Jamaican Plays

It’s a Jamaican tradition – Christmas and Pantomime, opening Boxing Day, December 26. This year the tradition goes on with Runner Boy which will take to the stage of the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive as usual, curtain rising at 6p.m. sharp. The production stars the 26 member Pantomime Company under the guidance of Bobby Clarke, who is directing his seventh Pantomime. As an actor, he was in the cast of other Pantomimes before this one.

The script is by Barbara Gloudon, who was inspired to create a “runner boy” from a rural village where, until recently, yam was the chief subject of conversation. When a young man from Yam Hill High School excels in athletics, not only in his village, but abroad, new pride comes to Yam Hill. Was this based on real-life “runner boy” of a real country town? The author’s only comment is that “the real runner boy is such an inspiration that we didn’t have to look hard for an on stage hero”. She adds that the story is not just about the runner boy, but a group of characters with all the different emotions and feelings to be found in a community.

For years now, Grub Cooper, leader of the Fab Five Band, has been the resident composer and songwriter. This year he has based his score on some of the compelling national rhythms of “the real Jamaica … some serious mento, jonkannu, bruckins and more”, performed by the Pantomime orchestra led by ace trombonist, Calvin “Bubbles” Cameron.

With a cast of over two dozen persons, costuming is a big challenge to design and produce an average of three changes per person, to fit the different moos and situations. Anya Gloudon-Nelson designs and oversees the production of nearly 100 pieces done in the Little Theatre Movement costume workroom. This comes together against the set and backdrops for which architect/designer Michael Lorde is noted. A leading winner in awards for his designs, Mr. Lorde creates both realistic and fantasy designs for the show, with artist Kirk Nunes painting the backdrops which are then lit by Michael “Rufus” McDonald.

Dance is another critical element of Pantomime. The Little Theatre Movement works closely with the National Dance Theatre Company, and for Runner Boy, the NDTC’s Kevin Moore is in charge of movement, with “wise advice” by Prof. Rex Nettleford.

The cast of Runner Boy is a blend of young, new faces and experienced actors and actresses, known to the Pantomime audiences who come from town and country to see the show. Pantomime is still the largest production of its kind to debut during the Christmas season, and prides itself on being a work for all the family, with no “adult language” or anything which could cause offense.

This season, admission prices for Runner Boy have been kept the same as last year in order to enable families to attend – s0 say the Little Theatre Movement, producers of the show. Go see it!