Racialicious Wants Tickets to Mercy Madonna of Malawi
By Thea Lim
Reader Ray tipped us off to this musical currently playing at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival: Mercy Madonna of Malawi.
Putting an African spin on the story of four-year-old Mercy James who was adopted by the original Material Girl earlier this year, Mercy Madonna of Malawi is an upbeat musical that takes stock of a world in which a global superstar and a developing nation can find common ground. Without taking sides, it asks whether it is right for a child to be taken away from her culture if it means enjoying a life of privilege.
No matter what I might think of trans-racial/cultural adoption, I think it’s really admirable that Mercy Madonna of Malawi is trying to portray both sides of the adoption debate without judgement. And as reader Ray said, the fact that Madonna is being played by a man makes the whole thing even more intriguing.
I mean, you gotta love that picture.
If you’re lucky enough to be in Edinburgh, Mercy Madonna of Malawi runs Aug 7-31 at the World @ St George’s West. And let us know what you think of it!
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Invasian wrote:
I sure hope it portrays from both sides. These celebrity fools have made adoption a joke, not just for white people, but for non-adopted POC’s.
Like it’s the adoptees fault; they had no control over the situation! How is an adopted individual supposed to feel when things beyond their control are constantly being ripped apart and ridiculed?
Then again, if you have never adopted or been adopted, you wouldn’t really know much about it.
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 11:32 am ¶
Joy wrote:
I kind of feel the same way about this debate as I do about the “should parents of a different race be able to adopt kids”: I think it would be ideal if it didn’t *have* to happen, but the fact that those kids are eligible for adoption in the first place means that the (preferable?) alternative of a same race adoption is not available.
So, yeah. Celebs wouldn’t be able to adopt those kids if someone else were able/willing.
It’s not a perfect world and that’s pretty much what the deal is.
Sounds like the musical will be something to see.
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 11:57 am ¶
Jasmine wrote:
That picture is amazing. Also, can I get an “Adopt Me” t-shirt, too? I’m hoping I catch Brangelina’s eye, because you know I’ve got student loans to pay.
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 11:57 am ¶
Iggles wrote:
Omg! That photo made me laugh! From reading the premise it sounds like it will be an interesting critique on westerners adopting children from the 3rd world. Of course, it’s gonna go over some people head, like’s Dave Chappelle’s race commentary, but I agree that it sounds like a sight to see!!
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 3:39 pm ¶
Jo wrote:
I currently live in Edinburgh and will definitely be buying tickets for this show. Thanks for posting.
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 6:44 pm ¶
cedinha wrote:
The photo is not funny it is highly offensive!
Posted 14 Aug 2009 at 7:03 pm ¶
A.D.M. wrote:
I agree with cedinha. There’s nothing funny about that photo. And stop saying third world. I find that term to be insulting. I have a lot of views on that Madonna person, but I’ll get blocked for saying them.
Posted 15 Aug 2009 at 12:09 pm ¶
cocolamala wrote:
if the photo is offensive to madonna, what’s wrong with that?
i think her adopting children without regard for their parent’s wishes or the nation’s adoption regulations is offensive… what other types of decision is she making for/about them without regard…?
Posted 17 Aug 2009 at 8:59 am ¶
Olivia wrote:
You do gotta love that picture, LMFAO
As soon as this comes to London, I’m there!
Posted 17 Aug 2009 at 11:20 am ¶
Asada wrote:
The actor pretending to be Madonna (or some rich westerner) is TOOOO funny!
I hope there is decent comedy and commentary, will be looking for this in the US.
Posted 17 Aug 2009 at 2:17 pm ¶
deb wrote:
He’s got Madonna’s arms.
Posted 17 Aug 2009 at 3:46 pm ¶
Renee wrote:
What both sides of the issue? There is only one that I can see and it involves white celebrities collecting children of color like Prada purses in an effort to save them.
Posted 17 Aug 2009 at 6:43 pm ¶
thea wrote:
Regarding adoption and celebrities- well I would have to say Josephine Baker the African-American entertainer living in her beloved adopted country of France adopted a literal rainbow tribe of children. Maybe she was the 1st American celebrity of color to do such a thing.
Posted 18 Aug 2009 at 2:15 am ¶
sweeterjuice wrote:
I SO want to see this! It sounds like the perfect blend of fun and thought-provoking.
Posted 18 Aug 2009 at 10:42 am ¶
Hannah wrote:
I saw this show last week in Edinburgh. Though the performers attempted to show both sides, it was clear from their portrayals of Mercy/Mercy’s Grandmother/Mercy’s Father on the one side and Madonna/Madonna’s Lawyer on the other side that there was a “right” answer. Madonna was portrayed as a silly, vain, spoiled soul-less villain. I’m not personally offended by this portrayal (nor do I particularly disagree), but I do think the classic villain/victim paradigm the actors established prevented it from being truly two-sided. They did ask the audience at the end what we thought, and the answers were unsurprising – everyone questioned responded that Madonna should never have been able to circumvent Malawi law and adopt Mercy. Whether that’s what the audience really thought or what they felt pressured to say, I don’t know. Some people offered a third solution – “Madonna should have given money to Mercy’s grandmother” – which I find to be problematic as well. It made me a little sad to hear that analysis actually – it was as if many members of the audience missed the larger points about development, aid dependency, race, etc.
One interesting sidenote – a sub-theme running throughout the performance was about the damaging effects of fame. At one point during the show, in an imagined future, a 23-year-old Mercy is visited in a dream by the ghost of Michael Jackson. I think the point was that celebrity is a corrupting force, and it’s not just white westerners’ adoptions of children of color that’s problematic – it’s the *famous* white westerners’ adoptions that is tantamout to child abuse.
Posted 22 Aug 2009 at 7:40 am ¶