Pure Comedic Dynamite: LAFF IT OFF review

The beauty of theatre, wherever you watch it, is that there may emerge, at any instant, a moment so well executed, so transcendent, so plain damn good, that even the most jaded viewer is taken out of their preconceptions and mental blocks and releases their disbelief.

In Oliver Mair's re-mount of the comedy revue "Laff It Off"" which opened at  New Kingston's Theatre Place on Boxing Day (Dec 26), such a moment occurs about midway through "Spelling Bee" one of the latter skits of the play.

For the first few minutes, the combination of Officer Spellman (Ricky Rowe, more on him anon) and a hapless motorist (Akeem Mignott) plays out in the expected ways. Spellman, the corrupt -and illiterate - cop has the motorist (equally corrupt and illiterate) under his thumb, caught speeding - though we are not shown the actual speed on the "gun" - and pleading to "work things out". After the paltry bribe of a patty and coco bread is flatly rejected, Officer Spellman offers his "victim" one last chance to escape the rap and a certain ticket.

"Spell chuck" [as in "truck"] is the challenge.

What ensues cannot really be described, for it must be experienced. But it is fair to say that with that one sketch, any viewer with half a brain (and a funny bone) would consider his money well spent; it is a sketch that would not be out of place on any comedy show anywhere. It is pure comedic dynamite.

Such heights are not otherwise reached, but producer Oliver Mair, doubling as actor, comes close on two occasions. First, as historic Reggae Boyz football coach Rene Simoes, he nails the combination of innocence, ignorance and unbounded optimism that serves to confound interviewer Simon Croskill (Rodney Campbell)a and then later, he does a "double" of a different kind, playing both Johnny Mathis and Deneice Williams as they voice "Its Over" (Too Much, Too Little Too Late)", one of the selections on a special infomercial CD offered to victims of the failed Cash Plus and Olint schemes.

Those aside, 'Laff it Off" is a solid and robust comedy revue, offering the expected send-ups of people (athletes, entertainers and politicians), places and events in ways that are generally satisfying, and its laughs are delivered without skirting the serious issues. "Jamaica's Finest" presents the earlier contretemps in Gordon House between members Olivia "Babsy" Grange and Lisa Hanna in the shameful light that it deserves, while "New Breed" (the clear highlight of Act I) uses the perspectives of two New Kingston street rats to highlight economic hardship and the increasing prevalence of the "gully boys" who have taken up residence in the drain running from Trafalgar Road down to Dumfries Road.

While not all its skits are "hits" most of the few misfires are still interesting, none more so than "Take A Chance." Its opening premise is overtly personal: a young guy (Mignott) torn over whether he should ask the hot girl (Emprezz Golding, in her theatrical debut) out on a date. It then morphs, rather jarringly into a wider motivational tract, complete with backdrop images of our winning athletes, Marcus Garvey and other inspirational figures. The accompanying song is sine in and of itself, but the images are so compelling that they come close to negating the need for the actors to convey the message.

Oliver Mair (standing, left) and the cast of "Laff It Off"

The cast members each had their respective moments to shine, but with his impish grin, dyed hair, impeccable movement and timing, Ricky Rowe was Prime Time. He almost (but not quite) rescued unworthy filler ("Concentrate" - check the side panel of your everyday juice box), and was invariably the best actor in whichever skit he appeared. Aside from "Spelling Bee" his other fine moment came in "Cutting Edge" a spoof of Mutabaruka's popular radio show, in which Rowe, as a still emotionally crushed, cuckolded Mr Vegas, easily bests Rodney Campbell's Muta - each "music" question inevitably drawing him back to the fateful day, and heightening his meltdown.


Director Craig McNally (also pulling double duty) keeps things moving at just the right pace, with welcome and well-handled audience interaction. The other creative nd technical aspects of the production are more than ably fulfilled. Ratingswise, Laff It Off skirts pretty close to a PG-13 bracket, but parents bring may younger children without feeling inordinately uncomfortable
   
Whatever your age, economic status or creed (there's the obligatory church sequence, well played by Campbell), you'll find that the pre-requisite to enjoying this thatrical breath of holiday fresh air is a sense of humour.



Laff It Off plays weekends at Theatre Place through January 18. For details, call 459-8382/383-0622, check the press or follow the Facebook group at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1398690393752792/

And Now.....EDH! DJ Duo Them brings electro-dance to Sting

DJ Firestarter

DJ Sky (left), Zhavera (r) and her manager

The one-night dancehall show Sting is a seething cauldron where audience and stage have combined to swallow up the uninitiated and hesitant act and basically boil them alive, never to be heard form again.

