Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Maylynne Walton (right), who stars beside Karl Williams in Patrick Brown's play 'Vibes', now playing at Centrestage Theatre, Dominica Drive, New Kingston, makes her directorial debut in 'Reality Check', a tale about HIV/AIDS. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
AS THE HIV/AIDS crisis continues to rage, more and more dramatic productions are making their way to the stage in an attempt to tackle the disease from the dramatic front. Another in a string of dramatic works targeting the AIDS crisis was launched at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Monday night.
Dubbed 'Reality Check', the production is written by Gina Rey Forest and will feature a series of dramatised poems and songs dealing with AIDS and drug abuse. Produced by Forest Fire Productions, 'Reality Check' will be directed by Maylynne Walton.
DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
Walton is currently performing in Vibes at the Centrestage theatre and 'Reality Check' will function as her directorial debut. Forest explained that her choice of director was in part due to a wish to break the 'incestuous' nature of theatre where it is constantly the same round of directors and actors.
Canute Fagan and Nadia Khan will take on the lead roles while Andrew Clarke, Bruce Alexander, Natasha Pasmore, Noelle Kerr and Dianne Algrove make up the supporting cast.
Part proceeds of the production are slated for the Maxfield Park Children's Home, which provided their own reality check at the launch about the home's great need for additional funding.
Forest explained that she had first become interested in writing poetry about drug abuse when watching New Jack City a few years ago. The poems in the production cover a three-year span of Forest's work and some were included in her last collection of poetry, Interlude, Volume I.
"I hope they (the poems) will shake the audience out of their apathy," said Forest. She further explained that the HIV/AIDS issue had particular relevance to her as two close friends had died at the hands of the disease.
The launch also featured Forest performing one of the poems from the work 'The High'. The production has been a while in coming, having originally been intended to take to the stage last year. 'Reality Check' is scheduled to play at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies, Mona, on September 9 through 11, a date which is hopefully not symbolic.
