Jamaican Plays

Playwright, Patrick Brown, is at it again. This time, with the revival of his romantic comedy, Puppy Love (which last played some eight years ago – in Summer 2002).

Puppy Love is centered around a sultry and precocious 18 year old – Karen ‘Kar Kar’ Cross (played by Natalee Cole), who, under the influence of peer pressure, becomes romantically involved with her father’s best friend, Dick (played by Oliver Samuels), a man who is fast-approaching 60 years of age.

The romantic intrigue creates a nightmare for her overly protective father, Harry Cross (played by Earle Brown), who, when he finds out about his daughter’s relationship with his friend, swears that he has been double-crossed. The situation drives a wedge between the two men, who apart from being best friends for years, are also business partners.

Dick tries desperately to repel Karen’s predatory advances, but weakens and gets sucked in by her alluring and disarming charm, and stunningly beautiful and nubile body.

After years of a boring marriage, this unexpected attention is like a breath of fresh air, and Dick inhales perhaps a little too much. Harry too, finds himself in a quandary, as his ongoing liaisons with girls of Karen’s age rob him of a solid moral ground on which to base his objections.

Dick’s wife of 30 years, Denise (played by Dahlia Harris), turns out to be the only hope for a stabilizing agent in a confused situation, but she too faces her own moments of indecision. Does she walk away from her party of 30-odd years because of his indiscretion, or does she stand by her man irrespective?

Patrick Brown answers some of the piercing questions, and leaves others for the audience to ponder.

Puppy Love opens tomorrow, March 24, for a three week run at the Pantry Playhouse on Dumfries Road in New Kingston. After this, it will embark on an overseas tour, with stops in Canada, the USA and the Eastern Caribbean.