'Who A Di Don', a rib-tickling experience

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Writing for the stage demands an understanding of two fundamentals: the essence of drama and the nature of theatre. Oliver Samuels, more than most, should know this. He has performed in numerous plays over a long and glorious career.

Therefore, it is only logical to believe that in his penned work, Who A Di Don?, he would demonstrate an understanding of these two theatre ground rules.

Last Saturday, at the newest theatre space in town, Stages Theatre on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, the notion was put to the test and, from all accounts, Samuels seemed to have grasped the concepts.

Craftily penned, the language of Who A Di Don? was funny. Samuels, fully aware of his audience, limited his characters' lines to short sentences. And even in the moments of exposition, he opted for short monologues.

The plot unfolds relatively early. Scene one begins with Malcolm (Kadeem Wilson) showing signs of grief at his father's death by 'Kartelizing' his face and dropping out of college. In addition, he is being seduced by his 'Aunty' Debbie (Ruth Ho Singh), his mother's best friend. And somewhere between the first and final scenes, as Malcolm seeks to avenge his father's death, lots of information becomes available.

Gang war

There is a major gang war and the revelation that Debbie also had an affair with Joseph, Malcolm's father. That twist pulls in the characters of Angela (Audrey Reid), Malcolm's mother, and Joshie (Samuels), Malcolm's uncle.

Who a Di Don?, outside of looking at the serious problems of family, examines the role of the politicians in the face of donmanship.

With all the action restricted to one setting, in Angela's open space living/dining/kitchen area, perhaps because of the size of the stage, director Peter Abrikian and his cast had to perform at optimum. For the most part, they did just that. But how much were they aided by Samuels' characters?

It is accurate to say that it was a solid performance from the entire cast of Wilson, Ho Shing, Samuels and Reid. Each was quite believable.

Reid, as the very uptight, firm and worrisome Angela; Samuels, the drunken but blunt Joshie; Wilson, the sometimes playful but angry Malcolm; and Ho Shing, the seductive and flirtatious Debbie, the journalist who moonlights as a real estate agent.

However, each was faced with the challenge of making a character that did not offer much growth show that his or her experience has made him or her better.

While, many of the events happened offstage, with the aid of the appropriate props and costumes, along with excellent direction and delivery from the actors, the events were vividly presented.

Abrikian did a good job of directing, capturing the comedic nature of the play with a display of some timely and well-executed actions.

However, he may want to review a few of the hasty movements to the kitchen sink for no apparent reason.

Before concluding, it would be a miss not to mention the Patrick Russell-designed set. It was sublime.

Who A di Don? is truly a funny play and is worth experiencing. The new theatre space is also something everybody should see.