Jamaican Plays

Friend against friend, don against police and a fearless naive country girl, a recovering mad man, and a church goer who turns out to be the biggest friend-enemy and the stage is set for the action, suspense, and mix up comedy extravaganza called Backbiter, opening at the Green Gables Theatre, 6 Cargill Avenue, Friday April 17 at 8:30 pm.

The synopsis of Backbiter is that of a single mother (Pam) who is trying to get her life back together after her man had run away after getting involved with the wrong crowd, as she tries to give her daughter a better life, a drugs don was hell-bent on revenge of his father’s death, but the man he searches for was overseas, he sets out on intimidating the family but he never counted on the strong resistance he faced from daughter (Cassandra) of the man he searches for, fresh out of country she knows no danger this leads to some action filled, suspenseful and hilarious encounters between them.

Sister Gwen who has eyes for the pastor, has one foot in the church hall and the other in the dance hall she declares that “heaven nah miss mi, so if the Christian side a go heaven mi in deh and if a de worlian side mi in deh”. Her man Pempeh returns from madhouse after rehabilitation to find her in the church and is having none of it, the very hilarious Detective Butty who is investigating Pam’s family, runs into the don who he also has an interest in, this leads to some side-splitting moments.

The Cast – is mixed with experience and youth as one of Jamaica’s leading stand up comedian in recent times, Leighton Smith who has grown in popularity since his appearance on the Comedy Buss two years ago, is set to create a storm as he takes on the comical role of Pempeh, a recovering mad man. Lorraine Barrett has been around for a while with appearances in “Maama Man”, “Bun Fe Bun” and “Force Ripe Pickney” to name a few. Here she takes on the role of the backbiting, mix-up, Sister Gwen. Wayne Clue of Fudgy fame has been around for a while with performances in, “Bun Fe Bun 2”, “2 Hot to Hangle” and “Tempted To Touch” to name a few. He now plays the hilarious Detective Butty, there is also Georgette Wright who appeared in “Bun Fe Bun”, “As Yu Simi Gimi”, “2 Hot to Hangle” and “Force Ripe Pickney”. In backbiter she plays the role Cassandra the naive country girl who quickly gets adjusted to town-runnings, she alternates with Fashica Grandston who is in her second play following a smashing debut in “Force Ripe Pickney” as Bubbles the very experienced school girl. Another second timer is Christopher Johnson who was also a hit in “Junjo” the over exposed school boy in “Force Ripe Pickney”, he takes the step up as the young Don in Backbiter, and he is a force to be reckoned with. Germaine Barrett in his first major play understudy Butty. The cast is rounded out by Dainty Bellanfantie who first appeared as Angel; in “Bashment Granny” which was followed by “Shebada Cum To Town” and “Like Father Like Son” she is a real treat as she takes on the role “Pam” in Backbiter.

Backbiter is a must see for the entire family as the riveting story will open your eyes to a lot of happenings in Jamaica today, while keeping you on the edge of your seat with slick action, lot of suspense while screaming with laughter. Backbiter is produced by Lukington Production and is written and directed by Luke Ellington who has written hit plays like “Bun Fe Bun”, “As Yu Simi Gimi”, “2 Hot to Hangle” and “Force Ripe Pickney” among others.