Thinking of the world as a stage is a good place to start. In Aston Cooke’s world, to be Jamaican is to be a performer. His new play, Me and Mi Chapsie, is a humorous treatise on that idea. The chapsie is Donald (Everaldo Creary), a deejay in a popular inner-city dancehall. Popular, that is, among the blue-collar, red-haired crowd. The woman he belongs to, divorced ad executive Marilyn Simpson, lives many stone throws away in Norbrook, where they don’t really throw stones at all. They meet when Marilyn gets invited by her co-worker to a party in downtown Kingston … more

In Jamaica it has always been socially acceptable to see older men with younger women, but when an older woman is seen with a younger man, terms like ‘craddle robber’ are whispered behind raised hands. Set in Kingston, the high-spirited comedy “Me And Mi Chapsie” tackles the once taboo encounters of an older woman (cougar) and her younger lover (the cub).

Everaldo Creary is a product of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival of Arts and the Secondary Schools’ Drama Festival. He is a founding member of the dub poetry ensemble “NO-MADDZ” and a member of the Jamaica Youth Theatre. He was also the 2005 recipient of the Prime Minister’s Youth Award for Arts & Culture.

Everaldo played lead roles in Trevor Rhone’s drama “Positive” and also in “Smile Orange”. Theatre audiences will also remember him from Cooke’s “Country Duppy” and the “Jamaica 2 Rahtid” series. Everaldo starred as well in the television series “Me and me Kru”, and recently completed two feature films where he played leading roles. The films were “Candy Shop” and “Better Must Come”.

Supporting Creary on stage in “Me And Mi Chapsie” is an outstanding line up of some of Jamaica’s finest actors including Dahlia Harris (2007 best actress) along with Marsha Campbell, Carlene Taylor and Denar Royal. The play was directed by Michael Nicholson.

“Me And Mi Chapsie” plays Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 6 p.m.  – at The Pantry, New Kingston.

Elitte Club Limited was established as a charity in 2008, and ministers to the spiritually renewed and the impoverished. It gives support to the less fortunate and vulnerable people throughout Jamaica, as its goal is to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual challenges of the men, women and children it serves. It raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically-requested materials and distributing them through churches and charity organisations already operating in areas of need.

Me and Mi Chapsie, a hilarious romantic comedy, is Aston Cooke’s latest theatre offering. It follows Cooke’s highly successful productions of Concubine and Pupalick. Set in Kingston, the high-spirited comedy Me and Mi Chapsie is directed by Michael Nicholson, and tackles the once-taboo romantic encounters between an older woman and her younger lover. More about Me & Mi Chapsie.

Set in Kingston, the high-spirited comedy tackles the once taboo romantic encounters of an older woman (the cougar) and her younger lover (the cub). After a failed  twenty year marriage, 50-year-old Jamaican advertising executive Marilyn, hooks up with a 22-year-old dancehall selector. Sparks fly, and they begin dating – against the advice of her friends and colleagues. Marilyn seems determined though, to prove that true love can conquer the very evident generation and class gaps.

Me & Mi Chapsie is directed by Michael Nicholson, and its cast includes 2007 best actress Dahlia Harris, Zandriann Maye (who won best supporting actress last year) along with Everaldo Creary, as well as newcomers Marsha Campbell and Danar Royal.

Me & Mi Chapsie will have its gala performance at the Pantry Playhouse on October 7 at 8:30 p.m., following which it will play Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., with matinee performances on Sundays at 6:00 p.m.