SHEBADA AND DELCITA STARS IN THE POLITICIANS
DOH Productions Inc., will be presenting the hit Jamaican comedy entitled “The Politician” in Hamilton on Sunday, July 1st at Mohawk College, (Fennel Campus) 135 Fennel Ave. E. (McIntyre Performing Arts Centre) at 7:00 p.m.
“The Politicians” is written by P.O. Beale and directed by Bunny Allen. It is a political revue that captures politics in Jamaica. It largely deals with political campaigning and the various happenings that the public rarely if ever sees. It also highlights a number of social issues that affect the society as a result of politics and presents politicians on a platform that depicts them as basic humans with agendas, desires, motives and personal issues.
In “The Politicians” there are four contenders – Delcita (Andrea Wright), Shebada (Keith Ramsay), Monica Brown (Stacy-Ann Brissette), and Rass Iman-I (Junior Williams) who are campaigning against each other for a chance to lead the people of Jamaica to uncertain change.
Delcita a simple common mature woman of uncertain social and educational background has been representing the people of her small community for a number of years as the President of the joint citizen’s association. When an unfortunate act of fate removes the councilor of her division Delcita is drafted into representational politics. Can this woman who is rough around the edges and has no political experience make a difference? How far can she get with her grass roots charisma and street savvy mindset?
Then there is the indomitable Shebada. Shebada is a college dropout who lives at home with his reverend father Pastor Bench (Michael Nicholson) and is forever being pushed to seek employment. His view of politics and politicians is as contemptuous as that of his father who is not the least bit clandestine about how he feels about the government especially when he is in the pulpit. Shebada is drafted in politics as a mere activist for his father who is hand selected to replace the councilor for his division who also in an unfortunate act of fate removed from service. Later, after Pastor Bench reveals himself to be as similarly corrupt as the politicians whom he detests, Shebada decides that he shall put himself up as a candidate for representational politics. What does this college dropout have to offer to the people? How far can the loud speaking tactless young man lead a people if he could not himself lead to the graduating class of his college batch?
Rass Iman-I believes himself and his Bobo Central Party to be the salvation that the country is long in need of. He bases his manifesto on the teachings and principles of Rastafarianism and is fanatical about his desire to be the change for the country. Is this fanatic Rasta man the ideal leader for the people? Can his policies of rastanomics and rastarism really uplift a struggling country?
Then there is the incumbent and standing MP, for years, Monica Brown. Monica Brown is a staunch, no-nonsense politician who wears airs of being upstanding and honest and all for the people whom she represents. She is a representation of the typical Jamaican politician and by extension politics in Jamaica. It is election time again and Monica has once again put herself back in the runnings in a bid to continue her reign as the “sitting MP”. Does Monica deserve to be reelected? Are her policies transparent and are they good enough for the people? What difference can she make now after years of not making any?
These politicians are ably supported by their financial backers and campaign managers and journalists. Gary Walker (Chris “Johnny” Daley) and Sadie Chudwell (Abigail Grant) acts as these support personnel. But even they have their own story to tell. Gary has a lot of clout when it comes to politics and wields his power over not just the politicians whom he controls but also Sadie. He is a representation of the business leaders and political investors in Jamaica. Sadie is a trying journalist who only wants to report the news in its realest form. She is on the verge of getting her first big story when courtesy to politics this awesome opportunity is snatched from her grasp. Sadie is thus propelled into another aspect of politics. What can Sadie bring to the political platform with her experiences in journalism? Will her association with Gary lead to her downfall or her betterment? What is Gary’s role in the management of the nation? Should one man have so much power over the direction of people’s lives, their future? What is the story between Gary and Sadie?
All these questions and more are to be answered on stage in “The Politicians”. This play is as comedic as it is somber. It is a thought provoking reflection that will allow audiences to laugh at the sublime and make little of the consequential. It is seriously a play that depicts Jamaicans “tekin serious things mek laugh”.
For more information please call 647-787-6612 or Louise Noel-Ambrose of eventobe at 289-389-7204
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