Herculean performance from Jamaica Junior Theatre Company

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

The tale of the ancient Greek mythical character Hercules is familiar to Jamaicans.

Also known to Jamaicans, especially in theatre circle, is the Jamaica Junior Theatre Company (JJTC). Likewise, the company is known for unearthing the talent of young Jamaicans in their annual musicals.

Therefore, when the two familiars, Hercules and JTTC, came together at The Philip Sherlock Centre, University of the West Indies, it was expected to produce fireworks worth seeing.

In this latest endeavour, titled Hercules, JJTC has turned a classic myth into a watchable dramatisation, for the most part.

Known for their fantastic costumes, practical set and entertaining movements balanced by, at times, good singing and characterisation, the story of the mythical hero unfurled through some fine acting, and a creative, easy-to-follow plot.

The plot shows some modification. Perhaps this is due to the edition from which Roshane O. Miller and Shermaine Desnoes, along with JJTC committee 2012, took their adaptation.

Whatever the reason, the groundwork for the changes was laid.

From the outset, five muses, wearing off-shoulder white dresses, stop the very British-sounding narrator and take over the narration.

For the duration of the play, they return at intervals to move the story along in songs and spoken words.

The story, according to JJTC, is that Hercules (Ricardo Barrett) was born to Zeus, King of the Gods and Ruler of Mount Olympus (Roshane Miller), and Hera, Queen of the Gods (Renique Harriott). But with intervention from Hades, his uncle (Kenrick-Alexander Shaw), he spends his early years on earth as an adopted child.

Life is not easy for Hercules, as his unnatural strength makes him an outsider.

The constant taunting of young Hercules forces his adoptive parents, Amphitryon (Leroy Anidoo) and Alcme (Nicolett Alexander), to reveal his story to him. But when he confronts his father, Zeus, he tells him that because he lives on earth as a mortal he cannot return to Mount Olympus. For that to happen, he must first become a hero.

And so Hercules fights the Argonauts and Medea as one of his tasks. But his true test comes when he falls in love with Megara (Kristina Carty) and must make a sacrifice.

There was some fine acting from the large cast, especially from Carty, Barrett, Sharpe and Damian Shaw, who played Philoctetes, a trainer of heroes.

Carty must be given special mention for her great singing. Commendation also to the five Muses. Madeline Sharpe and Sabria Hector as Hades' sidekicks, Mischief and Mayhem also gave good account of themselves.

For the most part, Tony Wilson's choreography worked. Carolyn Chin Yee's costumes and Greg Thames's set were practical. The costumes allowed for easy movements and they were relevant to the style and period of the production.

With a variety of settings, including Mount Olympus, a forest, a village and the Underworld, the challenge of the set designer was clear. Thames came up with a winner. There was an obvious ease to which the set was moved from one setting to another.

Finally, the production of Hercules is definitely worth seeing, all ages will enjoy the familiar songs and the easy-to-follow story.