"Dirty Diana A Must-See"

'Dirty Diana' is a must see for comedy lovers this summer. It is like a micro waved version of 'Indecent Proposal' where a suave sophisticated rich dude is after one night of passion with a female fatale (and is willing to pay) who is involved with a man of smaller means.

Glen Campbell is brilliant in his portrayal of 'Doggie', a quintessential, insanely jealous Jamaican man who is fast with his fists and over-suspicious of any man who even glances in his woman's (Diana) direction.

Doggie's dilemma is further compounded by the fact that Diana (the role is alternated between Denise Hunt and Sherando Ferril) is a voluptuous dancer at a local go go club called Pop's Place.

The couple lives in a one-bedroom flat in Vineyard Town and is perpetually in arrears with the rent, because of Doggie's inability to keep a steady job and his jealousy which sometimes threatens her job.

The comedy is driven on the comedic and physical skills of Campbell. His 'verbal' wars with a deaf mute (played by Trinidad-born actress Nadia Khan) and masculine postering with the suave, muscular 'Babyface', played by Dexter Hammett, border on a real-life situation of a poor man trying to face down his richer, more handsome rival against incredible odds.

Khan does an admirable job as the deaf mute, complete with the proper sign language and effective hand signals that evoke laughter from the crowd as she goes at it with Doggie. But there are times when Khan forgets that her character is supposed to limp - so how can a semi-crippled go-go dancer move so well onstage?

Sherando Ferril gave an excellent portrayal of a 'dancer for money' with slinky go-go moves while dancing at 'Pop's Place' and a female patron was overhead asking if 'Diana' was played by a real go-go dancer?

Yet, for all its bluster, 'Dirty Diana' is not all laughs. There is a lot of heat and heart involved in the acting and serious, age-old philosophical questions regarding the ability of love to overcome obstacles are asked and answered by the exertions of the actors.

There are some dramatic moments which are provided by Campbell's philosophizing and agonizing over whether he should allow 'Babyface' to sleep with his woman which would allow him to avoid jail.

Dexter Hammett's turn as 'Babyface' is simply brilliant, as he brings all the ego and brashness typical of a man who is used to having everything his own way. One detects danger in his dashing smile and menace in his every move. Women in the audience almost swooned in one scene where he bounced his pecs for their amusement.

Charles Hyatt brings the right amount of heart and comedy to his portrayal of Pops, the owner of the go-go club who, like every typical Jamaican male, has a few bones in his closet, which comes out during the course of the play.

Does true love conquer all? Go see 'Dirty Diana' and find out.