In Jamaica, its always about God’s way as more persons self-appoint and self-anoint themselves leaders and prophets. Playwright Dahlia Harris is no less or different, and pleads the notion to choose ‘God’s Way’ at The Theatre Place in New Kingston Haining Road, for peaceful prosperity. She answers the question on many lips “Does the Righteous have to suffer?

Totally set in an uptown home, the play begins with a prayer meeting with three of the only four characters. Deacon (Ainsley Whyte), Samantha (Trudy Campbell) and Valarie(Dahlia Harris, wife of unseen Carlton ‘Donald Martin’. Georgia (Sabrena MacDonald), as Valerie and Carlton’s daughter is the fourth and enters eventually.

The play is one of balance in bringing out issues typical of the Jamaican church, easily applicable to other cultures highlighting the silent question ‘Why Me’ by those seemingly righteous and suffer for the ’cause of Christ’. There is much superfluity of naughtiness in the pious Valerie so heavenly minded, she is almost no earthly good. She is the envy of her church sisters and her close friend Samantha because of her ‘blessings’ having climbed the social ladder until… it is revealed that her husband is a drug lord. Interesting as one so near to God and playing matchmaker between her prayer partners, Samantha and Deacon, Valerie is oblivious of her own reality – her criminal husband and ‘fallen’ daughter.

The play highlights this as main issue encapsulating reactions of the church on a whole, through the supporting characters and references in discussion so church members in attendance could take stock. The message is clear and the play could very well be labeled a gospel roots play influencing change through choosing God’s Way. Valerie is humbled further by her experiences and like Job of the Bible strengthens her faith in God until her change is wrought and hence answers her own question – Do the righteous have to suffer.

The second climax of the play is arrived when Valerie moves back to the ghetto world to start anew, but is at peace on God’s Way..

The play’s drama is slow in unfolding but ripens with excitement especially when there are Bible verse matches and gripling scenes, like how the revelation is made on a broadcast about the criminal husband, the fight between the Valerie and daughter which lands Georgia in hospital and the car park scene where Georgia is almost arrested. The developing relationship between Deacon and Samantha though not as a direct result of Valerie’s promting occurs nonetheless and adds value to the script.

The turning point although scripted early in the play is among the strongest features – the revelation of Carlton as criminal lord and the scene is convincing by actors deft with skill, and the props.

There are a few hiccups which were challenging such as the lack of flow in how the relationship between Deacon and Samantha matures, and the quickening relationship between Samantha and Georgia which sped past the natural pace of the plot’s overall plot.

Minor details needed more attention such as consistency in which phone answers to which ring.
Still why would anyone get upset with Dahlia Harris for the minor hiccups such as her not being dramatic enough in a few scenes? After all, she is literally head cook and bottle washer, being producer, director, playwright, eventually substituting for lead actor unavoidably absent.

The scene with her lamenting over the current ‘wrath of God’ as punishment for her past ‘sin’ in allowing her friend to drown could have been far more dramatised, at least the night when I saw it. This is the culture of Jamaicans – interpreting current mishaps as recompense for some past ill, however forgotten.

All the issues addressed combine to make the play an ideal case study of the church today. Other issues include the straying child caught up in a material rush., the manipulations of females bent on getting their heart’s desire. Samantha comes across as the Delilah of the bible, not because she is manipulating a male, but she manipulates Georgia into preferring her to her own mother – Valerie until she herself is put in he spotlight. She must choose between supporting Samantha’s indiscipline, going against God’s Way or standing with her friend and stand the risk of suffering for righteousness. At least when it comes to children the pious Valerie is truly righteous.

God’s Way is down right Jamaican roots culture of the church. Bible touting believers, too self righteous to recognise the true value of Christianity – love, selflessness and entity for others. The play is a good tool in teaching penalties of going against God’s Way, following the Bible as a map, and answers “Do the righteous have to suffer?

