Set in Atlanta, USA, Hairpeace tells the story about four best friends. It depicts the lasting bond of friendship between four women with different hair ‘expressions’, as they gather for the 40th birthday party of Carmen (Noelle Kerr), who is a cancer survivor. The play also explores the relationship between three of the women and their mothers, as well as the issue of alcoholism, with a well-crafted mix of comedy and drama. Hairpeace will run from August 19 to September 18 at the Pantry Playhouse in New Kingston. For more information, please call 492-9020 or see the flyer below.

Producer, Jambiz International, felt it was time to accede, and they feel that they have succeeded in making the revival better than the original mounting. Two members of the original cast – Camille Davis (Dimples) and Courtney Wilson (Chris) – return for the remount. They are joined by veteran actor, Glen ‘Titus’ Campbell, and young & upcoming thespian, Noelle Kerr (as the husband and wife team of ‘Steve’ and ‘Valerie’.

VIBES is set in the household of high-flying couple and career lawyers, Steve and Valerie Hurley. Their busy schedules and Valerie’s affinity for hosting social gatherings for upper St. Andrew socialites make the employment of household help inevitable. Despite some initial shortcomings, Dimples lands the job. Flirtatious, saucy, sexy and ghetto fabulous, she immediately has an impact on the household, including long-standing gardener, Chris, who sees her as easy prey.

Dimples and the “boss”, Steve, pretty quickly find that they are comfortable in each others company. Too comfortable, perhaps, for the liking of Mrs. Hurley and Chris. Comfort quickly morphs into something threatening, and soon Dimples finds herself at the epicenter of storm winds that threaten to blow the thin veneer off what was hitherto considered a successful marriage. This, and some other happenings, forces Chris to warn the “helper gal” that “before I mek you come in yah come mash up dem life, ah tell lie pon yuh mek dem fire yuh.”

Steve finds himself being uncontrollably pulled to qualities in Dimples, qualities he suddenly discovers are not characteristic of his wide, and forces him to tell Valerie, “ah don’t like yuh vibes.” Valerie finds herself in a strange land, totally taken aback at being confronted by a threat which hitherto would be considered innocuous – the possibility of losing her husband to someone she considers “below her”.

The entire Hurley household goes into a tailspin, creating the perfect setting for a dramatic conflict and play/counter play. Where it all ends will evoke some disquiet and mixed emotions amongst audience members, after a funfilled evening of non-stop laughter.

That VIBES is a typical Patrick Brown laugh-a-line comedy fest was already established in the earlier staging. Camille Davis, who has established herself as one of the most promising young talents on the Jamaican stage, announced herself to the Jamaican public with a very compelling performance in the original standing. Today, she feels that she is 5 years wiser and better able to mold a performance which will again blow audiences away.

After tomorrow’s opening, VIBES will embark on a short run, playing 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 960-3585.

If you’re planning to go see it, here’s what you can expect – sterling performances from Maylynne Walton (in the title role), Keiran King as ‘Robert’, Noelle Kerr as ‘Millie’, Philip Clarke as ‘Tuku’ and Angelita McDonald as slave gir Jestina. A large company rounds out an energetic and talented young cast, who offer impressive song and dance numbers. Check it out!