Theatre Review: Jaja’s African Hair Braiding
This past week, I visited DC for a whole seven days. I hadn’t been since I was a kid and my husband had a work conference there, so I tagged along for a little vacation for myself. I was so glad that I happened to be there while the regional tour of Jocelyn Bioh’s Broadway hit was playing at Arena Stage (it’s first stop of three). My friend Melanie was in it and so was the wonderful Tiffany Renee Johnson so I was glad to celebrate our Chicago ladies. I had no idea what I was getting in to, and so happy to report that the experience start to finish had me beaming!
Arena Stage in DC has pay your age tickets for anyone under 35, which was great for me because the prices had gone up by the time I went to buy mine. I loved this initiative towards making theatre more accessible and the box office was so kind and helpful. Once we got our tickets, we headed to the bar where we could choose from a plethora of themed cocktails. I got The Kinky Twist, which was tequila-based and aptly named for the hairstyle I was currently rocking. It came in a big cup and I saw the bartender give me a big pour, so I knew I was gonna be lit. The show is 90 minutes, no intermission, which we love. And DC is so blackity-black, it made me so happy to be in a theatre full of folks that look like me, seeing a show telling a story about folks like us.
For those who don’t know, the play centers around an African hair braiding shop in Harlem NYC, and the women who work there. All African immigrants, including the owner, Jaja, get to put their two cents into each others’ business, and we get to hear each of their stories throughout the course of the play, as they braid the hair of women belonging to the African diaspora. This play had us cracking up! It covers all the stereotypes of black women customers and our African aunties and will have you nearly falling out of your seat.
I didn’t see the show on Broadway, but set designer David Zinn created a beautiful playground for Arena, which I assume was as close to his original as possible in a new space. The border around the shop reminded me of the photos on hair products and lookbooks from back in the 90s. And it transitioned seamlessly from outside to inside the shop, and back. Lighting designer Jiyoun Chang added to the set with bright colorful hues of pink, yellow, blue, and I’m sure others that I didn't catch because I was so excited and mesmerized as the set changed for the first time. The Afrobeats selected by sound designer Justin Ellington had us all grooving and singing along in our seats when we knew the tune. Some of the music was original. And the Nollywood films executed by video designer Stefania Bulbarella, and actors Onye Eme-Akwari and Morgan Scott were the perfect touch to this braiding shop atmosphere, and utilized well throughout the play’s transitions and storytelling. And the wigs! Nikiya Mathis did the damn thing. Each one has its own personality y’all. They should have a showcase all on their own when this run is over. I loved every one and I could tell the artists had a fun time using them to enhance their character’s personality.
I’m not going to comment on each actor individually because they all stood out. Truly. This cast was so well put together and they all held each other up. Melanie Brezill, Colby N. Muhammad, and Yao Dogbe played multiple characters and each one was so distinctly different and they each played them so so well! Dialect coach Yetunde Fekix-Ukwu did such a fabulous job helping our African sisters and brother stand out, as the characters were not all from the same countries, and the actors hit the marks on the different sounds for each one beautifully.
This story has a lot of comedy and a lot of heart, and is so worth it for a night out, so get your tickets now! The next stop is Berkeley Rep, and then home here to Chicago at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. I might have to see it again, and I’m going to encourage as many of you as I can to join me. It’s definitely not one to be missed.