Dr Valerie Mason-John Aka Queenie Author of Detox Your Heart (working with anger/fear/hatred)
VANCOUVER, BC: Queenie Productions is pleased to present Brown Girl In The Ring as part of the 26th Annual Vancouver
Fringe Festival. Directed by Linette Smith, Brown Girl In the Ring is a BYOV production at the Havana Theatre on
Commercial Drive. A tragicomic monologue, it tells the story of a black woman who claims to be Queen of the British
Empire: HRH Regina II. Could the Queen’s story be plausible, or is she simply stark, raving mad? It runs September 10th to
14th and September 17th to 18th..
In Brown Girl In The Ring, Regina holds a press conference to tell the world her story: she has one hour to prove to the
world that she is the Queen. During this hour, we meet the adult Regina, Regina’s eight‐year‐old self, and Micheal,
Regina’s imaginary friend. All three characters are played by Valerie Mason‐John, aka “Queenie.” “Brown Girl is a satirical
production, mixing fact, fiction and experiences from my own life to tell the story of the Black woman who was Queen,“
says Mason‐John.
This play is inspired by Sophia Charlotte who is of African and German descent, and was married to the British King George
the III. It is also influenced by the story of Queen Marie Theresa, consort of Louis XIV King of France, who had a black
child. The child was locked away and the public was told that the queen had a miscarriage.
“The possibility that black people could be biologically connected to the European Royal Families has never been so
outrageously explored and exploded.”
‐The Voice UK
Brown Girl In The Ring stars Valerie Mason‐John, and is directed by Linette Smith. Linette has directed several plays at the
Edmonton Fringe and is taking a troupe to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer. Valerie has performed
throughout the UK, in Europe, New York, Upstate‐ San Francisco, Chicago, Calgary, and Michigan.
“Indeed royalty meets rashness in this amazing incarnation of a blue blood with a black hide.” ‐‐Weekly Journal UK
Brown Girl In The Ring runs September 10th‐18th, at the Havana Theatre at 1212 Commercial Drive. Tickets are online
beginning August 4th, available at www.vancouverfringe.com, or from the Granville Island box office, or at the door, an
hour before the show time.
Show Times are as follows:
September 10 6:30 PM
September 11 7:45 PM
September 12 5:45 PM
September 13 9:00 PM
September 14 7:15 PM
September 17 6:30 PM
September 18 4:00PM
http://www.valeriemason‐john.co.uk/plays_by_valerie_mason‐john.html
‐end
