The cast of Big Tree, Small Axe includes Volier Johnson, Deon Silvera, Dennis Titus, Lakeisha Ellison, and Gracia Thompson. It will run from Wednesdays to Fridays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 6 p.m.

Based on a riveting true story, Big Tree, Small Axe portrays a woman’s struggle to come to terms with her spouse’s manipulative web of deceit and her own deeply hidden childhood secret … more here

In New York, popular dancehall/reggae promoters Irish & Chin, will be bringing Serious Business to Brooklyn (Tilden High School, doors open at 7:00 pm/showtime 8:00 pm) and Queens (York College, doors open at 7:00 pm/showtime 8:00 pm) on June 5 and June 6, 2010. By popular demand, a New Jersey staging of Serious Business will take place on Saturday, June 26 in East Orange at the Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts (showtime 7:00 PM).

Serious Business plays in Toronto, from May 28-30. It will play on Friday, May 28, 8 p.m. at the Jamaican Canadian Association’s centre; in Scarborough on Saturday, May 29, 8 p.m., at Sir John A Macdonald Collegiate and on Sunday, May 30, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Speranza Banquet Hall.

For more information about Serious Business, click here.

The stellar cast also includes Deon Silvera…who plays Sister Sonia. Shepherd’s abused wife whose quest for love points her towards a younger man, Abigale Grant…the mysterious Hot Pepper who carries around a dangerous secret, Junior Williams…who plays Shepherd’s hotheaded henchman ‘Finger’ and Pinciana Ennis…the seemingly innocent but sly Creamy Wayne Newby and Trudy Campbell round out the congregation and along with foot stomping music and word-throwing sermons, audiences are in for a truly unforgettable experience!

Written by Paul O. Beale and directed by Michael Nicholson, Serious Business plays Tuesday to Saturday at 8:30 pm and on Sundays at 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm at the Green Gables Theatre, 6 Cargill Avenue in Kingston. Patrons are urged to book their tickets early in order to avoid the rush for the final shows in Kingston. For ticket info, call 926-4966 and 929-5315.

Directed by Michael Nicholson, “Serious Business” stars Keith ‘Shebada’ Ramsay, Maxwell Grant, Volier Johnson, Abigale Grant, Deon Silvera, Junior Williams, Wayne Newby and Pinciana Ennis.

It will play Tuesdays to Saturdays (8:30 p.m.) and on Sundays (5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.)

For more information, please telephone 926-4966 or 929-5315.

The final showing of the play Bashment Granny was held at the Delta Hotel in Scarborough, and had hundreds of eager patrons ready for the main act. Greeted by hundreds of fans, Shebada entered the stage receiving thunderous applause, whistles, cheers and people jumping out of their seats which took some time to bring under control.

Keith ‘Shebada’ Ramsay couldn’t help but slip a little smile while the loud applause continued. Having been an actor for several years, the star of the play said “It’s nice to see that level of emotion from fans!”

Maxwell Grant aka Mr. Bashment, Volier Johnson aka Counsel Bertram, Deon Silvera aka Gloria, Abigail Grant aka Babalita and Junior Williams aka Half-a-Dog were also welcomed with loud applause from fans who deemed the cast to be friends they hadn’t seen in a little while.

Acted to a witty script, Bashment Granny 2 continued where part one left off, which saw Half-a-Dog in search of his $12 million. Using excellent segments which included crowd participation, Mr. Bashment was also a favourite as he instructed Babalita, the new bar staff during her interview, that she was “done, finished, ova, tru di door” which the audience happily assisted with. After a quick turnaround in understanding, Babalita gets the job as bar staff, and Mr. Bashment gives her advice on which customers go for the “bottom shelf, middle shelf and top shelf”, which again was delivered with full audience participation.

After a play, a procession of fans lined the backstage area, hoping to take pictures, and get autographs from the play’s actors. One patron even tried to distract the security personnel in the hopes of slipping backstage to see the actors.

The play is picked up where the story left off in Bashment Granny; that same twelve million dollar mystery. Half-A-Dog (Junior Williams), is the owner of the money, and he wants to collect his money fast. Mr. Bashment (Maxwell Grant) and Shebada (Keith Ramsay) are the custodians of the cash and they have no intention of giving it back, because too much has been invested in lounge jointly owed by Bashment and Shebada. While Mr. Bashment runs the bar, Shebada lives the daily excitement as an officer of the law. Business is going good and plans are afoot for expansion. However, within this shinny outlook lays the determination of Half-A-Dog (Junior Williams). His arrival in Jamaica sits on one main objective; to retrieve his cash at all cost. The place is then turned upside down as Mr. Bashment and Shebada try to keep the dog from his “Bone”.

The dog’s tactical romantic connection with Mr. Bashment’s bartender, Barbalita (Abigail Grant) made life more complicated for Shebada and Bashment as they struggle to hide the money. In the meantime, Shebada’s indiscretion with his firearm brought him a day in court and he employs the services of noted Ghetto Lawyer Bertram (Volier Johnson) who is trying hard to prevent his domineering wife Gloria (Deon Silvera) from serving divorce papers. The side show between Gloria and Bertram served as a delightful subplot to the issue of the Dog’s millions. Based off what I have seen in this exciting sequel, Bashment Granny 3 (the future) will be a clash between bad Boy Trevor, Shebada, Mr. Bashment and Half-A-Dog.

After his role in ‘Di Driver’, it was refreshing to see Shebada playing a brand new character in bashment Granny 2. As a less-than-honourable officer, his portrayal came off well and is extremely funny. Barbalita as the bartender, shows that she can speak and speak well (she is somewhat muted in Bashment Granny). Maxwell Grant is amazing, he plays 5 characters and he came off excellently with all of them. At 60-something years, he shows no sign of slowing down. Junior Williams as Half-A-Dog fits well in the story and with the team of actors. Bashment Granny 2 is big on comedy, big on excitement and should be very interesting to see how it measures up to its predecessor when it goes to the country.