Reviews (Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2003)
The Gleaner:

'CINDY-RELISHA and the DJ PRINCE' fun to the last drop!

Having been on the Oliver train for the last three years, Jambiz productions have taken a different route. Their Christmas production this year is Cindy-Relisha and the DJ Prince. The production opened on Boxing Day at the Centrestage Theatre, New Kingston.

Those who are used to getting more than a bellyful of laughter at Jambiz Christmas productions will not be disappointed this year. Since it comes from the same crew which produced Oliver and the Genie and Oliver's Posse this is not surprising. Cindy-Relisha and the DJ Prince was written by Patrick Brown and directed by Trevor Nairne.

As the name hints, Cindy-Relisha and the DJ Prince is a Jamaican take on the favoured fairy tale of Cinderella. As such it has several things in common with the original story. There is the Cinderella character (played by Donisha Prendergast) and the Prince (sort of - he is actually a deejay named Prince Sheggy).

In this tale however, the fairy godmother is replaced by a rather incompetent fairy godfather. Glen Campbell plays the godfather (Tipsy) and Prince Sheggy. In place of a stepmother and two gorgon -like sisters, Cindy-Relisha is a 'helpa' in the Cruff household. The Cruffs are Rufus (played by Winston Bell), Drizella (Dahila Harris who will later alternate with Tiesha Duncan) and Punella (Claudette Pious).

Additionally, the play takes the story closer to the original Grimm tale by having Cindy-Relisha's mother have an active part in Cindy-Relisha's redemption from servitude.

What Cindy-Relisha brings which is different from the last few productions is a greater variety in the kind of characters played. In this production, not everybody is a buffoon. This does not render the show any less funny.

In this production it is Chris Daley, Glen Campbell and Winston Bell who are responsible for delivering the numerous laughs which roll in waves through the audience.

That Campbell once again plays two characters which are very different from each other is simply another testament to his skill. Although there is no attempt to pretend he does not play both charaters one cannot come across any confusions. It must be said, however, that the character which really sparkles is Tipsy.

Tipsy's character matches his name - he is drunk and very proud of it. When he realises that he is drunk enough for one day, he does not miss a chance to start drinking for the next day.

Even so, Campbell evidently does not merely play this character for laughs. Tipsy is simply funny because he has been given some very funny lines, which are delivered well. Rather than a cartoon cut out, he seems like more than a drunk we have all seen at some tiome or other. There are far funnier things than stumbling around and Tipsy highlights this. This served to make him even funnier. The Sheggy character, however, could have benefited from the same treatment, both in the writing and the delivery. Another character which is treated in the same way as Tipsy is Rufus Cruff. Rufus is funny, because he is simply that cruel and a lot of wit was injected into making him that cruel. That he was being played by a consumate actor did nothing to detract from this. So easy is it to dislike the character that the audience simply loves when he gets his 'come-uppance'.

The funniest character, however, was Simpleman Simple. His name is not an exaggeration. Simple makes the ABCs look complicated. Additionally, Daley plays him so well that you simply cannot help but laugh at his idiocy. Audiences will also love the interaction which Cindy-Relisha and the DJ Prince brings. The comedy integrates its form into the performance and makes great use of the audience, making them a part of the joke. As such, audience members may find themselves in for some comic abuse, so they should go with the funny bones firmly intact and prepare to be part of the proceedings.

Additionally, you should buy yourself a programme. Not only do the proceeds go to charity (Children First) but there is actually some rather funny things in there to read. It is not just another waste of money.