Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Courtney Wilson and Camille Davis in a scene from the production 'Cutie and the Freak'. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

ALTHOUGH he has been acting professionally for 10 years, Courtney Wilson admits he still suffers some amount of stage fright.

"I'm always nervous, especially the first time (opening night), but I feel better once things start to soak in," he told The Gleaner last week.

Dressed casually in denim pants, sneakers and mod shades, Wilson looked anything but jittery last Sunday. It was just three hours before curtain call for River Bottom, the latest Jambiz Productions play currently running at the Centerstage Theatre.

Wilson plays the dual roles of Quattie and Mas Viv in River Bottom. Since appearing in 2002's Cindy-Relisha, the 27-year-old actor has become a regular in Jambiz comedies alongside established stars Oliver Samuels and Glen Campbell.

Award winner

In recent years, he has had substantial roles in the wildly popular Class of '73 and Vibes, winning an Actor Boy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the latter. Wilson says the professionalism of mainstream theatre is a far cry from the slapstick roots scene where he got his start.

"With roots plays I didn't work with an actual script, it was basically improvising," he said. "At Jambiz, the directors never, ever make you feel like you have reached ... It's always a challenge."

The west Kingston-born Wilson's first taste of theatre came while he was a student at the Excelsior Community College (EXED) where he earned an associate degree in performing arts.

He represented EXED in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's Schools Festival and was involved in the Tallawah competition at the University of the West Indies. After graduation, he jumped on the roots theatre bandwagon.

His Jambiz debut came when actor Orville Hall, who played Simple in Cindy-Relisha, recommended him as a to Jambiz principal Patrick Brown while he (Hall) took a break. Assistant Thief, Love Games and Cutie and the Freak are other plays Wilson has appeared in.

While he is content at the moment to make a name for himself in comedies, Wilson says his ultimate goal is to excel in dramatic roles.

"I don't want to be stereotyped as a comedian, I want people to see me as a versatile actor," he said.