LAST YEAR with Cindy Relisha and The Deejay Prince Jambiz International Productions struck a very lucrative gold mine.
The hilarity produced from the combination of writing and acting set a standard that would be hard to follow. This year's Christmas production Christopher Cum-Buck-Us does not surpass that production but it is a good follow-up.
Written by Patrick Brown and artfully directed by Trevor Nairne, Christopher Cum-Buck-Us is a hilarious work which cavorts through time, taking in and making fun of history while mixing and mingling it with current happenings.
So, although it is 1492 the Tainos have cell phones and the Cacique is chosen through a democratic (albeit rigged) election. In much the same vein the play laughs at a wide range of issues from the California Recall to Osama Bin Laden.
The plot is very weak, but is written with such wit that the weakness is easily forgettable as the play hops quickly from one joke to the next. The plot deals with the disaffection of the Tainos in a village, who make the fatal mistake of swapping "black dawg fi monkey", when the arrival of Christopher Cum-Buck-Us gives them an option to their current Cacique.
THE ELECTORAL PROCESS
As a result, most of the jokes aimed at Jamaica were targeted at the electoral process. This ranged from the fact that the Tainos voted out their Cacique, because of promises of food and other niceties from Italy, to running off with ballots and voting several times.
In large part the play sticks with the formula that has worked so well for Jambiz in the past. There are several insults slung from one character to the other; crowd interaction; much physical comedy and a healthy dose of verbal wit, all tied together with a popular and talented cast.
Volier Johnson plays the title role, though the play is more of an ensemble production this time around with no clear lead character. Johnson also doubles as 'Lashy' one of the braves of the village.
As is his usual fate with these productions, Glen Campbell also plays double roles. Campbell plays 'Sham', the village Shaman who is of questionable sanity with an equally questionable diet and a brave, Grinning Goat, cursed with frighteningly bucked teeth.
Oliver Samuels takes on the role of Cacique 'Running Belly', while Dahlia Harris is 'Squaw Smiling Rabbit' and Claudette Pious plays 'Squaw Rolling Calf'.
PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE
The performances are generally good, with Volier Johnson's 'Lashy', being particularly impressive, far outstripping his part as 'Cum-Buck-Us'. Though Campbell remains funny in both his roles, they pale in light of his brilliant delivery of 'Tipsy' in last year's production.
Christopher Cum-Buck-Us is clearly not an 'Oliver' comedy, and Samuels' role benefits from it. Freed from the need to constantly sling insults, Samuels delivers a funny performance as the overthrown Cacique.
Dahlia Harris gave one of the best performances of her time with Jambiz in her role as 'Smiling Rabbit', finally validating her having had a role in the performances over the past few years.
Jon Williams, continued to do impressive work in creating original music for the production with a rather catchy tune about the trials of living "pon di rock" which opens and closes the production.
The costumes, designed by Brown, were interesting in conception. The most impressive costuming (married with lighting) segment occurred through the use of black light and neon colours to create an eerie, other worldly scene.
However, the costumes were not generally well executed, especially with the hilarious bit of Shakespeare, stuck into the production. During the sketch, all the players donned European garb, which in many cases were ill-fitting. Additionally, it was also plain, that at least on opening night, Samuels had trouble keeping his beard in tact.
Brown was also in charge of the set design and created an impressive set of caves which were easily changed to suit who was living in them, and quite enhanced the production.
Christopher Cum-Buck-Us wittily pokes fun at history and the present to produce a hearty helping of laughter.