This year, three interesting musical personalities are among those seeking to stand the heat at Portmore's Jamworld beginning Boxing day (or night, really) December 26.

Dj Sky (left in both photos), who hails form a musical family will be working in tandem with DJ Fyahstarter (right, above pic), who has built up a commanding reputation through stints with Brand New machine and elsewhere. The will be presenting a hybrid dubbed "electro-dancehall" or EDH,

As Fyahstarter puts it: '"basically, its  the dancehall and dub that people would already be familiar with, presented in a new way."

Also looking to test the waters is Grenadian ingenue Zhavera, who has stepped into the pop-dancehall arena courtesy of a collab with Beenie Man, "Gimme That Lovin'" The Los Angeles-based popster is working against trend in that market as pop circles and playlists are not exactly hot on the Jamaican sound at the moment, but she figures she has the goods to break that ice.

the Claws - and More - set to come out for Sting 2014

The one-night reggae/dancehall show started by former "bad boy cop" Isaiah Laing has become a Boxing Day institution, courting and generating controversy, earning the ire of certain sectors of society even as others credit it for making their careers or, as Ninjaman has done in his inimitable style, credit themselves for making it (Bounti Killa has taken on that mantle as well).

Sting founder Isiah Laing "feeling it"

Reardless of who has made it, or been made, Sting has lasted three decades now and, with the continuing investment support of Joe Bodganovic, is set to conquer new audience markers, following last year's success on pay-per-view.

Laing has made no bones about it - what drives that success is the clashes - battles between DJs that are meant to be strictly lyrical, but have on more than one occasion , exploded into the physical (Vybz Kartel vs Ninjaman being a notable case in point).

At the recent pre-event media launch, Laing and Co. pitched the headline clash this year, sponsored by Trini-based energy drink Raptor, will be a rematch between budding clash king Kip Rich and contender-turned-champ Blak Ryno.

Ryno, said to be overseas on the occasion, was not on hand, which made it convenient for Kip Rich to spit a quick "teaser" in terms of what was going to happen when the two renew acquaintances tomorrow (or into the wee hours of Saturday more precisely).

There were the usual commendations from sponsor brand Raptor energy drink, distributed by  SM Jaleel, which joins tonic wine Magnum as title sponsors for dancehall's biggest night out

Kip Rich vs Blak Ryno (the latter having rumbled away with US$30,000) - in a prime event dubbed " the Raptor Rematch"

A lot of other acts are expected to square off during the night, and Sting will also go "one-drop" this year with a roots segment in the early heat of the night. there will also be an exposition of EDH - that's electro dancehall to  you uninitiated, with DJs Sky and Firestarter (working as THEM) spinning dub and dancehall classics with an EDM twist.

All in all, it should be a pretty hectic 12 hours or so at JamWorld in POrtmore come tomorrow.

Moon over Tarrus: 2014 Christmas Concert

A city battered by Chik-V, price crises and various other trials would no doubt welcome the offering presented by Tarrus Riley, aka Singy-Singy at Kingston's Emancipation Park on the "eve of Christmas Eve".

With a crescent moon floating over the lower New Kingston skyline and the recently-added imposing backdrop of the soon-to-be-finished Marriott Hotel, Riley took the stage shortly after a typically sparkling opener from the ageless Karen Smith, who practically soared through a number of pop songbook selections ranging from Aretha Franklin ("Respect" "Natural Woman") to the seasonal "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and the indigenous "All For Jesus".

Clad in black, robustly contrasted by martial red high-tops, Riley brought a palpably fresh energy to his now familiar repertorire, and the audience was more than ready to receive him, both by voice and in person as he waded through the packed aisles, greeting, touching and singing.

His last tune in heavy rotation had the title "Where Were You" and singer Bijean Gayle answered in fine fashion, ably supported by a youthful and exuberant aggregation known as the High Point band. They delivered a new single "Ghetto Rock" (to be the lead-off on a soon-to-be-released album) and the imposing Gayle proved his showmanship by stepping off the stage ot pick out a young miss out of the front row  as a song and dance partner.

Another up-and-comer, D-Medz was taking the crowd through the verses of his anthem. "Champion" on our departure, with lots more solid entertainment promised.

A welcome and worthy Christmas gift to the people.

Happy holidays

Wherever you are in the world, this is just to convey our heartfelt appreciation for your support during 2014, and wishing you the very best of the holidays to you and yours.