Overall the construct of the play is solid, creativity mediocre. The scenes from room to room is complimentary and makes it easy for scene change – it could not have taken place any where else. Let alone the props and lighting that give life to the play. To be thanked for complete package are:

Executive Producer – DMH Productions
Director – Dahlia Harris
Script – Dahlia Harris
Stage Manager -  Bridgette Smith
Set Design – Douglas Prout & Kirk Nunes
Set Construction – Atlan Lopez & Andrew Roache
Set Décor – Karl Hart & Douglas Prout
Lighting Design – MarlonWilliams
Light & Sound Tech – Robert Vaughn
Costumes – Marie Lovelock
Photography – Michael McLeish & Aston Cooke
Publicity – Dahlia Harris & Associates
Box Office – Helen Steele
Front of House -  Shauna-Kaye Baker

ANTHEA McGIBBON is a journalist, artist for over 10 years and reviews creative works by nd for Jamaicans. Write her at islandartattack@yahoo.co.uk.

“Ova Mi Dead Body” is timeless and very relevant. It deals with the ticklish issue of a person dying intestate (without a will) and the problems that follow, with relatives and ‘friends’ fighting over the decease’s assets.

Delcita is left with a mountain of financial struggles after Stamma goes to prison innocently. During Stamma’s incarceration, Delcita discovers that he was less than honest with his personal finances. All the time however, she is footing his legal bills. As a direct consequence of that discovery, Delcita decides to leave Stamma. As Delcita’s financial situation worsens, she marries her first child’s father (Thomas) and that becomes the foundation of the many problems that follow. After Delcita’s husband dies, she finds herself fighting for what is hers and her daughter’s.

“Ova Mi Dead Body” is a special offering of the usual 7-10 jokes per minute comedy that’s usually created by Paul O. Beale. It has many surprises for the audience, as the actors navigate roles that they have never played before. The play provided loads of surprises for the audiences over the festive season and beyond. “Ova Mi Dead Body” was open for benefit shows for those who were interested in securing extra funding for their charities.

Ova Mi Dead Body plays at the Green Gables Theatre (6 Cargill Avenue, Kingston) from Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. You may call (876) 929-4966 for more information.

‘Judgement’ is a well scripted and capably executed production that touches on a range of issues from on-line dating to the tenuous residency status of many Jamaicans living in the USA. The characters are all very real and familiar: the jaded yet hopeful romantic still believing in love, the illegal immigrant terrified of deportation and the cocksure Jamaican man confident of his ability to manipulate women.

The set, a high rise Brooklyn apartment, was simple yet elegant and complemented the story. The only scene that took place outside however, was weakened by the lack of clear separation from the main sets. ‘Judgement’ delivered a solid entertainment package without resorting to melodrama or slapstick. The storyline moved along briskly with a good mix of action, romance, drama and comedy. Even the soundtracks played during scene changes were carefully selected to support.

Winning line: “Me ah di Merlene Ottey in di look-man Olympics. Mi nah stop ‘til mi get di gold!” – Dahlia Harris as Sasha Baker.

Do. Go. See.

Reviewed by H.P.

A State of Affairs centres on the life of a couple, both of whom are in their second marriage. The husband has cheated on his wife, and is now in the proverbial ‘dog house’. He is deeply concerned about his increasing and compulsive urges to cheat on his wife, so, in an attempt to save his marriage and protect his wife from inevitable pain, he seeks counselling from the church.

I found A State of Affairs’ storyline and dialogue to be quite weak and unbelievable. Jerry Benzwick, who plays the husband, did not do a good job, as his acting seemed too unnatural and staged; just about all his punch lines and jokes flopped.

Sakina Deer plays the role of Benzwick’s wife in A State of Affairs. I had seen her in 2009 in Patrick Brown’s “Diana”, and was quite impressed by her deaf-mute role in that play. Knowing what she is capable of, given this previous role, I was utterly disappointed at her performance in A State of Affairs, as she failed to sparkle.

When veteran actress, Ruth HoShing, was finally introduced to the proceedings, she literally saved the day and woke up the patrons. She injected life and humor into an otherwise weak production, and did an excellent job in her roll as a ‘Senior Counsellor’.

Despite this however, I still did not feel as though I got value for my time and money, and would not recommend this play to anyone. If I were to rate it, I would give it 3 out of 10.

