TOP 10
SINGLES
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TOP 10
ALBUMS
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The Middle
Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey
Psycho
Post Malone Feat. Ty Dolla $ign
Nice For What
Drake
Never Be The Same
Camila Cabello
Delicate
Taylor Swift
No Tears Left To Cry
Ariana Grande
In My Blood
Shawn Mendes
Meant To Be
Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
God’s Plan
Drake
Mine
Bazzi
EVERYTHING IS LOVE
The Carters
Nasir
Nas
Youngblood
5 Seconds Of Summer
Liberation
Christina Aguilera
Post Traumatic
Mike Shinoda
The Greatest Showman
Soundtrack
SQUARE UP (EP)
BLACKPINK
Redemption
Jay Rock
?
XXXTENTACION
KIDS SEE GHOSTS
KIDS SEE GHOSTS
Presented by
wireless
Drama Rum and Rhythm
acter drama features Gabrielle
C. Archer (Black Women and
The Ballot - National Black
Theatre), Fleurette Harris (The
Rope and The Cross — New
Vibe Lounge) and Marsha —
Ann Hay (Love Is - L. Charles
Gray Theatre).
“Not About Eve” follows
on the heels of Heron’s own
Against His Will and Easton
Lee’s Easter passion play The
Rope and The Cross, both of
which have played to full houses
since The Vibe began its
playreading concert series earlier
this year.
Set in modern day middle
class Jamaica, the play tells
the story of three generations
of women in the Shields family
- ‘Mama’ Agatha Rochester
(Harris), her daughter Katherine
(Hay) and her granddaughter
Kimberly (Archer), who all
reside under one roof and are
yet living strangely disconnected
lives. Each of the women
harbors past secrets, unspoken
resentments and deep suspicions
of the other.
Suddenly and unexpectedly,
Caribbean L 52 ife, May 24–30, 2019 BQ
the anniversary of the
death of Katherine’s husband
serves as a catalyst for a series
of dramatic confrontations in
the household, that will force
all three women to face harsh
truths about their lives — and
ultimately test the bonds that
bind them together.
The play had its world premiere
in Kingston, Jamaica in
2006 and went on to win the
2007 International Theatre
Institute (Jamaica) Actor Boy
Award for Best New Jamaican
Play.
and law-abiding tenants. Sometimes,
people say this good for
nothing landlord deserves what
he is getting.
Throughout 2019, the play
will be staged in most Caribbean
islands, Canada, the U.S.
and U.K. Here is a profile of the
brilliant cast.
Dancehall Queen Audrey
Reid: “As an actress one has to
be versatile,” says Audrey Reid.
It is her versatility that has
made Ms. Reid one of Jamaica’s
prominent stage and screen
actresses. Millions of people
around the world identify
Audrey Reid as a movie star
for her role in two classic movies,
Dancehall Queen and Third
World Cop. “Most don’t realize
that I was doing plays long
before I did films,” she explains.
“My first love is the stage; in
any event, theatre in Jamaica
is developed. We have various
plays all yearlong allowing me
to earn a living; whereas, making
movies in Jamaica is once
in a blue moon.”
Audrey Reid is truthful
when she says her first love
is the stage. Dancehall Queen
was released in October 1997
but Audrey was absent for the
opening because she was on
tour with Oliver Samuels in the
play, “Keys for Two.”
Maffi Johnson: In 1969, Volier
‘Maffi’ Johnson made his debut
on stage when he performed
in Trevor Rhone’s version of
“A Christmas Carol.” That’s
exactly 50 years ago. Johnson,
lovingly called “Maffi” by fans,
teamed up in 2018 with Oliver
after more than a decade of not
working for the same theater
company. Theater and comedy
lovers couldn’t wait to see the
duo who provided much laughs
in the 1980s, 1990s and early
21st century on the same stage
again. For New York lovers of
Caribbean theater and comedy,
they still yearn for the skits
of Oliver, Pouncey and Volier.
