SEX? PLEASE! Don't Mind If I Do... is the attention-getting name of the comedy which brings about the re-birth of the University Players. The play, written by Italian Nobel laureate Dario Fo, will be staged for 10 performances at the Phillip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, at the University of the West Iindies, Mona, St. Andrew, starting on Saturday, October 4. The group, which received much critical praise during its existence, has been inactive for several years. According to Brian Heap, the play's director, the centre is reviving the University Players in an attempt to widen the scope of local theatre and keep abreast of works being created around the world.
He noted that the Players intend to put on productions that would not normally be staged , especially because of economic considerations. Heap pointed out that while commercial theatre must be driven by economics, the Players will not be so driven. "We don't need to make a lot of money," he declared - then added "we don't want to lose money either."
Not losing money is particularly important if the centre is too keep on with the improvements that it needs. Heap pointed out that though they have recently received help from the university, there is much more work to be done. He listed new black curtains, a cyclorama and special lighting effects among the improvements that the centre would like to undertake.
Heap argues that theatre has suffered from a 'dumbing down' because it is assumed that people will not be able to understand more complex works. As such the University Players will focus on producing literary works. Although some of these, like Sex? Thanks! Don't Mind If I Do... may not be Caribbean in origin, it is hoped that Caribbean and local productions will also be included. Some of these may be found through the centre's monthly 'Sunday Morning Reading' event, if the script elicits a favourable response.
In its previous life, The University Player had used the talent of Edward Baugh, Derek Walcott, Noel Vaz, Mervyn Alleyne, and Lloyd Reckord, among others. According to Heap, there is no intention to form a company. He informed the The Gleaner that actors would simply be found according to the needs of the production. Even so, there is the hope that a pool of talent will be created.
Sex? Thanks Don't Mind If I Do... will feature Veronica Salter, a member of the academic staff at U.W.I.; Nadean Rawlins of the Little Theatre Movement's Pantomime Company; Lynier Hines, a recent graduate of the Edna Manley College; Jo Anne Simpson, a former LTM Pantomime Company member; Michael Watson, a student at the University of Technology, and Peter Parkinson, a member of the University Dramatic Arts Society.
