House Arrest is the third annual summer production of Manna Entertainment. The two previous ones were Moon River and Dream Merchant, and from all indications, House Arrest may very well be the most hilarious of the three.

According to playwright Adrian Nelson, “the previous productions received rave reviews from both local and international critics, who referred to them as a refreshing change to local theatre. We have been very successful in creating a new style of drama which caters to a niche market of the theatre goers, who are not just looking for comic relief, but for a play with substance and inspiring moments. The only difference with House Arrest is that theatre goers can expect a whole lot more laughter.”

“Dis ya one gwey have the city under lock and key …. no, not curfew, lock and key,” laughed veteran actor Oliver Samuels. “As Adrian says, our previous productions have always had lots of laughs, but we were more focused on a strong motivational and inspirational message. The intent is the same with House Arrest, but unuh jaw bone gwey hot unuh when unuh done watch dah play yah, cause unuh gwey laugh from start to finish.”

House Arrest boasts an interesting and unusual mix of ‘uptown’, traditional and roots theatre actors – namely Felisha Lord, Nadean Rawlings, Ronald Goshop and Tesfa Edwards – which guarantees a flamboyant journey that is cleverly brought to life by veteran director, Carol Lawes.

The play tells the story of a rookie cop who gets a rude awakening when a man that he sent to jail three months ago escapes. The unsuspecting escapee takes refugee in a house, only to later realize that it is the home of the same cop that he claims wrongfully sent him to jail. He takes the entire family hostage, and now the cop has to race against time to outwit and topple the vengeful fugitive – before he begins to exact his revenge on the entire family.

House Arrest plays Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and on Sundays at 6 p.m.
Venue – Theatre Place, Haining Road, New Kingston

For more information about House Arrest, please call 908-0040 or 865-9844.

Written by Adrian Nelson and produced by the King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels O.D. and Adrian Nelson, Dream Merchant has for the past two months played to packed houses at Centrestage, and brought the curtains down July 4th weekend with five shows.

Dream Merchant tells the rags to riches story of a young girl from the country who realizes her career dream only to discover the dreadful hidden consequences that are accompanied with her success. The play stars legendary actress, ‘Dancehall Queen’ Audrey Reid, Dorothy Cunningham, Ronald Goshop, Kedecia Stewart, Elizabeth Brown and Tesfa Edwards, with another veteran in the theatre circuit, Carol Lawes sitting as Director.

“There is a whole lot more excitement and intrigue to the story especially with the characters played by Audrey Reid and Dorothy Cunningham/Elizabeth brown, a real roller coaster ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat during the entire presentation,” Nelson said.

Nelson guaranteed that patrons would be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly satisfied at the end of the performances, especially because you got a chance to meet and greet with Oliver Samuels who welcomed patrons at the door some nights.

Adrian Nelson’s Dream merchant is rated ‘General’ for the entire family and is again cleverly written to captivate from the roots play lovers to the uptown and even Christian audiences.

Adrian Nelson’s Dream Merchant is a revolutionary comedy/drama with such mesmerizing acting, that the play seems to have won over theatre lovers from all walks of life, because it is not uncommon to see a buoyant mix of high and low end vehicles, taxi-cabs, and even chartered bus loads pulling into the Centrestage car park in New Kingston each night with patrons eager to view the play.

The storyline of Dream Merchant and the dramatic way in which it is told by the actors easily makes it, for most patrons, a personal past or present experience being dramatized by skilled actors. As one young lady who asked to remain anonymous and who was watching the play for the fourth time in six staging commented: “Dream Merchant is the ideal therapy for persons struggling with cheating spouses, heartbreak, fragile faith, despair and career ambitions. I laughed ‘til I cried because this play is great entertainment, but I also cried for another reason, because there were some very harsh lessons that I learnt as well”.

Dream Merchant, written by Adrian Nelson and presented by the King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels O.D. and Adrian Nelson stars legendary actress, ‘Dancehall Queen’ Audrey Reid, Dorothy Cunningham, Ronald Goshop, Kedecia Stewart and Tesfa Edwards.

“I guess they are all correct because although my critics said it couldn’t be done, Dream Merchant was deliberately written and directed to encompass all the various ingredients required to have a well-rounded play”, smiled playwright Adrian Nelson as he read one of the reviews. Moon River was a surprising success but Dream Merchant has blown everything out of the water as most of the play nights were solidly booked by charitable organizations and groups searching for an entertainment package with some amount of substance and value to invest in.

Dream Merchant, written by Adrian nelson and produced by the King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels O.D. and Adrian Nelson, tells the rags to riches story of a young girl from the country who realizes her career dream only to discover the dreadful hidden consequences that are accompanied with her success.

The play stars legendary actress, ‘Dancehall Queen’ Audrey Reid, Dorothy Cunningham, Ronald Goshop, Kedecia Stewart and Tesfa Edwards, with another veteran in the theatre circuit, Carol Lawes sitting as director.

Adrian Nelson’s Dream Merchant is rated ‘General’ for the entire family and is again cleverly written to captivate from the roots play lovers to the uptown and even Christian audiences.

“I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly satisfied…and this is not just because you might also get to meet and greet with Oliver Samuels”, who welcomed patrons at the door most nights.