December 16, 2007

RIVER BOTTOM premiers on Boxing Day

Patrick Brown’s Musical Comedy “RIVER BOTTOM” is the 11th Annual Jambiz Christmas Production, and will have its World Premier come Boxing Day (December 26) at 5pm.

A star-studded cast has again been assembled, with a wonderful mix of youth and experience. Leading the charge will be the Caribbean’s King of Comedy Oliver Samuels and Glen “Titus” Campbell, representing the old guard. The youth brigade comprises Camille Davis, Courtney Wilson, Chris Hutchinson, and Belinda Reid.

The play is set in the district of River Bottom – a dirt-poor, isolated “fishering” and farming coastal community located in deep-deep rural Jamaica, where there is no running water and rural electrification has not yet ventured.

Samuels plays “Cappo” – River Bottom’s spiritual leader, faith-healer, prophet, MP, obeahman, storm whisperer … and whatever else works. The people are poor and are in the main illiterate and ignorant of what happens outside the geographical area that is River Bottom. As the only one in the district with financial and other resources, Cappo reigns supreme.

But with all the money in the world Cappo is still unable to get the one thing he has had his eyes on for years – Cherrie’s one daughter Pearle (Camille Davis). His main nemesis is Quatty (Courtney Wilson / Christopher Hutchinson). Cappo “generously” helped Quatty’s father Half-Pint (Glen Campbell) to send Quatty to school overseas. We soon learn that Cappo’s generousness had rather sinister motives.

Quatty finishes school and decides that he has to use his education to enlighten the people of his boyhood community, and to help them to unshackle themselves. But he also has something … or rather someone else on his mind – the “Pearle” of River Bottom. Cappo is clearly not amused by the shenanigans of Quatty, and his own fast fading aura of “Mr. Don-man”. He sets out to do everything to frustrate Quatty’s efforts. But the winds of change are too strong and the people are soon able to see Cappo as the fraud he really had been all along.

The creative team comprises artistic director Trevor Nairne, in a co-directing arrangement with Patrick Brown. Also in there is multi-award winning composer Jon Williams with responsibility for creating the musical moments and Barbara McDaniel who will create the “picture” on stage through movement. After the December 26 opening, River Bottom will play daily throughout the holiday season until January 13, 2008. Thereafter it will play Wednesdays to Fridays at 8pm and on Saturdays and Sundays at 5pm and 8pm.

Contact: Rosemarie Williams/Lenford Salmon – 929-1280/383-1033; lenfords@gmail.com