Jamaican Plays

Lorna Bailey’s KrisMus Duppy is a children’s play that had three performances, spanning two weekends recently at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, on the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies. In today’s Gleaner newspaper, Marcia Rowe takes a look at KrisMus Duppy.

It was an emotional ride for the sprinkling of audience who was in attendance. One contributing factor was a fusion of genres – comedy, tragedy and tragicomedy with a dash of melodrama. This mixture, which did not give much movement to the storyline, created a sense of confusion – a very poignant moment is quickly devoured by some rather tasteless action or gesture. But the story is not a lost cause. On the other hand, the production is a lesson in some aspects of Jamaican culture – a mix of strong African retention and a mild dose of European practices, as well as a meaningful message to both parents and children … more