Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

FUNNY MAN: Prince Edwards (left) one of the top comedians around gets into his act at Fort Clarence on Sunday December 15, on the reggae carnival '85 show promoted by Star Ward Promotions. The show was successful in more ways than one. There were good performances by a strong line-up and a large crowd.

Herbert Jolly, a.k.a Prince Edwards, is often hailed as one of the founding fathers of Jamaican comedy and this true comedic royalty has jested his way to the top. With ease and charisma on-stage, Edwards found laughs in the smallest incident and could throw any crowd into a riot of laughter. Edwards started on-stage playing the role of a 'native' for hotels across the island. Known as 'Fire' for swallowing flames, Edwards limboed and walked on broken glass to get a reaction from an audience. When he got tired of the antics, he found new ways to create a stir, moving on to theatrical acting and eventually stand-up comedy. More than 30 years later Edwards has returned to the stage after a brief break.

Sunday Gleaner: How did youget your name?

Prince Edwards: My friend Tammy Colin gimme dat name. Mi used to name 'Count Dugo' and she seh why don't yuh call yourself Prince Edwards, I don't know why. Mi call miself Dugo cause mi used to eat fire, limbo and walk pon broken glass for the hotels.

How did you get involved with the hotels, doing acts for them?

There was this guy named 'Candy Man' who used to be wid the Federation of Musicians. I got connected through dem to the hotels. I formed a group called the 'Energetic Set' wid George Taylor, Joy White, Al Brown and miself. We did everything; I did di more nature ting and the stand-up comedy ting. The Energetic Set mek we more establish on the hotel scene.

How did you get started in comedy?

After a while mi tired of the straw skirt ting. The first comedy thing I did was at the Neptune Lounge at Red Hills Road. Then mi started doing plays wid Edwin Lewin productions, such as Dis A Reggae and Bellyful of Laughs. Then I started doing Bim Lewis productions, which were plays wid a lot of comedy. I found myself drifting to comedy. It all started wid Bim Lewis The Son of John Ras-I at the Ward Theatre which had about 120 runs at the theatre. In 1985 I did stand-up comedy.

How long have you been in the business?

From long ... from 1975 ... even before dat. Because me used to do shows at the 'Baby Ground' in Cross Road, VIP in Half-Way Tree and Sombrero, which used to be on Molynes Road. At the Sombrero me and Dennis Brown were in a group called 'Fabulous Falcons'. From we left on Monday to tour the country areas we neva come back till Thursday or later.

Did you ever get any training in theatre or otherwise?

No, not the actual theatre, is just Bim Lewis organisation mi start perform. I was a natural. Most of it was self-taught.

Was it something that your parents and peers approved of?

From the very first go, everyone loved it. It was a surprise to me. I never knew I had this talent.

What was your first big break?

My first big break was at ReggaeSunsplash in stand-up comedy. I did about 14 or 15 shows of Sunsplash; I would go on during band changes. My other break was at a stage show called Reggae Sun and Ting wid Peter Tosh, Carlene Davis and more. Then I got on to doing plays; that's when people start know mi officially.

Whom did you look up to?

Bob Marley. Mi know him from Trench Town. Mi uncle used to live round dere. When I was a likkle yute I used to imitate Bob Marley and be round him. Bob used to call me and ask me to tell him how me eat di fire. Mi neva get to tell him though, 'cause him always used to talk whole heap of tings, always talking.

You were off the comedy scene for a while. Why?

For a couple of years I was off the scene, I broke my jaw ... Dats a long story. After I broke my jaw I stopped di comedy, everything took a dive. Mi start do other business. Is my friend, di principal of the Jamaica Institute of Higher Learning, that encouraged me to do it again. Right now I work at the institute. It really helped my career. The principal tell me where I was going wrong."

Was there anything outside of comedy that you wanted to do?

No, more than probably do a movie, which is still possible.

How would you like to be remembered?

As a good, respectable person. A lot of people know me, but not enough for the time that I've been around. Mi need more performances, more publicity.

What are you doing now?

I'm just waiting on a contract. Mi nuh have no tings out there like management, websites ... Mi need whole heap of tings. Mi see mi name pon posters and don't know nutting bout it. Right now I'm planning to get some business cards. Comedy is my life. I take it serious.

- krista.henry@gleanerjm.com