Jamaican Plays

This October, Irish and Chin will kick off their tour of “The Plumber,” which is being touted as one of the funniest Jamaican plays to hit the stage this year. The long awaited tour’s kick off is certainly a milestone, as it represents Irish and Chin’s first play tour, and it represents “The Plumber’s” U.S. debut. In just two years, Irish and Chin has helped raise the bar for Jamaican theater, selling-out venues, diversifying audiences and adding a special twist to Caribbean entertainment.

Scheduled to show in 10 U.S. cities this October, the tour will start on October 2 in Boston, Massachusetts followed by a staging on October 3 in Hartford, Connecticut.

During the tour, a number of celebrities are set to make special appearances including top New York dancehall/reggae radio personality DJ Roy, Jamaican comedian and radio personality Raggashanti and Jamaican comedian and personality Miss Kitty, among others. Guests will vary from state-to-state. At all times though, each staging will follow Irish and Chin’s unique theme of dancehall meets theater. There will also be raffles during each performance.

“I commend the die hard efforts of those who have contributed to the growth of Caribbean theater,” says Garfield “Chin” Bourne of promotions company Irish and Chin. “I only hope that in the future Irish and Chin will stand among those of great importance in this genre.”

Stages Productions “The Plumber,” which opened in Jamaica earlier this year to rave reviews, boasts an all-star cast. Andrea Wright, better known as the comedic character Delcita, leads the cast. Hailing from Clarendon, Jamaica, Wright hs been a part of Paul O. Beale’s plays since 1989. Notably, Wright has starred in more than ten plays and a television show. Additionally, much to her credit, she has co-directed two commercial plays. The actress first played her distincly funny character Delcita Coldwater in 1993. Theatergoers can anticipate being doubled over in laughter from Delcita’s constant off-beat humor in “The Plumber.”

Cast member Garfield Reid is truly one of Jamaica’s most visible and respected actors. Moreover, Reid thrives as a writer, director and producer, who rose to theatrical prominence in Michael Denton’s hit play “Hearsay.” Since then, he has starred in several productions. Reid gained popularity as the idyllic character “Bad Boy Trevor.” However, one of his most laudable works to date is writing “Bashment Granny,” one of the most popular stage plays in Jamaica’s theater history. “Bashment Granny” will make it’s film debut in December 2010. In “The Plumber,” Reid plays John Jones, a detective who is worn down from more than 20 years of crime fighting on the police force.

Stede Flash also shines as a co-star and co-writer of “The Plumber”. With over two decades of acting in commercial theater, Flash’s most memorable character to date is “Jooky Jam”, from the series “Maama Man.” Introduced to acting by his high school drama tutor, Flash’s first break came in 1985 when he starred in Hyacinth Brown’s “Boopsie.” In “The Plumber,” Flash portrays Stamma. Actor Michael Nicholson rounds off “The Plumber’s” cast as suave ladies man Andre Pumpit. Although Nicholson is one of the most sought after directors in Jamaica today, he is an accomplished actor having starred in numerous pantomimes and copping the Actor Boy Award in 2000 for his supporting work in “Oliver’s Posse.” The play also features seasoned cast members Belinda Reid (Janet Jones), Trudy Bell (Cindy Pumpit) and Actor Everaldo Creary (Stamma).

Irish and Chin’s U.S. tour of “The Plumber” will be high profiled, receiving a lot of media coverage in each city. “The Plumber” is guaranteed to keep audiences in stitches. Advance tickets for the play’s first few stagings in Boston (October 2), Hartford (October 3), Brooklyn (October 9) and Queens (October 10) are now for sale at irishandchin.com. Additional tour dates and venues will be available soon.