Kesi Asher, Staff Reporter
PRICE
FEMALE COMEDIANS Elva Ruddock and Rachel Price brought the house down as comedy came alive at the Caribbean Christmas Crack-Up.
The comedy show was held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, on Monday and Tuesday and also featured Jamaicans Ity and Fancy Cat, Blakka Ellis, Tubeless, Iceman and Johnny as hosts, as well as Louis Antoine from Trinidad and Tobago and Trevor Eastmond from Barbados.
Rachel Price, was the only performer to get a standing ovation. She started off by expressing her great love for men and extended this love to Jamaican music. However, as a plus size woman, she despises Left Side and Esco's Tuk Eeen Yuh Belly.
"Fat is a sign of abundance. Fat means money 'cause when yuh fat yuh have to have money to feed yuhself. So I walking round with my money," said Rachel. The very raw and unapologetic Rachel Price received a lot of support for her comments on weight.
She continued by jiving 'ugly men' and made reference to America's Fifty Cent and Puff Daddy, among others. Being a 'rated M for mature' show, she dealt with male sexuality.
In her usual 'down to earth' manner, Elva was 'keeping it real' and described her electricity conservation habits, the advantages of her many wigs, Jamaican men, society and it's ideals, pork and "number two".
SMOOTH TRANSITIONS
The show had smooth transitions, as Iceman and Johnny constantly supplied Yuletide cheer. They commented on issues surrounding Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, Pressa (the Cable and Wireless advertisement character), Sean Paul and the Willy Bounce, Jerry D and Taebo, and Jamaica's fire service.
Tubeless, a plus size comedian, danced his way on to the stage, and his size stirred the audience to question the meaning of his name. One man shouted "you anuh tube-less, you ah tube".
Tubeless joked about his own weight and marriage. He proposed that the marriage licence should only last for six months "with the option to renew" instead of "till death do us part".
Louis Antoine didn't quite hit the audience's funny bone with a joke about a handicapped girl named Janice. They grinned and bore it for the greater part, instead of quitting while he was not so far behind, Antoine continued and fell out of favour with the audience. One man shouted "leave Janice alone, leave Janice alone!"
On his return later in the show Antoine redeemed himself with a cry for help as a victim of domestic violence. This was made even funnier by his Trinidadian accent and the audience was appeased.
Trevor Eastmond was also hilarious. He joked about 'bun', cellular phones, mad people and explained that Asafa Powell is so fast because he is from a country where gunshots are very popular. He explained that putting Asafa Powell on his knees and then firing a gun can only have that effect on him.
'VISA LOVE'
Ity and Fancy Cat wore black to signal the death of cheating and referred to Vybz Kartel's marriage as 'visa love'. Theatre Xpressionz added variety to the show with their dance items to Elephant Man's Willy Bounce, among other songs. They also showed their theatrical side by doing a skit on the dancehall.
Owen 'Blakka' Ellis closed the Crack-Up in fine fashion and eased the blow that Rachel delivered to the men. He spoke about women pressuring men, 'pickney clothes', the olden days, music and dance, sound system selectors and Jamaicans culture.
"Jamaicans are special. Everywhere in the world you go you can find a Jamaican, and we always ah try fi beat the system. We are the only people in the world that can sing instrumental. Many Jamaicans only know one part in the National Anthem, 'Jamaica, Boom'," said Blakka Ellis.
