My Son's Friend - "Some questions unanswered"

ONE OF the good things happening in local theatre is that people are no longer limiting their interests to the latest "roots" comedy.

Serious theatre, or drama, is coming back in vogue and the people are going out to see it. Director Lenford Salmon and producers Jambiz International have survived in the industry basically because of their vision. They probably went a bit too far with "Death of A Maiden" and lack of support in Easter caused a premature closure to there "Rope & the Cross."

But, plays like "My Son's Friend," which gentle encourage support for drama over pure comedy, have been doing very well for them. " My Son's Friend," currently running at the New Kingston Theatre, Altamont Avenue, has been playing since March 28 and continues to attract good audiences. The Play looks at the question of age and romance: Does age really matters when love takes set?

Obviously writer Frances Coke and director Salmon thinks not. So when the middle-aged Dr. Chris Bennett (Barbara McCalla) and her husband's marriage are destroyed by the intrusion of the invisible friend, "Marva," the distraught lady becomes vulnerable.

Vulnerable women usually fall prey to scheming male predators. Well-to-do and professional women getting a divorce usually fall prey to their lawyers. Dr. Bennett despite her best efforts actually falls prey to her son's younger best friend. But, Dr. Bennett is a psychiatrist, how could she? Kirk (Dervan Malcolm/Daniel Gordon-Edwards), her son's friend, is a psychiatry student, a regular visitor to her son Peter (Donald Anderson) who knows about her problems with her unfaithful husband, Neville (Winston "Bello" Bell/Orville Beckford).

He intricately, weaves himself into the fabric of her pain so effectively that as hard she tries to fight off the temptation; she fails and eventually falls into his arms. In the meantime, Peter, who had moved out after fussing with his father just when the old man had decided to desert the family for Marva in the U.S., senses what is happening and starts attracting Kirk.

That was probably his biggest mistake, because all it does is to chase his mother into Kirk' budding arms. One of the play's funniest episodes is near the end, when Neville falls out with his mistress and returns home, expecting Chris' prodigal welcome. Instead, he encounters Kirk running down the stairs from the bedroom, dressed in his briefs, hollering: "Aren't you coming to bed, Chris?" The play ends quite suddenly. The audience is left to ponder whether the relationship will last and if Kirk will, eventually, get over Chris and look for someone his age.

Personally, I wondered, what Kirk wanted out of the relationship? Did he really love her? Was he just seeking a meal ticket through university? Or, is she his best hope of passing his exams? Probably Coke was considering a sequel to this play. But, it first ran in 1982. So I guess she was satisfied to let sleeping dogs lie and the audience may have agreed with her.

Incidentally, the play has one of the most attractive sets I've ever seen for a local play.