Fab Five @ 44

Whatever the setting - when the band on the stand is Fab Five, one knows there is the assurance that no musical cue will be missed, and virtually no tune is unknown.

And, as leader Frankie Campbell recently indicated, 2015 will mark 44 years of musical excellence. though the scene is hardly as robust as in the heyday of "Who, Wha'?", they keep on keepin' on

"This year was better than say, 2011 or 2012, when the global recession was still digging its talons into many industries worldwide," Campbell shares.

formed in 1970, is Jamaica's pre eminent popular band, whether measured by record sales at home, hits on the charts, frequency of engagements or major awards won over the years.

Their first recording, "Come Back And Stay", was number one in Jamaica, and in their first year on the road, and for the following two years, they won the only available awards, the Swing Awards for best band of 1971-72, 1972-73 and 1973-74. They also took the El Suzie Award as Joint Top Road and Dance Band for 1975-76 and the RJR Listeners' Award for Best Band in 1980.

They backed Johnny Nash on all the reggae cuts comprising most of his platinum album "I Can See Clearly Now". Two singles from that album, "Guava Jelly" and "Stir It Up", established Bob Marley as a major songwriter on the international scene.

Fab 5 have enjoyed an endless succession of hits in Jamaica and the "ethnic" markets of North America.

In their early years such songs as "Chirpy Cheep", "Shaving Cream", "Oh, Dad" and "Love Me For A Reason", and their musicality and showmanship made Fab 5 the rage on the dance and show circuits.

More recently, they have been kept on top by the likes of "Yu Safe", "Ring Road Jam", "Feeling Horny", "Computer Mad", "What The Police High Command Can Do", "Jamaican Woman", "Psalms", "All Night Party", "Mini", "Sweat", "Don't Wear None", "Freeze", "Good Buddy", "Mango" and their "Live" series.

Their twenty-two albums have been as successful as their singles, and their multi-award winning soca album "Yu Safe" was probably the most popular album produced in Jamaica in the decade of the '80s. A CD of some of their biggest hits - "Fab 5 Greatest Hits" has been released along with five of their newest CD albums - "Good Buddy," the massively successful "Fab 5 Live - The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix ... Part 1" and the equally successful follow-ups “…Part 2”,“…Part 3” and the recently released “…Part 4” as well as the Box Set which includes all four discs. Their soca smash "Shape" is still very popular and the band’s versatility is proved by “Dugu-Dugu” their all-reggae release and the preceding all-ska album “Ska Time”. The late noted musician and journalist Sonny Bradshaw had said of Fab 5 that they are the only Jamaican band still playing authentic ska. The newest release from the band is the 2012 live tribute to Jamaica 50, “50 Years of Jamaican Music 1962-2012”, which has been selling quickly.

The busiest band in Jamaica, Fab 5 are in great demand not only for concerts and dances but also in the studio where they are the leading creators of commercial jingles for radio and television, dominating the airwaves and earning a string of prestigious awards, including four golden microphones. They have their own recording studio (Stage Studio) and Record label and distribution company (Stage Records Ltd). They have been the chosen band for almost every national and state occasion since the mid 1970s.

In 2003 Fab 5 received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in The Performing Arts for their services to Jamaican music.

They have taken their authoritative brand of Jamaican music all over the world. They have shared bandstands with many of the great and famous names of modern popular music, including: Ray Charles; Dizzy Gillespie; the Grateful Dead; Rick James; Linda Ronstadt; the Neville Brothers; Roberta Flack; Fats Domino; Peter, Paul & Mary; Joe Jackson; The Chi-Lites; Skeeter Davis (with whom they are currently working on a recording project); the Drifters; Miriam Makeba; Bob Marley; Jimmy Cliff; Chuck Jackson; The Mighty Sparrow; Aretha Franklin; Gladys Knight; Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes; Jerry Butler; the Manhattans; Ray Goodman & Brown; and the Delphonics.

They have performed at the Kool Jazz Festival and the New Orleans Jazz Festival and for Japansplash and have entertained a live audience of one million at an anti nuclear concert in New York's Central Park.

They have triumphed not only with the music of Jamaica but also with their own compositions of soca, the music of the Eastern Caribbean.

At different times and in diverse settings, they have enchanted audiences with soul, funky, rock, jazz, disco and classical music, their album made with other Stage Records artistes –“Christmas In The Sun” is easily the most successful Christmas album by a Jamaican entity and the 2002 follow-up “Fab 5 – A Jamaican Christmas Gift” has proved just as popular.

