Vibrant, poignant and full of soul, Apphia Campbell’s sterling one-woman performance is certain to ‘put a spell on you’.
As part of its current UK tour, the acclaimed play, ‘Black Is The Color Of My Voice’ graced the Oxford Playhouse stage in a sell-out 10 year anniversary performance. Written and performed by Apphia Campbell, the storyline follows Mina Bordeaux’s journey from musical prodigy to influential Civil Rights activist. This thoughtful decision to mirror the legendary Nina Simone in a fictional character allowed Campbell’s moving portrayal to exist beyond the expectation of impersonation, while still brilliantly capturing the spirit of the ‘High Priestess of Soul’. Throughout the singular 1hr15 act, Campbell keeps her audience utterly entranced through charming and spirited characterisation, punctuated by a well-chosen selection of Simone’s greatest hits, many of which are performed in powerful acapella.
The stage is set fairly minimally, not exceeding a desk, a bed, a suitcase and small wooden chair. These items anchor us in pivotal moments, the suitcase in particular successfully acted as a rich cavern of memories which sparked seamless transitions along a complex web of events. Campbell addresses all dialogue to a framed picture of her father, framing the show through a touching and personal lens. We are however still treated to engaging moments of direct address, and many a triumphant song in which Campbell’s masterful and emotive voice carries effortlessly out into the auditorium.
As she sings, awash with a warm profile spotlight, the blacked-out world of the play somewhat fades and it is as if we are watching Simone in concert. Yet we are also invited into highly vulnerable moments, as the show explores a racially- motivated rejection from a prestigious classical music school, and the trials and tribulations of Bordeaux’s love life. One such moment was Campbell’s hard-hitting depiction of an abusive relationship, providing an impactful undertone to her subsequent reprise of ‘Love Me or Leave Me’.
‘Black Is The Color Of My Voice’ addresses its themes of racial injustice, despair and violence through raw, tear- jerking renditions of Simone’s resilient protest songs, but remains infused with the strength and brilliance and hope of Simone’s iconic character. This culminates in a beautifully defiant version of ‘Feeling Good’, where Campbell’s emotion-driven yet perfectly controlled vocals more than satisfy our inevitable anticipation of a much loved classic.
Simone’s biography describes her function as an artist to “make people feel on a deep level… when you’ve caught it, you’ve got the audience hooked, you always know because it’s like electricity hanging in the air”; ‘Black Is The Color Of My Voice’ executes this to perfection.