Reviewed by S.P.

Created and directed by comedian/writer Owen ‘Blakka’ Ellis, ‘Tick Tock’ is an innovative multimedia theatrical journey into a Jamaican inner city community, where the nuances of poetry, the brashness of dancehall and striking still images are used to investigate lives and situations which often only flit by in protests recorded by the television cameras. Issues of crime and violence, manhood, domestic abuse, frustrated ambition and sheer joy in living despite challenges, are among the themes that ‘Tick Tock’ explores.

Ellis first developed ‘Tick Tock’ in 2003 as a one-act drama. It had been developed in response to an invitation by Eugene Williams (Director of Studies for the School of Drama at the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts). It was then read as a full play in 2009 at the Philip Sherlock Centre for Creative Arts (UWI, Mona), directed by Carolyn Allen.

The updating is obvious in the set, as the ‘Gaza’ and ‘Gully’ slogans painted on the dilapidated walls of the community certainly were not around in 2003. LA Lewis was though, as well as the irreverent spelling that makes for ‘Kane’.

‘Tick Tock’ is set in a gritty inner city community, and the characters and situations are real, raw and totally true. There is also some strong language, adult content and partial nudity, so the play is rated M (for mature audiences only). The cast comprises twelve dynamic young stars, many of who are outstanding theatre arts graduates of the Edna Manley College – Natalie Bercher, Tesfa Edwards, Kathy Grant,Maricka Marsh, Kenesha Bowes, Joel Ellis, Earl Harris, Donnavan Watkis, Shaun Drysdale, Lakeisha Ellison, Kreshna Jones and Gracie-Ann Watson.

‘Tick Tock’ is a production that’s full of dancehall music and moves, street vibes and energy. It plays at the Theatre Place, 8 Haining Road in New Kingston on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The Love List Review

Title: The Love List
Starring: Munair Zacca, Clive Duncan and Nadia Khan
Written by: Norm Foster
Directed by: Pablo Hoilett
Reviewed by: Mary Hanna

“Sexy! Ambitious! Trust Me! Sense of humour! Well versed!” The list goes on for ten points that make the perfect woman of Bill (Clive Duncan) as he wrestles with his best friend Leon (Munair Zacca) to construct her personality to specifications. The friends are caught up in an uproarious comedy when the love list takes on flesh and blood with the arrival of Justine (Nadia Khan). All the action is within Bill’s apartment and the door becomes a gateway to reality and unreality as the perfect woman appears and disappears through it. Bill and Leon are flummoxed, watching the changes in Justine’s personality with the changes they make on the List. This comedy is hilarious and beautifully acted by all three cast members. Justine in particular embodies her role as fantasy queen and shrills or giggles or bursts into copious tears (“Insecure!”) as the men struggle to find the perfect balance on the List. The idea is to have perfection and have a real human woman too… an impossible feat, as Leon wisely concludes in the last scenes of the play.

But the friends learn a valuable lesson: Leon comes to appreciate his estranged wife and plans to woo her back again; Bill learns he must be more flexible, and sets out to learn to dance to have proper dance with Rachel, the new lady in his life. Both men have had a lair-raising lesson with the phantasmagorical Justine seducing, lecturing, whimpering, banging the pots and pans as she cooks with excessive gusto in a hilarious kitchen sequence. Nadia Khan is extraordinary in her role, beautifully cast as the mercurial Justine whose character is no firmer than the piece of paper it is jotted on. Khan is able to switch from one character trait to another with conviction and charm, zeroing in on the comic points of each change and timing perfectly her zingers and come-ons. This multi-talented actor also does television, radio and print ads locally and abroad. She plays Sam in the popular local soap opera Royal Palm Estate. She is right at home in the highly energetic part of Justine and wins the audience’s heart with her considerable charm just as she captivates Bill in her several guises.

