Jamaican Plays

Second Chance is a powerful drama with delightful comedic moments, and religious overtones, depicting the journey of Caitlin Roberts (aka Pepper) to find her place in life. The play focuses on a young girl who is on the verge of giving up on life before it has even begun … at the tender age of just 17. She is emotionally battle-scarred and hardened from what she thinks is an unhappy life, and has become unforgiving and cynical. Pepper was raised in a Christian household, but that came crashing down as life got harder.

Pepper resents her mother terribly for drinking, and wants her to get help to stop; but her mother denies having a ‘problem’. During her search for the ‘meaning of life’, Pepper interacts with electrifying forces that change her forever, and she is not prepared for what happens next.

As her roller coaster life unfolds, she comes face to face with situations that threaten her family and herself. Pepper’s Mother – Nikki – has her own personal demons to contend with, and is convinced that the Father Almighty has abandoned her, leaving her a very bitter woman.

Pepper’s best friend, her spoilt pal Rachel (whose parents are very wealthy) has a strong influence on Pepper. Their activities usually land them on the wrong side of the law, forcing Nikki to repeatedly warn her daughter about keeping ‘bad company’.

Nikki tries her best to spend time with her daughter but fails, as she often has to work late into the night in order to provide for them. Pepper is convinced that her mother doesn’t love her. This widens the rift that already exists between them, and leads to some explosive and hot-tempered confrontations.

Pepper can be extremely unkind to her mother, and wanted to go with her father when he left. Pepper’s Aunt Bernice (her mother’s sister) visits occasionally. She knows what Pepper and Rachel are up to and plans to put a stop to it. Aunt Bernice is not prepared to go down without a fight, and fight she does, for everyone that she loves dearly.

Second Chance is a pulsating performance, with a hugely talented cast and riveting storyline. It was written by Angie Binns, produced by Funhouse Productions and directed by David Tulloch. Second Chance‘s cast includes Denise Hunt, Dorothy Cunningham, Lawrence (Max) Woodham, Dawnette Hinds Furzer, Stephanie Hazle and Maliaka Bryce.

Second Chance plays July 17 to August 29 at the Pantry Playhouse in New Kingston. It will show Wednesday – Friday at 8 p.m., and Saturday – Sunday at 7 p.m. For more information, please call 374-3650.