arts // no. 6

Josephine Baker:

» Josephine Fringe Festival play review

Sonam Kaloti
Arts Editor

keen

osephine was showcased during the

Vancouver Fringe Festival this year and
it had sold-out shows, probably due to
the performance which is like no other.
The Other Press caught the September 12
show at The Cultch, and it was incredible.
The show is created by Tymisha Harris,
Michael Marinaccio, and Tod Kimbro and
is performed by Tymisha Harris alone.

The Other Press spoke to Rahat
Saini, a recent Theatre graduate from the
University of Victoria, on the topic of this
Fringe favourite. “It would be hard for me
to isolate what one factor makes Josephine
the incredible show that it is.” Saini began,
“Tymisha Harris delivers a breathtaking,
nuanced performance that charmed me
from the moment it began.”

Josephine tells the story of Josephine
Baker, the first African American
international superstar. A prominent figure
of the 20th century, Josephine Baker did it
all: From singing and dancing to being an
undercover spy. If that isn’t enough, she
was also a renown civil rights advocate.
Josephine follows Baker’s life through all its
woes and wonders.

Speaking of Harris, Saini said “She moves
through time with so much grace, one
almost doesn’t notice her incredible feat of
playing Ms. Baker from her teenage years to
her 60s’ seamlessly.”

To quote Baker’s character directly
from the play, “As soon as I was on the

 

stage—I was possessed!”
This line encapsulated
both Baker’s character and
seemed to embody Harris
playing the role just as
well. Saini continued, “To
portray one of the most
famous performers and
icons in history cannot be
an easy task, but Harris

is able to find Ms. Baker's
humour, wit, energy, and
heart in every scene.”

The outfits were
show-stoppers of their
own. “In one incredible
moment, she plays
with the feathers that
fell to the ground from
her extravagant white
feathered outfit, sharing
her fears with the room.”
Saini said. Another outfit
displayed Baker topless,
wearing only a skirt made
of bananas. Baker began
nervous and embarrassed,
but as time elegantly
moved forward, her character became
increasingly comfortable in her own skin
and owning the stage. She would own the
stage of the world not long after.

Outfit changes were frequent
throughout the play, but never once did
they detract from the story. In fact, the
changes were integrated beautifully into
artistic scenes, with an example scene
displaying Baker’s shadow (visible from
a backlight) dancing on her changeroom

curtain.

“T particularly enjoyed the interactions
she was able to have with the audience.”
Saini stated of the performance. “Even in
her most vulnerable moments, she spoke to
us, laughed with us, and made usa part of
the show. We were never forgotten.”

Josephine Baker truly made the
audience a part of her story. Her pain was
the audience’s pain, and her happiness
was felt vibrating through the theatre.
Saini continued, “The writing itself was

And the Emmy Goes to...

» A preview of the 71% Emmys

Craig Allan
Contributor

 

we the primetime television season
upon us, if that even has any
meaning in this streaming world, it’s time
to look back at the year via the small screen
with the 71st annual Emmy Awards. This
year marks an end of an era for television.
The awards will be taking place on the Fox
Broadcasting network, which is beginning
its new era separated from 21st Century
Fox, the entertainment arm of the company
since its inception (which could also be
called a merge) in 1935. Along with this, the
world of streaming is about to enter a new
era, with Disney’s Disney+, Warner Bros’
HBO Max, and Apple’s AppleTV+ planning
to enter the market within the next year.
With all these new streaming services
starting next year, this could be the only
chance for underappreciated favourites
like Schitt’s Creek, and Better Call Saul to
nail down some awards love. Who will take
home a statue on television's biggest night?
Some awards seem in the bag for
certain shows and people. Julia Louis-
Dreyfus, who has won the Emmy for
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for
her role as Selina Meyer every year since
the inception of Veep, is bound to win
it again for her seventh season and final
turn as the character if the historical trend

should continue. Last Week Tonight with
John Oliver should also take Outstanding
Variety Talk Series after taking it for the
last three years against mostly the same
competition. Other shows like Barry and
When They See Us could also see big wins if
their nomination totals are any indication
(Barry 17, When they See Us 16) but other
categories though are not as easy to predict.
The big mystery is how the night will
go for Game of Thrones. The show has been
a dominant favourite at the awards in the
past but after a rocky final season which

 

saw backlash from critics and fans alike it
may not be as easy for the show as it has
been in years past. The show still received
the most nominations of any other show
with 32 so that fact could indicate that the
Emmy voters are willing to look at the show
as greater than the sum of its parts, but
who knows what the future holds for the
land of dragons and thrones.

The Emmy’s have a tradition of
picking the same shows and performances
to win the same awards year after year, but
every once in a while a new show climbs on

a

theotherpress.ca

An international wonder

  

Photo via Intrepid Theatre

powerful, with the final scenes striking an
emotional chord with the audience.”

The enormous role of cultivating the
world we live in today was taken on by
Josephine Baker. Peace was at the forefront
of her messages, and throughout her art
and political rallying. To finish, Saini said,
“Ms. Baker lived in a time that was quite
different from ours, but her strength is
timeless. Jospehine Baker’s story is worth
telling, and I am so grateful that through
this production, I was able to hear it.”

stage and claims an award. One of these
shows could very well be Schitt’s Creek.
Nominated for Outstanding Comedy
Series, Outstanding Lead Actor and
Actress for Eugene Levy and Catherine
O’Hara respectively, and Outstanding
Contemporary Costumes, the quirky
Canadian show has developed a strong
following in the US. This gives the show's
US network, Pop TV, its first Emmy
nominations. With so much buzz around
the show it’s possible it could ride the wave
to the golden lady. In the Limited Series
category Chernobyl, the story of the 1986
Chernobyl Nuclear Meltdown, was a hit
with critics and viewers. While it did fall
under the radar, airing in the shadow of
the Game of Thrones finale, the limited
series found fans who lauded the show for
its depiction of the event and showing how
propaganda and misinformation can put
people at risk.

With television set to change, and
perennial favourites like Game of Thrones
and Veep entering their swan song Emmy
seasons, it’s fitting that the Emmys that
will end the decade contain so many
shows at the end of their run. Who will
win when Sunday night rolls around? Only
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences knows, and we will all find out on
September 22.