The Woman of Colour: A Tale at Ghostlight Ensemble

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2. The Woman of Colour: A Tale

Ghostlight Ensemble presents an original adaptation of the novel "The Woman of Colour: A Tale" for the stage, as part of its For Your (Re)Consideration series.

The novel was published anonymously in 1808 and follows a biracial heiress on her travels from Jamaica to England to marry as a condition of her fathers will. Olivia Fairfield, the biracial protagonist and orphaned daughter of a slaveholder, is forced to choose between marrying her white, first cousin or become dependent on a mercenary elder cousin. Through Olivia's letters, we are privy to not only the story of her life, but her impressions of Britain and its inhabitants as only a Black woman could record them. She gives scathing descriptions of London and the British people, as well as progressive critiques of race, racism and slavery.

Like the novel, Ghostlights adaptation will explore the interconnections of race, gender and class, as well as examining cultural identity and colonial power.

For Your (Re)Consideration is an ongoing staged reading series that explores the works of historically overlooked female writers. Featuring a variety of distinct voices and styles from different historical periods, the virtual readings seek to bring attention to these remarkable women who have been sidelined by history for reasons that had nothing to do with their talent and everything to do with their gender and, in many cases, their race.

The show takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the Berger Park Cultural Center in Edgewater.