EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND — One of my last outings at the Fringe is a one woman show called Count to Five, where author and performer Zamalisa has done an exquisite job of creating a personal life journey that she invites her audience through. In this journey she explores emotions and the societal expectations of those emotions, especially with her role as a black woman. Not only a black woman, but a woman with a range of emotions that she has been told to hold back because it makes others feel uncomfortable.
Discusses of anger and rage are often associated with frustration, and as a therapist the suggestion to count to five is a common one. Zamalisa captures well the challenge of how these suggestions leave a person wanting far too often, especially when their anger is justified only unacceptable because of the fragility of others, not the anger itself. Throughout the show her efforts to count to five when upset show that the technique really does not do all that it is expected to do.
Besides the impressive writing, I was taken with Zamalisa’s capabilities as an actress. She varies from playing herself present day, herself as a young child, a homeless man, and God. The way that she physically embodies each character and becomes each role with such distinction is astonishing. I was quite taken when she played a homeless man. I honestly thought at first she looked like a different person. I had to remind myself that this was billed as a one woman show, because even the mannerisms and facial expressions were different enough that it was easy to believe that someone else had come on stage. She made some good choices like putting a shirt on her head to make the appearance of hair as a young child, and other articles of clothing to add to different characterizations. These things were helpful, however it was her own personalizations that truly got me believing in her characters.
My only critique was at the end of the show she apologized saying it was her first performance at the Fringe. This performance was quite strong and there was no need for any apologies. I know all too weel the feeling that comes when we put ourselves out threr and feel like we need to apologize for mistakes and that we need to ask for forgiveness for taking up space. However, this is not the case. Tell your story and do not ask for forgiveness.
