One More Time - "A Real Treat"

One of the real delights of Jamaican theatre this year is Patrick Brown's romantic comedy, One More Time.

A rookie to the role of director, Brown, who is an established playwright5, pleasantly surprises with his adaptation of Neil Simon's They Are Playing Our Song. He is known for authoring episodes of the popular Jamaican TV sitcom, Oliver At Large, as well as theatrical productions such as December and Puppy Love. But he has probably found his truest forte in directing. The effects of thoughtful directorship are evident in One More Time.

The playwright-turned-director makes his debut ably assisted by two of the finest actors in local theatre - Deon Silvera and Glen Campbell. Combine Jamaicanised lines with situations generated by the vivid imagination of America's master of comedy, Neil Simon, and there is bound to be the makings of a production void of tepidity. The story revolves around two-time Grammy award-winning reggae composer, Vernon Rey, and emerging lyricist Sonia Walsh.

Sonia engineers a creative collaboration with her idol of many years. Early on their journey into music, they discover a mutual attraction, which turns out to be as volatile ass the pulsating tempo of their rhythms.

The cacophony of their contrasting lifestyles, canned by subtle lunacies and tensions, push the two to the brink of their creativity. Although the original intentions of the characters are not fully realized, parts are played well, and the result is a riotously funny love story about a dreadlocks singer and his effervescent "dawta". The set is a highlight of the production. It was obviously carefully designed. The costumes enhance characterization and even add humour to the proceedings.

Deon Silvera's 1995 award winning performance in David Heron's Ecstasy is still remembered in theatre circles as one of the most true-to-life portrayals capturing the intrigues of the life of the ghetto woman. She brings the same purveyance to One More Time.

Glen Campbell - last seen in Trevor Rhone's Dear Councilor, which climaxed with performances at the prestigious Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina USA - brings a wealth of experience to this production. Patrick Brown's background in comedic writing serves him well in this adaptation. In translating the work, Brown concocts reckless hilarity. The story questions widely held perceptions about the romantic/sexual prowess of the Rastaman. True life prominent Jamaican "heroes" are skillfully woven into the plot, led by a Rastaman who is transcended by his music to phenomenal heights. Interestingly, it is this music which sets his soul on fire, as he finds himself enveloped in a complex and unsettling relationship with an eccentric, demanding Jamaican woman One More Time opened at the Barn Theatre, New Kingston on October 4, and currently plays Wednesdays to Sundays.