This comedy is adapted and directed by Pablo Hoilett, veteran theatre man who has presented so many fine events to appreciative audiences. Hoilett is aided in his task by solid work of his two lead male actors. Munair Zacca is in fine fettle as the spoiled and cantankerous writer, Leon. He provides wonderful support for Clive Duncan’s Bill as changes sweep through the shabby apartment depending on what has been written on the list (“Likes my friends!”, “Loves kissing me!”). Nadia Khan whirls and giggles on the stage, drawing laughs with almost every speech while Munair Zacca and Clive Duncan give supporting action that signals the next change to come.

Munair Zacca has dedicated over 40 years of his life to Jamaican theatre and television. He won Best Actor in the 2006 Actor Boy Awards and he plays “Sonny T” in Royal Palm Estate. Clive Duncan is an actor with 25 years experience in stage, radio and television. He has performed in pantomimes and roots plays like Man and Woman Problem. He also has appeared on Royal Palm Estate and as Mr. Suave on the reality TV show, Jamaican Barber Shop. Both actors are natural on the stage, maintaining a brisk pace and working off each other’s energy. They are convincing as best friends, energetic and appropriate to the ages they play – aging men who are still seeking love, egging each other on and creating havoc with the Love List.

Pablo Hoilett has created a warm and vital space with the movements around the set that signal magic space for the entrances of Justine. She is a dynamic presence when she is with the two men. Nadia Khan is full of magic and hilarity as she whacks up carrots for dinner with a wicked knife, or as she sings (“She likes singing!”) or weeps in front of the two men. The actors work together with no strain and bring the script to life in Bill’s apartment. Leon lends gravitas, and Bill constantly opens new doors for action. I don’t want to give away more of the plot as the working out of the story depends on watching actors move from credulity to suspicion to fearful interpretation of reality. They are perfect in this arc, sharing moments of revelation with the audience. A slightly over-long moment is the discussion around ‘perfection’ and the role it plays in human relationships. This could be shortened so that the pace does not drag at this point near the denouement of the play.

This comedy is played for full belly laughs with Bill and Justine weaving magic around the more skeptical Leon. It can be enjoyed by everyone of a given maturity and it is presented in enjoyable surroundings at the new theatre, The Theatre Place. The play will run for a while. It has one short intermission and starts on time. Enjoy!

Andrea Wright leads the cast as ‘Delcita’, a name that audiences have grown to associate with witty lines, catchy phrases and lots of feisty comments. ‘Delcita’ comes up from the country in order to be with ‘Stamma’ (Everaldo Creary), her significant other, who is now living with his once estranged father, ‘John Jones’ (Garfield Reid), and his wife ‘Janet’ (Belinda Reid).

‘Delcita’ and ‘Stamma’ are a comedic pair of epic proportions, and they keep the laughs coming, as calamity gets set to strike the Jones.

Out of frustration with her husband’s lack of attention, Janet starts a sordid affair with a blast from the past, Andre Pumpit (Michael Nicholson). However, with Andre now married to Janet’s only child Cindy (Trudy Bell), they must skillfully employ lies and deception to keep their spouses out of the loop.

Secrecy is particularly difficult, with John being a police detective, and Cindy a control freak who keeps tabs on Andre’s every move. If discovered, the consequences may be deadly, and as the pressure mounts from their spouses, Andre and Janet must also maneuver their affair around Delcita and Stamma. As the story unfolds, things get more and more explosive, guaranteeing that The Plumber is worth every minute.

Written by Paul O. Beale, and directed by Beale along with Stede Flash, The Plumber plays at the Green Gables Theatre, 6 Cargill Avenue in Kingston, from Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. For more information, please call 926-4966.

Passa Passa Daily is centered on the exploits of Chu Chu who, this time around, is trying to advance her career as a reporter for the local paper. This gives her even more motivation for her news carrying exploits, and with Bibsy there to provide even more dirt on the community, Chu Chu has more than enough ammunition to fill the headlines. There are however complications along the way, as Chu Chu’s gossiping invariable lands her in a world of trouble, forcing her to pull off one of the biggest schemes of her life. Deals, schemes, hustling, ‘ginnalship’, jealously and a whole heap of news carrying makes Passa Passa Daily the must see comedy for 2010.

