Jamaican Plays

Over the last ten years Patrick Brown has created more comedies on the stage in the English Speaking Caribbean than any other writer. He has also written more lines for the Jamaican comedy icon Oliver Samuels than any other writer.

Yet with all those achievements, Brown still thrives to refresh his efforts with each work. When DIANA opens at Centrestage on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 5pm & 8pm, Brown explores the often misunderstood and maligned life of artistes known as go-go or exotic dancers. In the process, he created one of the most interesting characters ever seen on the local stage – an attractive deaf-mute dancer. One of the highlights of the production is actually how this deaf-mute individual is able to communicate with the other actors on stage and the audience, and the number of hilarious moments he is able to milk from those interactions. The talented young thespian Camille Davis has been cast in the title role.

Davis has built up an impressive dossier of achievements on the local stage over the last few years, with leading roles in such blockbuster hits as the recently completed SHEEP IN WOLF’S CLOTHING and several other Jambiz Productions.

DIANA actually had a short run back in 2001 – then called Dirty Diana. The situations explored in the work are as relevant today as they were back then – enticing the producers to give it a second life on stage eight years on wards.

The 2001 staging featured radio personality Sherando Ferril in the title role, alongside Glen ‘Titus’ Campbell, Nadia Khan, the late Charles Hyatt and American hunk Dexter Hammet as Baby Face. Pop singer Farenheit replaced Hammet towards the latter part of the run in November of that year. News Talk 93′s sizzling hot host Denise Hunt alternated with both Ferril and Khan.

The production created quite a stir back then, with a lively debate regarding a decision with which the main protagonist struggled. Diana’s boyfriend of many years Doggie runs into some trouble and is given a lifeline by the main antagonist Baby Face – spend jail time or agree to his woman spending a night in bed with Baby Face. And if that weren’t bad enough Baby Face raised the temperature by demanding that Doggie watch the act unfold. Audience members got dragged into the storyline, openly offering suggestions from both sides of the spectrum … heightening the drama unfolding on stage.

The 2009 revival will see Glen Campbell as the only surviving member of the original cast. Then he played ‘Doggie’, but has now been entrusted with the more “senior” role of Pops, played then by the inimitable Charles Hyatt. The cast also includes Jambiz regulars Courtney Wilson as Doggie, and Christopher Hutchinson as Candyman (Baby Face). Another bright spark on the local theatre scene Sakina Deer (who prefers to be known simply as Sakina) makes a special appearance as Cher – an attractive deaf-mute go-go dancer. Sakina has appeared primarily in Basil Dawkins produced plays, and productions mounted by the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company.

Award winning director Trevor Nairne has again been called upon to lend his creative genius to yet another local production. Nairne’s achievement in local theatre has become legendary, gaining the ongoing respect of his peers, actors and the audience.

After its July 29th opening, DIANA will then play Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 5pm and 8pm. it will also have two performances on Emancipation Day (August 1) and Independence Day (August 6).