- WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
Nadean Rawlins (left) with other members of the cast in the 2003/4 Pantomime Combolo.
Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
MONEY IS often the root of mediocrity. It explains why so many movie sequels got made, despite the fact that sequels are almost always inferior to the original. It also explains why pop and rap stars often make cameo appearances or star in movies, despite finding a tree a difficult role to play.
So it is not surprising that the reason behind the dearth of fresh blood in commercial theatre over the years is money.
Producers argue that audiences want to see those actors who they know and so having such names on the marquee and in the advertisements is part of guaranteeing a production's success. One cannot argue with the
calibre of work put forward by persons established in the field, who make the theatre-going public hanker for more.
Nonetheless, it has allowed local theatre to take on an air of royalty, with massive amounts of inbreeding. Often, some of the actors themselves get quite typecast, as they get hemmed into a character or character type.
LOCAL STAGES
Yet young actors are now getting more time on local stages. Even a cursory glance at the theatres sprinkled around Kingston should provide a view of these young thespians, striving to mark their 'x' on the Jamaican consciousness. Several of them have already earned accolades in the industry through either being nominated for or earning an 'Actor Boy' award.
Smart producers are therefore weaning the public on these new faces, by fitting them between the 'old faithfuls' whose names can pack a theatre. Jambiz International Productions has been doing this for some time, though their playlist is one of the most inbred. Especially with their annual Christmas production, the audience can usually guess that the cast will feature Oliver Samuels and/or Glen Campbell, with maybe Volier Johnson or Claudette Pious thrown in. Yet, the company has also featured a steady influx of young talent. Indeed, through their Centrestage workshop, which helps inexperienced actors hone their talent, Jambiz has found a wealth of young potential filled actors, with David French, Christopher Hutchinson, and Camille Davis having already found work in Jambiz productions.
Basil Dawkins is another of the producers smuggling young blood into theatre. His action dramedy No Disrespect, currently playing at the Little Little Theatre, bills Volier Johnson and Charles Hyatt (alternating with Trevor Fearon) as the stars of the production.
However, the leading man is Maurice Bryan, who has been steadily proving himself a magnetic force on stage. Bryan has copped a Best Actor in a Lead Role Actor Boy nomination for this role. He is also not the only youthful face in the cast which features three additional actors in their salad days Kiki Lewis, Nicole Brown and Christopher McFarlane.
Dawkins reveals that he made a deliberate choice to include younger actors in his productions. "Old people die," he says and we all know that much is true. His reason, then, is to help younger actors get the experience and exposure that will make them as good as or even better than - the current crop of household names. Yet, it is a decision that can affect the pocket. Dawkins explains that overseas promoters are hesitant to sell shows that do not have recognisable names. He revealed that as a result he has sometimes had to reduce his performance fee for those productions. The promoters argue, Dawkins says, that unknowns require more advertising as they are harder to sell.
UP AND COMING ACTOR
It is therefore beneficial for the up and coming actor to not be 'too unknown'. Though Bryan and McFarlane are still green when compared to their elder cast members, they are not completely new to theatre. McFarlane has already begun making his mark, earning the 2003 Best Actor in a Supporting Role award for his performance in another Basil Dawkins production, God Bless. Bryan and McFarlane have also previously shared stage time in the Brian Heap directed rendition of Godfrey Sealy's One of Our Sons, staged by the University Players.
Cutting your teeth in companies like the University Players or the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company or a Father Ho Lung production is an invaluable experience for the up and coming. While these productions will not take the actor to the bank, they can help to prove them to be bankable.
Nadean Rawlins, who has split her onstage time between The University Players and the National Pantomime, attests to this. "We do not get money," she says of the University Players, "but you'd be surprised to know how many people want to be there because it's not about the money. It's the experience."
NON-COMMERCIAL THEATRE
Karl Williams who is currently in David Heron's 4Play agrees. Though his early walking on the theatre plank included a stint in the National Pantomime and Dis Ting, he has spent much time in non-commercial theatre with roles in Bubbling Brown Sugar, Mama I Want to Sing (which also featured Bryan), Moses and Bedward. The result is that Williams now has a few Actor Boy nominations to add to his resume and is making a steady foray into commercial theatre.
The plethora of young actors now crossing the various stages indicates that there is a change coming in local theatre. The young lions and lionesses have begun to roar. On some occasions it is merely a puny meow, but in other cases it is a mighty sound. While names like Teisha Duncan, Lynier Hines, Damion Radcliff, Sabrena McDonald, Clive Forrester, Monique Ceasar and Orville Hall may be met with a furrowed brow and a 'who?', in a few tomorrows everyone may well know their names.
