- File
Rhone in scenes from his autobiographical production, 'Bellas Gate Boy', which is now playing at the Barn Theatre in Kingston.
Tanya Batson, Staff Reporter
FOR THE FIRST time in approximately three decades, Trevor Rhone is playing a major role on the Jamaican stage.
Rhone's return to the stage is for his autobiographical work, Bella's Gate Boy.
The one-man show is currently playing at the Barn Theatre in New Kingston and features either Rhone or Alwin Scott in the lead (and only) role. Scott began 'playing Rhone' last Sunday.
When The Sunday Gleaner caught up with the writer, director and once-again-actor, Rhone noted that his return to the stage is "...not something I care to do again."
He further explained that this was because this particular role required so much energy. He noted that simply reading the text was so much easier than the performance.
He noted that, unlike a production with multiple players, in a one-man production the actor is alone with no one to feed him lines or energy. Despite this, though, he declares that he is enjoying his return to acting.
In addition to the years that have passed, Rhone explained that his attitude to acting has changed drastically since the days he used to tread the boards regularly.
He explained that in his early career he was consumed by thoughts of performing. Today, his is consumed by the drive to sit at the computer and be creative.
ENTHUSIASM FOR THEATRE
According to Rhone, he was very possessive of every line he was given in his early days in theatre: "I would count the lines," he explained.
This enthusiasm for theatre is also revealed in Bella's Gate Boy, where it was pointed out that he had snuck into his first pantomime after hacking through Shakespeare at the auditions.
Rhone related that his drive to be on-stage translated to the start of his writing career.
He noted that he began writing for two reasons. First, he wanted parts that reflected Jamaican society on the stage. Next, he wanted parts that he could perform. "I always saved the best role for myself," he declared.
This need to be on-stage changed when he wrote Smile Orange. Rhone notes that the play began as a radio serial that the Jamaica Tourist Board asked him to write. After writing the first episode, however, he realised that it would not be a very profitable venture. Abandoning that route, he turned the project into the hilarious play which would become Jamaica's second film.
For some reason that he is not able to explain, Rhone noted that when he finished that play he did not want to be in it.
That Bella's Gate Boy is autobiograhpical presents an intriguing situation. Essentially it means that Trevor Rhone, the man who created many roles specifically for himself, finally gets the chance to be himself on-stage. Although this may seem like he would therefore not have to act, that is not remotely the case.
Rhone explained that the role demanded that he shed his public persona and reveal his real self. The process has been helped by the director, Yvonne Brewster, who was selected for this piece of work. In fact, Brewster adapted it for the stage.
Rhone explained that because of the length of time he has known Brewster, she was perfect for the job.
The two first met when Rhone was auditioning for the Rose Bruford College. Although they had not worked together for 33 years prior to this, it was out of their early theatre efforts that The Barn Theatre was founded.
"She possibly knows me better than I know myself," Rhone revealed. "She knows me so well I can't use that face or that voice (his public persona) with her."
Nonetheless, he notes that it is very hard to shed the outer self that he had always projected to the world.
Through Bella's Gate Boy members of the audience, many of whom only know of him through studying his work in school, see the vulnerable boy who came from Bella's Gate and never saw a play until age 13 and a film until 14.
Rhone pointed out that, though he still shelters somewhat under his public persona while performing, he believes it will change. "I suppose the longer I play in it (Bella's Gate Boy) the more I will reach out and reach for what Yvonne needs," he said.
ONE MORE PLAY TO WRITE
Despite returning to the stage at this point in his life, Rhone points out that he is now too old for all the energy which working in local theatre requires. "I do not have the energy anymore," he said. "Theatre is a young person's habit."
What he is referring to is the fact that, in local theatre, due to economic constraints, a single person has to take on numerous roles rather than concentrate on perfecting one task.
He used his contrasting experiences in staging Old Story Time in England and locally as an example. He said that while in England he had a staff of 30 persons, but when he later returned to Jamaica he was going it solo.
Nonetheless, Bella's Gate Boy will not be the final chapter for Trevor Rhone. He notes that there is at least one more play which he needs to write, Sweet Potato Pie.
Interestingly, Sweet Potato Pie was created out of his attempt to adapt one of his earlier plays, Two Can Play, for the screen.
If Two Can Play makes it to the celluloid world, it would bring Rhone's 'film score' to five.
Jamaica's most popular film to date, The Harder They Come was co-written by Rhone. The upcoming One Love, featuring Kymani Marley, also came from his pen.
Rhone notes that the difference between when he wrote The Harder They Come and now is quite great.
He pointed out that his approach to Jamaica's first film had been like a "...child with a new toy," because at the time, he knew nothing about writing a script. As such, he simply wrote about life as he knew it. Importantly, the film was created at the time when he was 'divesting himself' of England.
One thing which has not changed is the difficulty which comes with financing a project.
"One's work is often at the mercy of the money and sometimes your work is directed by people you have no faith or trust in," he said. "It bruises your soul," he added.
The bruising comes when a work is misinterpreted by directors, while the writer remains powerless to stop the slaughter of his work.
Rhone remarked that though the film industry has so much to offer Jamaica, we watched many of the doors which The Harder They Come opened simply close behind it.
He believes, however, that a thriving Jamaican film industry can be created. He believes that the creation of a viable industry is very important.
"We need the faith and the confidence to invest in ourselves," he said. "Otherwise we're gonna lose ourselves."