Passa Passa Daily plays at the Green Gable Theatre, 6 Cargill Avenue, Kingston from Tuesday to Saturday at 8:30 pm and on Sundays at 5:00pm and 8:30 pm. For ticket information call 926-4966 or 929-5315.

In Easy Street, writer Patrick Brown takes us on a journey to the city dump, and forces us to come face to face with some very compelling realities. He exposes the underbelly of a society beset with many social ills, but skillfully shows that the inhabitants of the dump who literally survive off the refuse of the wider society, are real people, with real hopes and aspirations, real failures and disappointments, real dreams and nightmares.

The story is carried on a ‘comedic vehicle’ like only Patrick Brown can, milking laughter from each and every scenario, but respecting delicate sensitivities.

The Easy Street cast is led by Glen ‘Titus’ Campbell, who is widely regarded as one of Jamaica’s most talented actors. Campbell gets yet another chance to milk another of Brown’s multi-dimensional characters, and the opportunity to wring every comic moment from the situations encountered.

The cast also includes the increasingly popular Camille Davis, who has now established herself as one of Jamaica’s leading young thespians. Theatre fans will still remember her and speak glowingly of her outstanding performance in last year’s “Sheep In Wolf Clothing”, as well as DIANA – which had its final performance in December 2009.

Courtney Wilson is also part of the energetic cast, alongside the hilarious Christopher Hutchinson, and songbird Sharee McDonald-Russell, who again appears courtesy of the Ashe Caribbean Performing Arts Ensemble.

Easy Street’s story revolves around Queenie (Camille Davis), the socialite who fell from grace and landed on ‘Easy Street’. After an uncertain start, she finds herself living among a truly diverse set of friends. There’s Fungus (Glen Campbell), who claims to have lost his wife, house, farm and ambition in “Jamaica’s 9/11″ – Hurricane Ivan. He claims to have an educated son in foreign, and clings to the hope that his “landed papers” will come through one day.

Living next to Fungus is the jilted artiste, Scab (Courtney Wilson), who sacrificed education and inheritance to pursue his art, and who still awaits his big break as a poet/artist/singer/dub-poet/sing-jay, and whatever else comes to mind … artistic that is.

Not too far away is the house inhabited by Princess (Sharee McDonald-Russell) and Bully (Christopher Hutchinson), the delusional ex-cop, who is always wearing his decade-old “uniform”, always armed to the teeth and is never off duty … although he hasn’t really been a cop for some nine years. Princess is Bully’s long-suffering wife of 15 years, who has a perennial black-eye and claims that “is cold she catch up in it”. She has the voice of an angel, but the unmistakable appetite of a horse.

Easy Street plays Tuesdays to Fridays at 8 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information, please call 473-4485 or 968-7529.

This is a story of a couple (Marcia and Alfred) married for approximately seven years, with two daughters. They are experiencing severe financial difficulties due to the fact that Alfred, an engineer, has been unemployed for three years. It appears that he is not concerned about his situation, and has taken on the role of house-husband with much zeal. Marcia is unimpressed by the fact that Alfred is not seeking employment, and she is bored due to their lack of involvement in social activities.

On her 29th birthday, she informs him that she is leaving him. This she does, taking their daughters with her. They move in with Marcia’s wealthy employer, Mrs. Shields, who provides for them comfortably. Mrs. Shields has been widowed for several years and expects “companionship” from Marcia.

In the meantime, Alfred has rented one of the rooms in the matrimonial home to Patience, a grief counsellor. The relationship between Alfred and Patience provides much hilarity and interest. Patience helps in improving Alfred’s outlook on life, and he eventually secures employment. Certain occurrences in the life of the country combine with the aid of Patience to bring about the reunion of Alfred and Marcia.

You have to go see the play in order to find out what Patience does next; and also about the fate of Mrs. Shields.

‘Marcia’ is played by Sakina Deer; ‘Alfred’, by Jerry Benzwick / Christopher “Johnny” Daley; ‘Mrs. Shields’, by Ruth Ho Shing; and ‘Patience’ by Terri Salmon.