At last, a play staged at the Pantry playhouse, Dumfries Road in New Kingston, showcased a set with attention to the size of the stage. This was evident last Sunday at Robin Baston’s Ah Soh it Goh.
The production, by-and-large, has an air of freshness about it. The cast does not consist of actors who are well known to most Jamaican theatregoers, except for Jerry Benzwick. And, while Baston has worn that hat of director before, writing a play is a new experience for him. It is this unique combination of ‘inexperience’ that has produced a sense of novelty. And, that might account for the playwright, who is also the producer, not asserting that the play is a comedy revue, but instead asking if it is.
Comedy Revue
And, the reply is, absolutely. Ah Soh It Goh is definitely a comedy revue, told through the experience of a young woman, played by Monique McLeod. The story unfolds through connecting motifs, each with a subtitle, such as Car Crash and Bus It Preacher.
The story begins with the woman (who is not addressed by name) waking up to the prospect of not being able to bathe due to a power cut, which results in the water being turned off.
The lack of water and electricity sets the tone for the day as the woman, now in search of food, has to wait in line at a fast food restaurant while a man (Benzwick) is being “seduced” with the top-up sales pitch by the cashier (Coleen Lewis).
The young woman’s nightmares continue. She meets in an accident that result in a trip to the hospital and the police station before finally getting to her job interview.
Everybody Business
The plot of Ah Soh It Goh is mosaic in structure. The language is comedic and has mild lewdness. The motif titled Everybody Business is hilarious and the lines were well executed by Coleen Lewis, who also gave a convincing portrayal of all the roles she played.
Other members of the cast were just as strong in their respective roles. Rudolph Tomlinson, as the elusive Ed, was great as the hustler. Noelle Kerr has shown some growth as a performer, especially in Market and Job Interview. Benzwick was excellent in all roles as well as Oniel Tobias and Andre Morris.
McLeod began weak but, as the play progressed, she grew into her role. However, the fight at the end with Ed was not very convincing. Perhaps it was a directorial decision or a weakness in the script.
Generally, Baston’s directing is a high standard, all acting areas well utilized and entrances and exits are well defined. But, it was Baston’s set design that was the most innovative and should definitely set the trend for future sets at The Pantry playhouse.
The Role of Technology
The use of technology, in the form of projected images, such as the toll road and inside of a market on a plain backdrop to create the illusion of depth, was awesome. Not only did this help to make the usual homely looking stage come alive but added another dimension to the production. Complimenting the projected images were single pieces of set, for the most part a single bed to represent the young woman’s bedroom and a chair and a table to represent the fast food restaurant.
Ah Soh It Goh is definitely worth seeing, but leave the children at home.
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