They enjoyed Johnson as King
of Breadfruit Kingdom in an
Oliver Samuels-Patrick Brown
play, “Breadfruit Kingdom.”
Dennis Titus: Titus is a graduate
of Edna Manley College,
Jamaica. He developed his craft
further in theater, film and
television in the UK and USA.
A friend remarked, “Caribbean
theatre critics have applauded
Titus for his magnificent roles
in Embassy Saga and Dolly
House.”
“Once I’m off the stage, I
usually just go home and maybe
Oliver Samuels, Dennis Titus and Lakeisha Ellison in the Caribbean
comedy ‘56 East Avenue.’ PauI MuIIings
watch a film. I live a quiet, simple
life. I like to drive out to
the country because I am from
Portland, and my family is still
there. I don’t party. I don’t
drink or smoke. For me to go
anywhere it has to be smokefree,”
he says.
Lakeisha Ellison: Lakeisha is
a talented, well rounded people
person who considers herself a
Jack-of-all-trades and master
of all. She is an experienced
actress shared the stage with
some of the greats in Jamaican
theater including Volier
“Maffi” Johnson, Glen “Titus”
Campbell, Dennis Titus, Leonie
Forbes, Dorothy Cunningham
and Dione Silver. She has
toured overseas with various
Jamaican theater companies.
Oliver Samuels has been on
stage almost all his life. He
remains the most accessible
and popular actor across the
Caribbean. People friendly, he
is a true Caribbean integrationist.
Recent Oliver plays include
“Frenemy,” 2018, “Four Can’t
Play,” 2017 “Guilt Trip,” 2016,
“Divorce Papers,” 2015, “Dolly
House,” 2014, “Embassy Saga,”
2012, “Easy Street,” 2009,
“River Bottom,” 2008, “Sheep
in Wolf’s Clothing,” 2008 and
“Cutie and the Freak,” 2007.
He appeared in American and
British television sitcoms and
in motion pictures.
Continued from Page 51
Gabrielle C. Archer.
Sure Thing Productions
Continued from Page 51
between soca and dancehall
that led him to create history
by becoming the first non-
Trinidadian to win the road
march title in the twin-island
republic.”
Sylma Brown, the Dominican
born CTO-USA director,
said the organization is
“honored to have Skinny Fabulous
showcase the authentic,
complex but complementary
nature of the Caribbean
at ‘Rum & Rhythm.’” “Skinny
Fabulous’ music continues
to motivate audiences
throughout the Caribbean,
and now, during Caribbean
Week, in the spirit of festivals
of the Caribbean, his
artistry will inspire travel to
our region.”
Glen Beache, chief executive
officer of the St. Vincent
and the Grenadines Tourism
Authority (SVGTA), said that
Skinny Fabulous is “an internationally
and regionally-acclaimed
soca artiste, who has
penned, produced and performed
several hits, including
the 2019 Trinidad carnival
road march hit, ‘Famalay’”.
“Having him represent St.
Vincent and the Grenadines at
‘Rum & Rhythm’ will enhance
the mandate of the tourism
authority of attracting
increasing exposure to our
destination,” the former tourism
minister added. “Skinny’s
presence as an official cultural
ambassador will also serve to
highlight a major component
of our culture, namely our
premiere festival ‘Vincy Mas,’
which takes place annually,
culminating with two weeks
of fun and frolic beginning
the last Friday in June.”
CTO noted that Skinny
Fabulous joined forces this
year with Trinidadian soca
titans Machel Montano and
Bunji Garlin for the massively
popular song “Famalay,” produced
by Dominica’s Krishna
‘Dada’ Lawrence.
“This infectious song
with its catchy phrasing has
been ripping up the airwaves
regionally and internationally,”
CTO said. “It was the first
soca track to ever hit No. 1 on
the iTunes Reggae Charts.”
Continued from Page 51
SAMUELS’ COMEDY