“CUTIE AND THE FREAK” takes the laugh to Mobay today

Play fans in the western city Montego Bay will be in for a comedic treat today when Patrick Brown’s hilarious fairytale with music - CUTIE AND THE FREAK, takes to the stage at the Montego Bay Community College, beginning at 7pm.

The production has been receiving rave reviews from audience and critics alike since its Boxing Day 2006 opening at the Centerstage Theatre in New Kingston.

Writing in the Observer, theatre critic Tyrone Reid described CUTIE AND THE FREAK as “A comedic delight”. Describing Samuels’ performance as the overly protective father, Reid said that “Samuels displays comedic brilliance in the role of Tiny, moreso in scenes where he tries to convince his daughter to stop seeing Frank (the Freak) – who he describes as “King Kong cousin’ and tells Frank that “fi yuh ugliness famous”.

Gleaner critic Carolyn Johnson described the production as “unconditional love”. According to her actor Glen Campbell was in his element on the night she saw the play. Commenting on Campbell’s performance she wrote that “… as the main role Ben he is the life of the play and never fails to keep the audience laughing. In his other roles as Ezekel and Killer, possible suitors for Cutie, Campbell’s talent is shown as he easily switches from role to role, mastering each.

Loosely based on the ageless fairytale “Beauty and the Beast” – regarded by many as “the most beautiful story ever told”, Patrick Brown’s story is Jamaican in every sense of the word, and is generously spiced with local topicalities.

Patrons are being encouraged get to the venue early to avoid a pile-up at the gate. Production Manager Lenford Salmon said that the gates will be opened as early as 5pm. “Each year we make this appeal and some folks ignore it, and we end up with hundreds of people trying to all get in at 7pm. This causes mass confusion and pushing and shoving. All that can be avoided if persons come early and enter the facility in an orderly and disciplined manner”.

CUTIE AND THE FREAK continues its rural tour through to the end of March, winding its way through several other rural-urban centres including Sav-la-mar, Ocho Rios, Mandeville, Brown’s Town, Linstead, Malvern, Old Harbour and Morant Bay.  The production also plays mid-week (Wednesdays to Fridays) at its homebase Centerstage Theatre.

- end -