celebration of African Heritage, which is held every year during Black History Month. The huge cast of twenty-one actors did a splendid job of blending music, dance, drama and humour. The cost of a ticket was well worth the price ($20 to $40) and went a long way to support the nonprofit efforts of the Obsidian Theatre.

The critically acclaimed Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God makes you laugh and cry, but it achieves far more than mere entertainment. It confronts racism by telling the stories of black Canadians. Based on the nearly sold-out audiences, these are stories that all Canadians want to hear.