The Bluest Eye
Directing/Multi Performer Performance Research
Adapted for puppetry from the novel by Toni Morrison
2018-2019
Each puppet was individually sculpted by Janni Younge, my brilliant co-director.
“The Bluest Eye, as directed by Margaret Laurena Kemp and performed by the students of UC Davis, was a revelation. Based on Lydia Diamond’s adaptation of the novel by Toni Morrison, the show used puppetry as a means to maintain its African American representation while also engaging diverse actors/puppeteers. Fluid, cohesive, and impactful theatre, the performance was underscored by a contemporary framework that made the work even more relevant for the predominantly college-age audience. The source material is poetic, humorous, and at times violent, and these elements were honored joyfully, tastefully, and powerfully.”