They have dominated the Jamaican awards for show and dance bands and demonstrated their supremacy at the Jamaica Band Festival at the Wyndham New Kingston in December 1987.

Their collection of major awards, by far the greatest of any entity in Jamaican music, includes twenty-nine between 1986 and 1996, from all principal sources - the JBC, RJR, the Daily Gleaner, the Star, Rockers, the Jamaica Music Industry (JAMI) and the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM), the most recent being the 1995 Rockers Award for Best Band, the 1996 award for Best Group (Instrumental) at the Jamaica Music Awards, a 1999 Tamika Award, the 2000-2002 JFM Best Show Band Awards, The Reggae Soca Awards Best Soca Band 2002-2003 and a 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award from Reggae Sumfest.

The group has also won several international awards, including the 1996 awards for Best Album and Best Single (both won for "Good Buddy") at the Miami Reggae/Soca Awards and the 1999 "Best International Reggae Album" award at the Canadian Reggae Music Awards for "Fab 5 Live - The Ultimate Vintage Jamaican Party Mix ... Part 1."

Fab 5 have also won the "Best Soca Album" award at the Reggaesoca Awards in Miami for their 1999 album "Shape," thus making them the first group in history to win best album awards for reggae and soca in the same year.

In addition, the band's musical director Grub Cooper, OD, CD has won numerous awards in his own right, including the Order of Distinction, Officer Class (OD) and Commander Class (CD) 2006 (a national award of the Government of Jamaica), and a special honour award from the JFM (1988) for his outstanding contribution to the development of Jamaican music. He has also been Jamaica's leading theatre musician for more than three decades.

The band’s Bassist and Manager – Frankie Campbell – has also received the prestigeous OD making Fab 5 the only current Jamaican dance/show/backing band with two such awardees. Fab 5 have also been actively involved in keeping Jamaican music alive, with major representation on the boards of the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica (RIAJAM) and the Jamaican Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA). The band also works with many charitable organizations.

Musicianship, dedication, integrity and discipline are the hallmarks of Fab 5, who have earned and retained the respect of the music industry, critics and general public over the past thirty-six years and are all set for continued success in the future. In July of 2011 their performance at the renowned “Celebrate Brooklyn” festival drew sustained applause for over 5 minutes and their performances at the Irie Fest in Toronto during Caribana have become legendary.

The band comprises three 1970 foundation members - manager Frankie Campbell (bass); Harold (Jr) Bailey (guitar, flute and saxophone now part-time and overseas sound engineer) and; musical director Grub Cooper (drums and lead vocals), - Sidney Thorpe (keyboards), 1979; Donovan Lee Palmer (Keyboards), 1991; Romeo Gray (trombone) 1995; Andre Palmer (Trumpet) 2006; Andrew Cassanova (2012) who has been working with our brother group (the Unique Vision) for over 10 years; and Cleveland Manderson (2010) who has been working with the Unique Vision for over 25 years. Other personnel performs from time to time as part of the wider Stage Records (the band’s recording company) family.

For further information call Frankie Campbell at (876) 925-4057 or our New York number (914) 371-2667 or fax at (876) 925-4057 or e-mail Fab5@cwjamaica.com

Early Departures: Keesing Live and Morgan Heritage, RETV Unplugged

The Keesing Live shows may be the best live concert series you haven't heard of.
That's no fault of the organizers Alternative Music (singer-producer-whatever's required Charmaine Limonious and engineer-producer Bobby Stewart). They frenetically promote and work the shows before and after each date amid their already crammed professional and personal schedules.

And amid a live scene that's still partly on life support (with corporate funding going more to parties and hit parade overseas act showcases) its a bona fide miracle: the show starts on time - always, artists are accommodated decently and professionally and, a one might expect, lighting, staging and audio are always spot-on (maybe a few minor glitches but nothing to mar the production.

And so it was at the most recent Keesing outing, with visiting Nation of Islam leader Farrakhan in the audience, there were commendable deliveries from Kelissa (with of-the-moment reggae hero Chronixx unobtrusively providing background vocals off stage), the live return of history-making Rising Stars winners One Third (first group to win the competition) and the blind - but certainly not disabled - singer, Kandi, who admirably raised the curtain.

other duties prevented this writer from catching the curtain-closers, legendary Jamaican pop storytellers Ernie Smith ("Duppy or Gunman") and Pluto Shervington "Your Honour", "Sweet Jamaica") who jokingly remarked in the pre-stage lounge that there's "too much blood in my rum stream"

if quality musicianship and a tight production ship are your style of live entertainment, then you owe it to yourself to help make Keesing Live a less-kept secret.

