Millennial Notes

Deneen Reynolds-Knott Depicts Class Divide in College Romance

by Eli Nevel-Tyler

“Babes in Ho-lland” tells the story of two Black college girls navigating queer love, class divide, and personal identity. The setting is quintessentially 90s, each scene punctuated by R&B, punk, and grunge. Our story starts in Holland dorm, semi-affectionately referred to as Ho-lland, at the predominantly white and expensive University of Pittsburgh.

Ciara (Sundiata Ayinde) is sweet, naive, and still finding herself. Ciara likes the sit-com Friends, but even though she is studying journalism, she does not know about revolutionary Black writer Ida B. Wells. Middle-class Ciara is still unaware of her place in the world.

Ciara meets clever Taryn (Tierra Allen), a cool, confident sophomore, the perfect foil for shy Ciara. Taryn has integrated herself into the social scene at elite Pittsburgh U. In one powerful scene, Taryn gives Ciara her first lesson in social class awareness by explaining the importance of recognizing the food service workers in the cafeteria. Ciara never thought of them.

Down-to-earth Taryn awakens Ciara’s awareness of the workers around for the first time: “They feed you every day. Shouldn’t you know their names?”

Music plays a big part in the show, demonstrating who’s “cool” and who’s not, encouraging us to ask “Why?”  Ciara’s white roommate, Kat (Ciera Eis) has a taste in music that features punk and grunge girl groups like Bikini Kill and L7.  They give her a “bad girl” image, even though she’s from suburban Altoona.

Ciara shares Cat’s love for girl grunge, but her taste stems from a desire to “fit in.”  When Ciara plays “Bruise Violet” by Babes in Toyland, girlfriend Taryn is polite but unimpressed. Taryn quickly replaces the punk with R&B legend Monica, a Black artist who expresses a Black girl’s view of the world.

Ciara comes from a middle-class family and Taryn is poor, but their chemistry is undeniable. Director Leigh Rondon-Davis allows us to watch Ciara and Taryn’s sweet first kiss, first quarrel, and lovers’ reunion—without big traumatic conflict.  It’s a refreshing change from the high drama we’ve come to expect from Black and queer stories.

“Babes in Ho-lland” does an excellent job of realistically portraying first queer love, and all the sweetness and clumsiness that comes along with it. It’s a warm and charming intro to lesbian love and social consciousness.

 

“Babes in Ho-lland” by Deneen Reynolds-Knott, directed by Leigh Rondon-Davis, at Shotgun Players, Berkeley. Info: ShotgunPlayers.org – to February 10, 2024.

Cast: Tierra Allen, Sundiata Ayinde, and Ciera Eis.

Banner photo: Tierra Allen (Taryn) & Sundiata Ayinde (Ciara). Photos: Ben Krantz