“Da Kink In My Hair”
Calgary performances showcases the many facets of womanhood
By Mackenzie Gellner, Contributor
All your secrets live inside your hair. At least that’s what the women in the smash hit play “Da Kink In My Hair” believe. In this play that has inspired its own television series, eight different women confess their deepest struggles to the welcoming hands of the hairstylist at a particular salon in Toronto. These women have spunk, sass, and overall confidence that oozes with every step they take; however, when they are in the hands of the hairstylist, nothing can be hidden. The actors in “Da Kink In My Hair” portray the various struggles different women deal with on a day to day basis, including, racism, homophobia, finding love at an older age, and becoming successful in the workplace against stereotypes. While hitting many relevant topics in today’s society, the play still intertwines a comedic and joyful undertone throughout the performance.
During the performance, one actress portrays living in the limelight of Hollywood while struggling with her love for another woman. She deals with the judgment from the rest of the world, as well as her own mother. Her mother used to cheer for her in her school plays as she had one line as a star in the night sky, but once she realizes her daughter is not going to fit into the standards society has enforced, she begins to cut her daughter off. The actor shows how even though her mother delegitimizes her feelings, she chooses to love whoever she wants to. Although her specific story is fictional, it relates to lives of many within the LGBT community. This creates a connection to not only those who suffer in similar situations, but also those who do not have to deal with it personally.
Another performance by one of the women explores the struggle she is forced to live in when her son is shot in a parking lot after a school dance. The boy was shot because of the color of his skin and the shooter was never found. Black Lives Matter is a movement against the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates society today, and through artistic expression, this woman is able to tell an accurate memory of someone’s own life that has been affected by society’s behavior. Watching this play, one can feel the immense emotion and injustice over the fact of how racial stereotypes are still explicitly relevant in everyday life, which needs to end.
“Da Kink In My Hair” attempts to portray the different lives of both women and men, even with having an all female cast. The play creates a better understanding for the audience on how it feels to live in those particular situations in only a short period.
