REVIEW - BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY VOICE

Odumosu really does ‘Put A Spell on You’ with a simply spellbinding and compelling performance in Black is the Color of My Voice.

Black is the Color of My Voice is written by Apphia Campbell, the show premiered in Shanghai in 2013 and has received critical acclaim globally. Campbell’s show has had sell-out runs across the UK, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Trafalgar Studios in London’s West End.

Campbell performed in the show, but has since handed over the reins to Florence Odumosu. The production alludes to Nina Simone, whilst never naming her directly. Instead Odumosu’s character is known as Mina Bordeaux. However, it is clear that this show is based on the life of the legendary artist due to the inclusion of her incredible music and notable life achievements.

The staging of the play is simple yet effective. There is a bed and a scattering of other furnishing upon the stage. The show takes place entirely in Bordeaux’s bedroom, in which she is speaking to a portrait of her late father. The staging allows the audience to imagine themselves within the room, but it’s simplicity means that all eyes are on Odumosu and her alone. Black is the Color of my Voice, relies purely on Odumosu’s storytelling abilities.

The show focuses on hard-hitting themes of domestic violence, parental loss, racism and the civil rights movement. Without all of these topics, you simply could not tell the life story of Simone. She is just as famous for her musical abilities as she is for her activism. As an artist trying to make it in 1950s and 1960s America, her story would not be complete without discussion of the difficulties and injustices faced by Black Artists during this time period. Her role in activism is integral to Simone’s life and character history.

The sound design by Tom Lishman aided the production by adding layers to the performance. This distinguished the show from your usual one-woman performance by allowing Odumosu to interact with the sounds, and respond to them – making her performance that more compelling. From cheers of audience, to Dr Martin Luther King’s famous speech, the sound elevated the performance in a unique and extremely effective way. Providing Odumosu with a backdrop, which she utilised to illicit emotional responses in her performance and subsequently within the audience.

Peppered with Simone’s songs throughout, the musical talent of Odumosu shines through. Her vocals are exceptional – but it was the pure raw emotion behind the musical numbers which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

However, the short run time hinders the level of character development and the amount that can be covered in the production. It would be difficult to fit anyone’s entire life into just 70 minutes, and especially someone with such a rich history as Simone.

Black is the Color of my Voice is moving, heart-breaking and Odumosu’s performance is phenomenal. In an intimate pub-theatre venue, you can feel the full effects of her emotive portrayal, of an incredible woman, that had an incredibly tough life. The show is on a UK tour, so catch it somewhere near you! All the details can be found here.

{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}

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