The Nunavut Theatre Company hosted two readings of How Black Mothers Say I Love You at IqaluitSA国际影视传媒檚 Black Heart Cafe on Feb. 24 and 25, bringing a modern classic to the Northern stage.

The story features a Jamaican immigrant family, with mother Daphne, who left Claudette and Valerie for six years of their childhood to pursue a better life in the United States, remarrying and having another daughter during that time.

Later on in life, with Daphne dying, Claudette confronts her mother about her anger and abandonment issues in life.

Both nights of the play were a resounding success, according to the team, with both shows selling out their 50 seats on both nights.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we did it the first night, I forgot the play was actually very funny, people were laughing,SA国际影视传媒� said Alexandre Michaud, the director of How Black Mothers Say I Love You.

The smaller, more intimate setting of Black Heart Cafe as well as the stage reading format lent itself well to the play.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really feel like it brought a quality of acting for the actors,SA国际影视传媒� said Murielle Jassinthe, production member and creative consultant for the play. She added the intimate setting helped the actresses zero in and focus on their voices, facial expressions and how they express emotions.

The audience also really helped bring their performances to life, said the actress who played Daphne.

SA国际影视传媒淲henever the audience reacted, it just made us play the part better, even stronger for us. We were nervous going in but they made us all calm down,SA国际影视传媒� said Jalane Manderson.

The story, with themes of the immigration, LGBTQ and black experience also resonated with audiences as well as the cast and crew.

SA国际影视传媒淔or me personally, I really identified with the themes of queer and LGBTQ side because I am married to a woman,SA国际影视传媒� said Jennifer Lane, who played Claudette in the play. SA国际影视传媒淢y motherSA国际影视传媒檚 family comes from Barbados so my mother also had very similar lived experiences to my character.SA国际影视传媒�

Lane, coming from a mixed-race family, with a black family on her motherSA国际影视传媒檚 side, said she felt her character to the point where she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 need to act at times.

SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 acting. When I was crying I felt it, you feel that character,SA国际影视传媒� said Lane.

Jassinthe added the play presents a partial lived experience for most people representing themes that many can relate to, at least a little bit.

SA国际影视传媒淧eople really felt for the topic and the cast, female, afro-descent, LGBTQ, etcetera. People felt so compelled,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭o be represented in our realities, that was so important, I think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why it was so powerful. To see these women on stage, bring it, the wider public was like wow. It was like finally being seen.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e had such a great showing in the black community at this play, you could feel it in the laughter, the sadness and the mmhmms you could hear in the audience,SA国际影视传媒� added Lane.

What stuck out to Michaud was how relatable it was overall.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat spoke to me as well is thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no perfect ending, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a beautiful, amazing, everything is perfect ending, itSA国际影视传媒檚 still a little bit messy. That to me, so close to reality, drew me to it.SA国际影视传媒�

The director added everyone was very much excited to be a part of the play.

SA国际影视传媒淓veryone wanted to be a part of it so much, everyone was very careful and cautious and tuned the material very carefully with all the attention that it needed because itSA国际影视传媒檚 such a precious play in itself,SA国际影视传媒� said Michaud.

While the intention was to have the play during February, Black History Month, Michaud said SA国际影视传媒渢he play would still be as relevant as it is now regardless of whatever time you did it. I think the themes resonate with not only black people but anyone.SA国际影视传媒�

Manderson said she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have any intentions or ambitions of becoming an actor before taking part in this play, but now itSA国际影视传媒檚 all she can think about.

Lane also said she has changed over the course of doing this play.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was life-changing for me especially, it made me feel like a part of a community that ISA国际影视传媒檓 a part of but kind of on the outside.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淢y family is black, my motherSA国际影视传媒檚 family is black. I just am white, itSA国际影视传媒檚 common for people to cast you as the qallunaat,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been a privilege to direct a play with four amazing black women and it was great to see the community showing up for it,SA国际影视传媒� Michaud said.

SA国际影视传媒淎s someone said to me, always go for painting a picture. Not to give it to you but to tell a story that would draw you in because you had to pay attention because it was nothing but four amazing actors saying lines.SA国际影视传媒