ENTERTAINMENT
Review: The Convert By Angelique Westerfield
I remember when I graduated from college in the mid 90s. Fresh out of school with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University, I returned home to Chicago and took a year off before beginning my track in grad school. I worked at a temp agency and was immediately assigned an administrative assistant position in a downtown corporate office. Front and center…my tasks included greeting guests, answering phones, making coffee, taking mes- sages, ect…I would be the first impression to all who walked through the doors of this prestigious company. Well my first impression fell flat. I was asked to go home because braids were not an appropri- ate style for the corporate environ- ment. I was told I straighten my hair so I would be accepted into the cor- porate environment.
The dismissal, degradation, and even destruction of cultural practices had been a fight among people throughout the world. Playwright Danai Gurira tackled this theme in her new play, The Convert, now run- ning at the Goodman Theatre thru March 25.
The play is set in the
African country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The year is 1895 and a time when European colonists are aggressively scrambling for control of the Southern region of Africa. The story centers on Jekesai - a young woman born and raised in the traditions and cultures of her African community. Convert opens with Jekesai’s narrow escape from a life
of arranged marriage to a much older man. Arranged marriages are a long standing cultural practice that Jekesai refuses to accept. With the help of her cousin Tamba and her aunt (Mai Tamba), Jekesai success- fully escapes into the home Mai Tamba's employer - Mr. Chilford Ndlovu. Mai Tamba is Chilford’s domestic help. Chilford allows Jekesai to work as a domestic…with conditions. Chilford is also African and has left his family and culture behind for a life dedicated to the Catholic church. Jekasai is told she can only speak the King’s English…no native tongue allowed; she must dress in European styled clothing…no traditional garb allowed; and there is certainly no traditional African religion practiced in Chilford’s home…only the prac- tice of Holy Catholicism. From the time when Jekesai is asked to change her name to Ester, the audi- ence is introduced to a powerful group of characters and well-written story.
Danai Gurira’s inspiration for writing Convert comes in part from her desire to express the stories that speak to the African female perspec- tive. Danai was born in the United States and raised in Zimbabwe - her parents native land. She returned to the U.S. to attend college where she earned her Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Acting.
Danai’s other
playwriting credits include Eclisped and In The Continuum of which she co-wrote with Nikkole Salter. Convert is definitely worth attend- ing.
Illinois short film competition universities.
open for entries CHICAGO (AP) - The Illinois Film Office is inviting filmmakers to enter this year’s Shortcuts competi- tion for short films. The winning film will be screened during the Chicago International Film Festival in the fall.
The competition, which is in its fifth year, is designed to boost growth in Illinois’ film industry. Entrants must be Illinois residents older than 18, or students older than 18 attending Illinois colleges and
12 CHICAGO DEFENDER / MARCH 7-13, 2012
Participants may use film, video, graphics and/or animation. Fictional stories, documentaries and free- form visual expression of ideas are welcome. Running time for submis- sions must be 15 minutes or less. A panel of film industry profes- sionals will judge the entries. Submissions will be accepted through Aug. 31st. Online:
http://www.illinoisfilm.bi
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