Velvet Wells wants to make YOUR wishes come true at the PrimeTime Festival show Djinn Joint
A mentor once advised writer-performer Velvet Wells to “always have an exit strategy.” Instead of actually taking the advice, Wells started thinking about how funny it might be for a Djinn to apply this advice while working through the consequences of their wish granting.
The result is the hit interactive all-ages show Djinn Joint, which Wells created and stars in in through his Velvet Duke Productions, and is currently playing to rave reviews at this year’s curated 5-show online PrimeTime Festival. Djinn Joint centers on dJerald the Djinn, who is the definition of a people-pleaser. He works around the clock to grant wishes (submitted through Google forms) to make others happy. His retirement goal, however, is threatened by an impending deadline for a million-wish contract.
“Who doesn’t want to be a singing, witty Djinn?!” Wells quips. Through humorous songs and storytelling, the show explores his inner conflict between people-pleasing and erasing the “magical Black man” trope. In his artist’s statement, he elaborates by explaining that he uses the concept of a Djinn (colonially: genie) as a “lighthearted metaphor on the transformative journey for a people pleasing person of colour. Through self-reflection and engaging in the work with their community, they remember themselves as someone who is magical just by existing.”
This profound message is worth remembering, yet difficult to live by – especially for those who may not even realize the people-pleasing ways to which they have subordinated themselves. “People-pleasing behaviour is often a form of self-harm born out of trauma,” notes Wells. “The only ‘benefits’ are to those who receive the energy and efforts without examining the internal cost on the individual: anxiety, self-esteem issues, etc. When someone experiences greater self-love, they tend to be quite pleasing to others — for who they are, not what they can do for someone.”
Wells created Djinn Joint to be as accessible a show as possible – for all ages, accessibility needs, and level of engagement. All are encouraged to attend, and to “be present and entertained, or to your level of comfort.” Wells – and dJerald – have a more specific request: “Participate in the adventure by submitting unlimited wish requests, and helping dJerald make decisions throughout the show.” Audiences will enjoy how the show’s format allows them to move easily between participating and viewing.
Wells further explains that the Gather.Town interface, through which viewers can enjoy the show, is optimized for updated Chrome browsers. So “if you plan to participate, join through your laptop or computer,” as the interface does not work well with tablets or phones. A webcam/camera and microphone will also help. Djinn Joint’s final show on November 28 will have ASL Interpretation, and the Chrome browser includes automated captions as an accessibility feature. Audience members can arrive up to 30 minutes before show time to set up their avatar and navigate in the Primetime Festival space before joining the show.
One final caveat is appropriate. In an improvised show about wish fulfilment that is open and interactive to all, there are bound to be wishes that surprise, delight or confound. For example, at one show, an audience member wished to get a pet cat out from under the bed. (While this was not the first time a cat has listened to one of Wells’ virtual shows, “it is unexpected each time”, Wells smiles.) Another unexpected and affecting wish was “to give Wells a big hug”. Wells’ friend had submitted the wish, so he knew it was in earnest. So “dJerald granted the wish in a way that invited everyone (including the friend and myself) to give themselves on- screen hugs.” He laughs, “It was a nice moment as a human and a Djinn.”
While retirement is calling to dJerald, Djinn Joint’s star continues to rise. So what does the show’s creator wish for the future of his show? After the Primetime Festival closes, Wells hopes to craft supplemental materials to support touring the show in schools around the world. And he wishes to create a second chapter of this story as a hybrid live stage/digital show at a future Fringe Festival. “Fingers crossed!”
In the meantime, audiences have two more opportunities to experience the delightful Velvet Wells and Djinn Joint: on November 20 and 28.
It may surprise that despite this seeming surfeit of online wish generation and fulfilment, Wells wishes nothing for himself: “I wish everyone had their community of people to help them through the bad times and celebrate the good times.”
Think about joining with your community of people at Djinn Joint. You can reserve tickets here. Connect with Wells on social channels here.
© Arpita Ghosal, SesayArts Magazine, 2021
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