Tennesia Malcolm, Gleaner Writer
Marquis (Rodney Campbell) tries to control his temper as he listens to his wife Sheila (Mitzie Pratt at right) explain her sudden fascination with dancehall. Beverly (Trudy Campbell), instructor to Sheila and three-time winner of the annual all-island dancehall queen competition, shares in this enlightening moment in a scene from the romantic comedy 'A Song For You' - CONTRIBUTED
Rodney speaks
Rodney Campbell is effortless in the role
of Marquis Henry. Here are his views on:
How he came to play the role:
"God only knows. According to director Pablo Hoilett, I was the only person he seriously wanted to do it."
Why he fell in love with the role:
"It wasn't exceptionally deep and it wasn't exceptionally light ... Everything about it is true to life. A lot of men can be oblivious to the needs of their wives, and this can foster disunity."
Researching the role:
"I (studied) three reggae artistes who fit the character. One was a bit more than him, one not
as much and one was really different."
Preparing for any role:
By employing any means that works for you. "What works for you, work with it."
How he got into theatre:
"I got into theatre out of a joke really." With friends, he developed a revue, Dis Ting, which marked his theatre debut.
RODNEY CAMPBELL is Marquis Henry, a reggae singer finally making a name for himself on the international market; Mitzie Pratt is Sheila, Marquis' 'frustrated' wife; Christopher Taylor is Ramon, a Cuban expatriate who basks in the glory of his sexual prowess; and Trudy Campbell is Beverly, a straight-talking go go dancer from the other side of the tracks.
They comprise the cast of A Song for You, a likeable play which shows how the pursuit of a dream can create a rift in a happy marriage.
The unlikely hero of A Song for You is Marquis, a poorly educated singer who neglects his wife for a music career ñ hoping to prove to all that he can provide for his family.
Campbell is convincing in this role, delivering his lines with ease and comfort. For him, the play accurately depicts how the seeming selfish pursuit of a dream can 'foster disunity' in a relationship.
NOT FOR CHILDREN
So, while Marquis pushes what he perceives to be their aspirations of wealth, Sheila stews at home - forced to embrace the comfort of a sex toy, while keeping the lecherous Cuban (Ramon) at bay.
It must be said that A Song for You is not for children, neither is it for the faint of heart as it delivers real-life issues with real-life scenarios and dialogue.
And perhaps this is where Beverly outshines the rest. A downtown girl, she says what she means and means what she says, oftentimes oblivious of the ripple effects, until, of course, the words have escaped her mouth.
Sheila in her newfound role as discontented wife yearns for something with which to define herself. So she befriends Beverly with the hope of becoming a dancehall queen.
BALANCED MIX
With only a quartet of characters, playwright Anthony Wisdom seems to have created a balanced mix. The demographic cuts along a cross section of Jamaican society with the uptown girl marrying a boy deemed below her status, descending even further into the world of the outcast by adopting dancehall, which even her husband at first finds repulsive.
Then, there's the go go dancer - with her risque dress and quick wit, she is as real as any. And, Ramon brings laughter at almost every turn.
In what, director Pablo Hoilett points out is a 'work in progress', this romantic comedy raises pertinent points about the effort it takes to keep a marriage together when both parties seem to have gone down divergent paths. It speaks to the issue of being comfortable in one's skin, shunning societal confinement. And perhaps most importantly, it gives a fresh look at the old perception of love conquering all.
A Song for You is good fun for a mature audience, and is currently on at the Pantry Playhouse.
