'Jack and The Macca Tree' opens Boxing Day

Members of the Pantomime Company, (from left) Delrose Burke, Keisha Lambert, Sophia Fletcher and Simone Haughton, re-enacting the days of colourful market scenes, in 'Jack And The Macca Tree'. - Contributed

COLOURFUL COSTUMES, exciting props and staging, which cover the spectrum from a rural pasture to a Giant's Kitchen are among the elements of Jack And The Macca Tree, the LTM National Pantomime set to open on Boxing Day, December 26 at the Ward Theatre at 6:00 p.m.

This will be the 60th consecutive year that the Little Theatre Movement has staged the pantomime which has become a unique tradition in Caribbean Theatre. The first pantomime presented in 1941, was Jack And The Beanstalk. This time it is Jack And The Macca Tree, reflecting the full Jamaicanisation of what started in the English tradition.

In tribute to its roots, this season's pantomime goes back into the past, of rural Jamaica with colourful market scenes, peasant costumes and imaginative sets, ranging from Top Pasture to the Giant's Kitchen. The music is also reflective of folk life, from the Caribbean classic Balancie-Oh to Evening Time, first written by Barbara Ferland for performance in a pantomime, Linstead Market.

Quadrille

And then there is the movement, which includes the lively, but stately steps of the quadrille.

All of this is being pulled together into a rollicking Jamaican outing by Brian Heap, artistic director of the Pantomime Company. The production team includes Conliffe Wilmot-Simpson and Barbara Gloudon who developed the script in workshop with the company, Michael Lorde (set), Grub Cooper and Marjorie Whylie (music), George Howard and Alice Berry (movement), Anya Gloudon (costumes), Symonne Coombs (props), Larry Watson (stage Management), George Carter and Michael McDonald (lighting).

Of special interest to children is the group of animals - Man Cow, Pig, Goat and Donkey - which plays a great part in the story. Their masks, created by Michael Lorde, add to the fun. And then there is the Giant whose presence hangs over the village, but whose identity remains a mystery to the end.

Other performances for the holiday period are December 27, 28, 29, 30 at 7:30 p.m. December 31, 4:30 p.m. and New Year's Day 6:00 p.m.

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