The brilliant team at Centrestage has done it yet again! Another masterpiece has Jamaicans, theatre lovers – and then some – talking. With a funny and intriguing title – “Where there’s a will, there’s a wife” it’s not strange that the play itself would follow suit, stealing not only the hearts of patrons but copping numerous accolades at the 2013 Actor Boy Awards – including Best Comedy and Best New Jamaican Play. The Jambiz International team, consisting of playwright and co-director Patrick Brown and co-director Trevor Nairne has executed a fine piece of Jamaican theatre, not only entertaining but presenting strong social themes that deeply reflect cultural reality.
The Story
The play tells the story of Abe (played by Glen Campbell), who inherited a hefty sum of money and an estate from his late Uncle Edgar – but under the condition that he has to find a wife married in order to receive the full entitlement. A greedy barrister, Tish Jones (played by Sharee McDonald-Russell) and her raucous ancillary worker, Kim (played by Camille Davis) compete against each other, trying to deceive Abe into marrying them. But their exploits meet upon potholes when Abe’s “deep rural” and simple companion Etta (played by Sakina Deer) ultimately find a love connection. The story line is quite simple but the shenanigans that unfold are pure excitement with twists and turns. Ivan (played by Courtney Wilson), Kim’s lover, was also thrown into the mix as he tried to make friends with Abe in the hope of gaining some of the wealth. Tish’s husband, Roger (played by Casper Anderson) made a cameo appearance.
The play, although a comedy, threw light on serious concerns: the deceitful nature of those women who are motivated by money. These gold diggers would turn a blind eye to a man’s physical state just for his riches – we know this reality and it is widespread in Jamaica.”Where there’s a will…”also pokes fun at how resistant some “deep rural” folks are to change and technology.
No Surprises here!
As usual, it is expected that Centrestage actors give high-quality performances – they all delivered impeccably and used their bodies and non-verbal accompaniment so well. That in essence is the brilliance behind this production, even though every line of script was not always the funniest, the actors were effortlessly funny. Glen Campbell -who won Best Actor in Lead Role- proved just why he deserved that award: he was always able to cry on call and evoke a range of emotions in this argley humorous production: utter dexterity! Sakina Deer was another one to write home about. Her character nuances were striking and natural – she definitely has shown her versatility, putting aside her attractiveness to play an unattractive role with conviction. That is no doubt why she earned the “Best Supporting Actress” award.
Icing on the Cake
There is just so much to go on and on about with this play – in a word, the production was near flawless; sound and lighting were good complements and stage directions were thoroughly engaging and strong directing was evident – fast paced, witty and dynamic.
in a word, the production was near flawless; sound and lighting were good complements and stage directions were thoroughly engaging and strong
Buzzz Magazine gives “Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wife” a deserving A and encourages everyone who wants to have a good laugh to watch it. It is definitely the best piece of work on display
right now!