Ship Ahoy- "Christopher Cum-Buck- Us" Launches Boxing Day

The celebrity crew of Jambiz International's upcoming Christmas play takes to the high seas this year sailing from Spain with "Christopher Cum- Buck-Us" to the New World and are excitedly anticipating with bated breath the reception they are likely to get from the "natives" when their "ship- ahoy" docks at the CenterStage Theatre in Kingston, Jamaica on Boxing Day. Lenford Salmon, Director of Jamzbiz promises theatre lovers that "whatever happens it will be high drama at 5pm sharp that afternoon in New Kingston!"

"This year's story has a freshness that all our other productions have had..it is an old story with a new twist and as usual we safely poke fun at historical events, nursery rhymes, fables or such the like," says Glen Campbell who starrs as Grinning Goat - the not too cute and not too brave Indian Brave ..( Campbell also doubles up as Sham the Medicine man.) Claudette Pious who plays Rolling Calf, the dim-witted squaw quips, "I am feeling absolutely wonderful about it! The story is very current, we are not teaching a history lesson here! We are ridiculing ourselves whilst enjoying history. This is all about entertainment.

" Award winning playwright, Patrick Brown says that the choice of material this year whilst "arbitrary" is an offshoot of his earlier work "Yard 90" which explored the so-called Colombus discovery. Explaining that "Yard 90" was a review consisting of a number of skits from Columbus in Italy to his journey to the Caribbean, Brown says "this is my take on the Columbus' story, on his so- called discovery of us, his arrival in the Caribbean and when he bucks- up these Jamaican Arawaks.

"Recounting the developments, Brown says that the plot surrounds Cum- Buck- Us who wants to claim the island on his arrival and challenges the Arawak Cacique for the leadership of the country. However the natives who historically have been terrorized by the fierce Caribs, meet his challenge "fists to cuff and put up resistance." According to Brown, Cum-Buck-Us offers them guns as protection from their enemies and in return agrees for elections to be held to determine who will be leader of the island.

The rest is history… as Cum- Buck- Us emerges leader deposing the Arawak Chief who goes into exile and winds up living in caves a "a la bin Laden style." Not too long after, the Arawaks suffering from ill-treatment and disease from Columbus' tyranny and ruthlessness seek out the original leader in his new habitat and plead with him to come back and take over the reins.

The world premiere of "Christopher Cum- Buck- Us" will feature an all Star Jamaican cast familiar to Jambiz productions. Heading the line up is Jamaica's King of Comedy, Oliver Samuels as the conscious/unconscionable leader -Chief Running Belly or the Cacique; Volier Johnson as the ambitious "Christopher Cum- Buck- us," and who also doubles up as Lashie the Chatty- Mouth African; and Dahlia Harris as Smiling Rabbit - the long breasted ever pregnant squaw. Tisha Duncan alternates with Pious and Harris in their various roles.

The play is a typical social commentary on key aspects of Jamaican life and the seeming fascination of the populace from those times until now for many things foreign. However according to Brown, the moral of the story is that 'we must be in charge of our own destiny… we cannot make foreigners rule us. Whilst self government is relatively new to us we have to try and try again until we get it right."

Salmon concludes that "the play is laced with interesting twists and turns of Jamican life. Cum-Buck- Us on his discovery is virtually paralysed by the advancement and sophistication of the Jamaican people.. from high class circular-cellie phones to uptown shopping malls to the holding of elections and not duels for leadership as what he is accustomed to in his native Italy or sponsors, Spain. There is rib- tickling fun for the entire family."

Brown says that the format of the play is similar to other Jambiz productions in that it is " a laugh a line" production. Stating that much more effort is being placed this year on making the production high- tech through lighting and sound, "we are going to be as creative as we can within the limitations of our Theatre." The many time award winning production team includes Trevor Nairne, Artistic Director, Barbara McDaniel, Choreographer and Jon Williams- Musical Director respectively.

The play runs throughout the Holiday Season playing daily, Mondays to Fridays at 8pm and on weekends at 5 and 8pm.