A few days after, over at the Countryside Club (fast returning to its previous stature as a live venue of note) the singing Morgans, aka Morgan Heritage, held court, speaking to media - well, primarily to IRIE-FM and TVJ, but with others of us "let in" on it; they addressed a wide range of topics, from the ravages of Chik-V to the ravaged state of Jamaican music.

Again, time and other logistical pressures kept from getting the "Full Morgan" but they have been touring behind their most recent album, "Here Come the Kings" as well as pursuing their respective individual projects

C2W is now "all-rights" CEO speaks of impending diversification, path to profitability

"We  still believe that publishing is one of the best business opportunities in the entertainment business, but the properties that we hold, the copyrights, they do take time to develop, so we are re-aligning ourselves toward growing revenues and profitabliity in the short term"

With those words, Ivan Berry, CEO of embattled music publishers C2W Music set the stage, at the   Knutsford Court hotel in Kingston last weekend, for the company's transition into the now oft-mentioned "360 Model" in that it will, in addition to its core business, C2W will enter the artiste management business and also strengthen its existing sub-publishing collection deals with global music labels /publishers BMG and Warner-Chappell. "We are now an 'all-rights company'" Berry stated, but with a proviso that event promotion will not be a significant avenue of investment for the company. there are, however, plans to revive the Songwriting Camps, which while draining cash, also produced, according to the exec, much of the company's copyrights bank.

Berry, a former BMG exec, spoke passionately, candidly and at length about the company's vision, trials and prognosis. C2W presently holds some 900 copyrights, a few of which have begun to turn some much-needed revenue for the company. Notable among them are the tracks "Richest Girl" by Etana, and "Without A Woman" which is the lead single on the rising new album by Maxi Priest (featuring Beres Hammond). Another C2W property, "Supersoaker" has been recorded by soca star Skinny Fabulous in tandem with top Romanian singer, Andreea Balan.

The company, according to both Berry and President Derek Wilkie, did turn a profit for the 2nd quarter of this current year, and projections are for the third quarter to be similarly profitable.But they declined to give actual figures, and clearly, it will take many quarters of profit to wipe out the deep red stain on the company's books to date, not least a USD620,000 loss for the year just ended and a liabilities over assets ratio of roughly 9:1

The AGM also wlecomed new directors, drumming legend Sly Dunbar and Clyde Mckenzie, the latter present for part of the meeting

THIS REVOLUTION NEED NOT BE TELEVISED

Gungo Walk Festival 2014

As new roads provide a tool to strengthen and extend commercial hegemonies, so do mutli-discipline entertainment/cultural events provide a tool to extend and renew a Jamaican cultural hegemony which, while still strong, has been buffeted over the last decade or so.

In that respect, the 2014 renewal of the Gungo Walk festival, on the campus of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts this past weekend, could well be regarded as a cultural super-highway awaiting pavement.

Except that the organizers are thankfully, not waiting for whatever covering may on offer from officialdom; truth be told, its foolhardy to really expect the State, locked into admittedly stale yet still lucrative conventions, to nurture the seeds and saplings of its own destruction, or at least deconstruction.

But, the above is political discourse, a sideshow at best. The main event is every bit worthy of attention and support, from the “soul-Rasta” stylings of Mackeehan – joined artfully for a brief yet intense moment by Duane Stephenson, to the “modern dub” of Don Z, who best managed to blend the roots sensibility with a genuinely roughneck DJ delivery, aided and abetted by some extra tasty riffs from the accompanying Dubsmart band. One can hear the legitimacy of the heritage in the rendition of Peter Tosh’s “Steppin’ Razor” by Alexandra Love and the Warriah Love band.

And it shines through in the unexpected yet more than welcome revelation that is Shanique Brown, aka GiRL. Nurtured at Ardenne, she and an able quartet of young men took command of the stage and of the audience’s affections with such unapologetic aplomb that by the end of her bouncy, sing-along original “Press Play” (preceded by the deceptively simplistic “Love” there was little doubt about the future health of Jamaican popular music – at least nt from a live performance viewpoint.

There was also Maria Lindsay. The 17-year old Campionite, largely self-taught, delivered of herself a well-modulated yet near epic (in the best sense of that overused term) exposition of musical talent that endeared her to the growing audience gathered on the school ground, doing two originals (including “Wish” already in modest radio rotation) that wiped out her tentative start with Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”.

