As winter sets in, who isn’t warmed by the thought of a good rom com – particularly one that is “a love letter to and from the Nineties”- with all its distinctive and diverse music, art and fashion?
Enter Ninety Four. A multi-layered tale of two kids trying to navigate their way back to love, this new play is written, directed and performed by stage, screen and musical artists Sheronna Osbourne and Troy Crossfield. It has toured Halifax, Windsor, Ottawa and Buffalo, NY, ahead of its Toronto premiere on November 25th – 26th at Alumnae Theatre, where it will be presented by Sheronna and Troy’s Crossfield Productions company.
Why the Nineties? Not only was this an influential and iconic era in art and culture, it was the period when Osbourne and Crossfield began to see more and more Black people in music, fashion, sports, and TV – and in “real life” as doctors, judges, models, and strong thriving family units. Most importantly, this is when they first understood what Black love looked, sounded, and felt like.
Ninety Four begins in Brooklyn, New York in the summer of 1984. It focuses on two characters: Marcus Brown, a charming yet reserved Toronto native; and the feisty and poetic Tawni Dixon, who was born in Toronto, but moved to Brooklyn with her grandmother after the untimely death of her parents. Young Marcus (Jaiden Lewis) is visiting the big city for the first time after being sent to stay with his Jamaican Uncle Fitzroy while his parents rework the family structure after an unexpected deportation. He and young Tawni (Lonelle Sweeting) immediately hit it off and bond over hip hop vibes and Caribbean culture.
However . . . knowing the sacrifices his sister made as a Jamaican immigrant to ensure her son’s success, a disapproving Uncle Fitzroy sends Marcus back to Toronto. Marcus and Tawni move forward with their separate lives until the summer of 1994, when they reunite as adults played by Crossfield and Osborne. Now, the two try to navigate their complex friendship and feelings by holding onto memories of the music that once brought them together.
But Ninety Four is more than a simple love letter to the Nineties and to rom coms. When Canada opened its borders to immigrants in the 1960s, a lot of hopeful trailblazers made the journey, leaving the familiar behind for a chance to fulfill dreams of building a “better” life for their families. As children who are themselves the product of such sacrifices, Osbourne and Crossfield also wanted to spotlight the impact of Caribbean culture – and how it turned from a trickle to a staple during this influential era.
SesayArts caught up with Sheronna and Troy ahead of Ninety Four’s anticipated Toronto debut. We chatted about how they began their careers in the arts, why Toronto audiences will connect with Ninety Four, their dream soundtrack for the play and where Ninety Four might head in the future.
SM: Let’s start with you. Please tell us a bit about you and why you pursued a career in the theatre. Has it so far been what you hoped it would be?
Sheronna: I started acting around the age of 10 and knew very quickly that I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. Growing up and attending Broadway shows is what first sparked my interest in theatre specifically. As I got older and saw people like Tyler Perry writing, directing, producing and starring in his own shows I knew that it could be a possibility for me too so I started getting serious about producing my own content . So far things have been going great. I’m learning and growing as an artist daily.
Troy: I was always acting as a kid, around the house, around the family lol interestingly enough I never took drama in high school. I was just the guy who always made people laugh…fast forward years later an actor called in sick…for a play I was modeling in and they called me to be an actor on stage…and I fell in love since then. I have been lead in over 10 theater productions and in the recent years been in training and taking filming and acting more seriously. It is what I have been hoping for…the next level is to continue to build and become the best Troy Crossfield I can be.
SM: Ninety Four has a unique and winning premise! Who can resist a love story? How did you get the inspiration for it, and what has the developmental journey been like?
Sheronna: The inspiration came from the fact that most of my fondest memories and artistic references come from the 90’s whether it be music, fashion or tv shows. We wanted to tell a story highlighting the cultural impact this decade has had on so many. Aside from the love story, through development we decided to shine a light on the Caribbean immigrant experience as well. Incorporating real family stories has brought this show to a much more relatable and organic place for us.
Troy: The inspiration came from our love of the music, the fashion, EVERYTHING in that time period lol the whole era…our origin story. The bus trips were real, the opportunities given to us from our parents after coming to Canada with nothing is a love story in itself. The development of this story came easy when we were able to put our authentic stories of that time period and stay up all night and write about it. The characters became a love story for both of us.
SM: What can the audience expect to experience at Ninety Four?
Sheronna: We took our time in curating specific references throughout the show with the use of costume, music, hairstyles and props so our audience can really feel the nostalgia of the time. This show is fun and grounded at the same time and we want everyone to feel like they not only witnessed but also took part in the journey of these characters.
Troy: They are going to get a front row seat to the 90s. It will warm the hearts of those who grew up in that time period and serve as a history piece for those who did not experience it. It’s gonna be an amazing time through our eyes. We will be giving you all the feels!
SM: What will make it relatable for Toronto audiences, in your opinion?
Sheronna: Though the majority of the show happens in New York we are telling the story through a Torontonian lens. From local references and the use of local music this show is representative of our own experiences. The story starts with a “bus trip to New York City leaving from Jane and Finch Mall” , an experience that many of us have had back in the day.
SM: What part of Ninety Four is especially compelling for you, personally?
Sheronna: I love the opening scene when Marcus And Tawni meet for the first time. I really wanted to explore the lightheadedness and joy of puppy love and also the confidence and spunk we have as kids. We interject some history lessons throughout the show and I love that too.
Troy: It has to be the love story between Marcus and Tawni for me. The choices we make as human beings and the things we go through can really have an effect on how we love, who we are and where we are going. The journey these two experience is really something special.
SM: To me, the Nineties immediately evoke music. What Nineties music do you think would serve as a soundtrack for Ninety Four? And do you have a backstage soundtrack that you listen to, to keep you in character?
Sheronna: This show definitely pays homage to some of our favorite music groups so we couldn’t have a soundtrack without music from Salt’n’Pepa, En Vogue, Buju Banton, Biggie Smalls. Before every show, the cast and crew meet on stage and we sing “weak’ by SWV…in perfect harmony, of course!
Troy: For me it was the sweet sounds of reggae music, R ‘n’ B and the rap at that time…This is also the best thing about going to NY because you got it all. For me I’d have to go with Jodeci, Beeni Man and Beres Hammond, lol. If you ride with me for a few hours, you will get to know I’m either listening to one song 100 times or all genres, lol.
SM: The final word is yours. What question do you wish I had asked you that I didn’t (and what is the answer)?
Sheronna: Where do you see this show going in the future?
Answer: Worldwide tour, paid in full, baby!
Troy: What’s coming up next for you?
Answer: NINETY FOUR DOCUMENTARY
Reserve tickets to Ninety Four on eventbrite.ca.
© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2022
