‘Step Up Ghetto Youth’, Play for a Cause

The plot, acting, directing and spectacle of other productions may be stronger than Step Up Ghetto Youth, but only few are able to match its purpose - to raise funds for the outreach programme of Freedom Ministry. To emphasise its purpose, the play was strong on message and had a fair amount of entertainment.

Step Up Ghetto Youth, the first of five plays in the Freedom Ministry 2018 DramaFest season, was held on Friday at the Phoenix Theatre, Hainning Road, New Kingston.

As is implied by the title, the story takes place in a tenement yard located in a ghetto community called No Man's Land. Among the characters sharing the common yard are two high-school students - Ginger (Karen Wright) and Twister (Lachim Cunningham). Both have ambitions to make life better by completing high school and moving on to a tertiary institution. But to do so, they have to navigate the pressure and ill advice of their peers and high-school drop-outs Poochie (Stacie-Ann Goodison) and Slinger (David Smith).

Cornelius Brown's idea for the script was collectively written by the cast. And the team did a very good job - especially in their measured yet effective use of religion, maintaining a strong Christian message.

Overall, the cast gave a respectful account, bringing their characters to life - chiefly Smith, who played the ill-fated Slinger. In walk, talk, gestures and mannerism, he created a character typical of the environment of the play. Cunningham and Wright were also creditable in playing their respective roles. Goodison's tendency to break out of character to speak to the audience, even in moments that were crucial to the unravelling of the plot, was distracting.

Technical elements of light, set and costume were the strongest areas. However, the fire scene could have been better served with special effects. Old sheets of zinc used as the perimeter fencing of the yard gave a natural feel to the set. And all the costumes were well chosen and helped to reinforce the respective character's personalities and status.

Alas, the non-professional thespians seemed to have found a challenge in blocking the play. For the most part, movements were incoherent and unnatural. All Poochie's blocking ends down stage centre, while the others stopped centre stage to sit on three boxes.

Nevertheless, Step up Ghetto Youth was a feasible way to use drama as a vehicle to minister and raise funds for a worthy cause.

According to founder and president of Freedom Ministry Cornelius Brown, the concept of giving back was born from lessons he had learnt from his mother, Doreen Skinner, who lived a selfless life. The first two shows were held in 2011, with a SongFest season titled Songs My Mother Love, followed by the play Forgive Me.

The 2018 season of DramaFest ended yesterday with Unequally Yoke and Grandaddy Legacy, while Aunty Mommy and Stealing Love on Both Sides were mounted on Saturday.