'For Better Or Worse' - a review
Devon Dick
My family looks forward to watching Basil Dawkins' plays and this current play For Better Or Worse is no exception. We travelled to Little Little Theatre and we were not disappointed with this cracker of a play which my mother found entertaining and of which my adult daughter said one scene brought tears to her eyes.
Basil Dawkins, one of Jamaica's most prolific and provocative playwrights, uses a well-known phrase within the marriage vows 'for better, for worse' to demonstrate the temptations faced by married couples in these financially stressful times.
In this play, Basil tested the vow 'For better for worse' to its outer limits.
Climax
For Alfred to reach that climax of forgiving his wife and hopefully living with her happily ever after, he was ably assisted by Patience (Terri Salmon) who played the roles of counsellor, entrepreneur and street-smart lady.
Daley's role was heart-warming because he played not the stereotypical Jamaican man who plays no role in the life of the children.
However, the story is about economic hardships and its challenges to relationships.
Economic conditions
Dawkins has scripted a scenario with which many persons can identify, given the harsh Jamaican and world economic conditions and the challenging employment environment which is today's reality for many. But as usual, Dawkins' For Better Or Worse also shines a light-beam of hope for those willing to make opportunities out of seeming hopelessness and to build new career paths out of both traditional and non-traditional situations.
It is a well-written play with memorable quotes and witty comments, the characters are strong, believable and were nicely developed and the ladies were excellent actresses.
Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building'. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.
'In this play, Basil tested the vow 'For better for worse' to its outer limits.