Oliver and Glen heads CUTIE & THE FREAK cast

When the 10th Annual Jambiz Christmas production CUTIE & THE FREAK hits the stage come Boxing Day 2006, the talented cast will again be led by stage veterans Oliver Samuels and Glen “Titus” Campbell.

This talented comedy duo has appeared together in all but one of the annual Jambiz Christmas Productions (Cindy Relisha and the DJ Prince being the exception – Oliver was in the UK performing that year).

The comedic interaction on stage between these two talented sons of the soil has been described by one newspaper critic as “pure magic”. The many patrons who support the Jambiz productions each year really do look forward to this comedic “tit-for-tat”.

The support cast this time around includes Camille Davis, Courtney Wilson, Sharee McDonald-Russell, Belinda Reid, Christopher Hutchinson and Megan Lewis.

Writer/Director Patrick Brown, assisted by Artistic Director Trevor Nairne seems to have crafted yet another theatrical gem. The rehearsal sessions have been quite lively, with cast members reveling in the fun on stage. If the good time they are having preparing the production is anything to go by, then audiences will be in for a treat once the curtains go up on the CUTIE & THE FREAK.

Samuels was quick to point out though that the Jambiz productions are never only about the fun and laughter on stage. Writer Patrick Brown always has an interesting and intriguing story somewhere in the mix. This time around he forces us to reflect on our own approach to members of our society unfortunately facing physical challenges, described by some as “handicaps”.

CUTIE & THE FREAK is a fully Jamaican stage version of the classic fairytale “Beauty and the Beast”. The central theme is located around finding true love in the unlikeliest of places – in the warm soul of the accident inflicted, severely burnt body of Frank the Freak (played by Courtney Wilson).

Frank has been violently evicted from his home community, accused of terrorizing its citizens with his gross ugliness, and forced into an existence of a homeless, scavenging vagrant. A chance meeting with the lovely university student Cutie (played by Camille Davis), on the banks of the Gordon Town river unleashes a tale that winds its way like the idyllic river, through an exciting terrain of twists and turns. The plot is unveiled amidst delightful musical numbers from award winning musical director Jon Williams and exciting choreography from Barbara McDaniel.

The production will open as it customary at the Centerstage Theatre, New Kingston on Boxing Day (December 26) at 5pm, and will play throughout the holiday period and on into next year.

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