The festival also affirmed that the present generation of young Jamaicans (whichever letter you want to assign them) may be closer to actual revolution than might be otherwise thought. They are certainly on point in terms of acknowledging the Africanness which the oligarchy – with Government’s tacit approval – has sought to deny while exploiting for decades.

For proof, look no further than the progress of capoeira, that mythical Afro-Brazilian dance of war and of identity, in Jamaica. Led by  maestro Eckart, the capoeira troupe, ranging in age from prep- schoolers to adults, showed, in their mix of athleticism and angularity, the ongoing assimilation process.

Assimilation worked in reverse as well: another Brazilian import, singer Soraya laid down a vibe of funky grace, clad in various iterations of her nation’s colours while going through reggae both classic and contemporary, in Jamaican as well as in her native tongue, the accent serving only to sweeten the effect.

And there was much more than music on offer -  dramatic presentations, dance, film all took their concurrent and independent turns for the audience’s attention and they in turn appeared happy to be made nomads, shuffling from stage to stage and room to room in search of the next enjoyment. In addition to festival merchandise, there was also a genuinely eye-catching array of handcraft items, and the near ubiquitous (but definitely welcome) I-Nation Books.

So if, in fulfilment of the late Gil Scott-Heron’s now iconic statement, “the revolution will not be televised” then we need not worry too much (though the publicity might loosen a few purse strings). It will be phone-shared, Googled, Facebooked, Instagrammed and tweeted far and wide, and even without those interventions, this, is clearly a movement whose energy will not be inhibited nor quenched.

Big and broad, Gungo Walk!

Wayne "Marshals" Family and Friends for album launch

Arguably not every artiste an enlist the services of a Tessanne Chin, Assassin, aka Agent Sasco and Tarrus Riley for an album showcase.

But then, not every artiste is Wayne Marshall, who officially presented his latest full-length "Tru Colours" to the public at Chris Gayle's Triple Century Sports Bar in New Kingston.

he began the performance segment in a more serious guise, attending to social issues like violent crime ("Strike Them") and diverging paths ("On The Corner" which samples REM's 'Losing My Religion') before dedicating a segment to wife Tami Chynn who was absent from the proceedings.

Marshall has varied association's with Bounty Killa's Alliance camp (Killa turned up to support but did not take the stage), as well as with Damian "Jr Gong" Marley (who has executive producer credits on the disc) as well as with footballer BiBi Gardner (a fellow Wolmerian) and the aforementioned guest artistes.

And it was Riley, guesting on "Nah Give Up" , Tessanne (who also performed her latest single "Everything Reminds Me of You") and Assassin on "Go Hard" and "Stupid Money" (also featuring Marshall's 8-year old son Gio) who added most life to the night's offering.

Guests, drawn from the music, sports and business worlds, sipped specia Tru-Juice and Appleton cocktails through the night.

"Fyah and Ice" for Keesing renewal Aug 23

Comedian/radio host (not to mention LIME pitchman) Donald "Iceman" Anderson and roots reggae rockers Raging Fyah are among the smokin' entertainment acts on the bill for the latest renewal of the universally excellent Keesing Live series, which is set for this Saturday (Aug 23) at the Alternative Music HQ on Keesing Avenue.

Also appearing will be Jermaine Blake.

Raging Fyah, who released their sophomore set "Destiny" earlier this year, are recently returned from a European tour.

Hamlet “To Be” in Jamaica Aug 26

“Hamlet” contains arguably the most oft-quoted of William Shakespeare’s myriad quoted lines.

: “To be or not to be. That is the question”

And simple as it may sound, that is the question that has occupied succeeding generations of dramatists, as well as legions of actors, critics, psychologists, and the merely curious for centuries.

Similarly, the title role of "Prince of Denmark" has been make-orbreak for many of the world's greatest actors.

Now the UK’s Globe Theatre Comp

any will give Jamaican Shakespeare aficionados and those prepping the text for Lit exams the opportunity to witness the full scope of the bard’s genius come August 26, with a special fund-raising performance of Hamlet, at Kingston’s Little Theatre.

The Jamaican production is part of a worldwide tour mounted by the venerated company in honour of its iconic associated, whose birth was noted earlier in the year.

A Fundraiser for the Arts Foundation of the EMC, the performance will cost 5K per ticket, and will be under the patrojnage of British High Commissioner, H.E. David Fitton.

The Globe Compant production is supported by  First global Bank