Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Cordell Green, executive director of the Broadcasting Commission, performs 'The Audacity of Bulb' at Powerful Women and Men Perform for Charity, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre, Independence Park, St Andrew, on Sunday, June 1. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Last Sunday, there was an evening of great performances by powerful Jamaican women and men. The capacity audience at the National Indoor Sports Centre, St Andrew, was treated to delightful performances in dance, songs and instrumental music, speech and drama.

Dubbed 'Powerful Women & Men Perform for Charity', the show was divided into two segments and showcased talented individuals from diverse professions.

The opening act was 'Cell Block Tango', a dance narrative performed by a group of powerful women called the National Geriatrics Dance Troupe. They were captivating in their movements as they re-enact one of the dance numbers from the musical, Chicago.

The other dances on the programme were also great. They included a traditional Mexican dance by Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica Leonora Ruedo and company; Copocabana, performed by a group of five powerful females, a traditional African song and dance performed by a group of six, and Easy Does It, a "substantial performance" by Clyde McKenzie and Glynis Salmon.

Excellent singer

Clyde McKenzie also offered his talent as a singer in Medley. His rendition of Ken Boothe's Anything I Own was well received by the audience. Also providing entertainment through songs were Jacinth Wright and Audley Betton with Somewhere Out There, and there was a delightful presentation of Leaving Me Standing by Maurice Henry, who also joined forces with Charmaine Limonius to give a beautiful rendition of Let It Be Me.

There was excellent performance by Andrew Lawrence and Renee Rattray, doing The Prayer. Both sang with passion and received the only standing ovation of the evening.

Lawrence is undoubtedly an excellent singer as was demonstrated when he later teamed up with Michael Powell and DiMario McDowell to perform a medley of songs entitled The Secret Garden. All three powerful men performed with a fervour that held the audience in awe.

Competition

On the other hand, if the programme were a competition Mike Henry, minister of transportation and works, could easily have walked away with the prize for the most dramatic as well as the most comically attired performer for his "gutsy performance" of Mona Lisa.

The dramatic presentations entitled 'Comedy' and 'The Audacity of Bulb', performed by Blossom O'Meally-Nelson and Cordell Green, respectively, were the most hilarious items on the programme.

Omeally-Nelson, costumed beyond recognition, poked fun at the society in general through the prism of a commencement speech at the University of Jamdown. She jabbed at the teaching of Patrah and a course in Bhutu.

Green, on the other hand chose the pulpit for his satire. He began his sermon with "ask not what you can do for bulb, but what bulb can do for you" (a parody of one of President J. F. Kennedy's well-known speeches).

Drama presentation

Silver tie sparkling, Green preached with such energy and conviction that some members of the delighted audience were moved to tears.

Not to be outdone were the instrumental items by Simon Crosskill on drums with Riddim, and Celia Christie playing a medley of Jamaican folk songs on the clarinet.

The programme closed with a drama presentation entitled 'So So Passa, Passa'. Based on the popular street dance, Passa Passa, the scene comprised the entire cast costumed to represent the characters associated with this street dance. While the scene depicted the handcart vendors and signs that are grammatically incorrect, it was the appearance of His Worship the Mayor Desmond McKenzie who had the audience in stitches.

His role was to stop the dance, stating that the organisers were in breach of the Noise Abatement Act.

Jennifer 'Jenny Jenny' Small and Dervan Malcolm were the emcees for the evening. Both provided great entertainment with their witty remarks, such as "I have a team of performers tonight and I am the driver", alluding to a line from one of the Jamaica Labour Party's Election 2007 advertisement. In2nation was the band entrusted with the task of providing music and they did so well.

It was a great family show and well worth seeing.