'Against His Will' is back

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Sexual harassment at the workplace has been a sensitive global issue with legislators and women's groups for decades. The thought of a man getting groped (and hating it) by his female boss is almost fantastic.

That, however, is the plot of Against His Will which has been playing at the Theatre Place in St Andrew since August 20. This is the second instalment of the play which first opened 10 years ago and enjoyed a blockbuster run.

Douglas Prout was one of the actors who played harassed worker Danny Bryan a decade ago. He is director of the new show which has Peter Lloyd and Jerry Benzwick alternating as Danny; Nadia 'Milk' Khan as the boss, Gillian Forbes, and Sakina as Danny's pregnant wife.

Group decision

"The decision to revive Against His Will was a group one. Two good friends approached me with the idea to remount this excellent script, and one of them was involved when it was first produced in Montego Bay (Fairfield Theatre) in 2000," Prout explained during a recent interview with The Gleaner.

"It did well there and even better in South Florida so we thought it should do well again 10 years later, as it still had appeal and relevance," he added.

Against His Will was first produced by David Heron who was, arguably, local theatre's hottest ticket in the late 1990s. Directed by Trevor Nairne, it also drew strong audiences to the Little Little Theatre in St Andrew.

Prout believes Against His Will retains its intensity through the new cast which is headed by Lloyd, a seasoned actor and singer, and Khan who is best known as a television personality.

There has been a significant difference in a key area, Prout pointed out.

Encouraging response

"The numbers are yet to reach where we would have liked, but the audience response is very encouraging and the word on the street has been very positive," he said.

Prout said he got the role of Danny Bryan shortly after appearing in playwright Pablo Hoilett's Key For Two with Oliver Samuels, Deon Silvera and Audrey Reid.

Born in Montego Bay, Prout attended Cornwall College and got his start in theatre at the Fairfield in 1975 under the tutelage of Paul Methuen. He has appeared in numerous plays including Romeo and Juliet, The Odd Couple, Love and Marriage and New York City and Uptown Bangarang I and II.

He plays attorney Maurice Rae on the long-running local television soap opera, Royal Palm Estate.

Prout has been directing plays since 1986; the 2000 hit Feminine Justice starring Lloyd B Smith has been his most noted effort. He compared working as actor and director in Against His Will.

"The roles and requirements are so very different. While the script is essentially the same, deliberate attempts were made to make the approach fresh and different," he said.

"With a totally different cast, set and a fresh visage in terms of blocking and interpretation, it is hoped that this new presentation would be able to stand on its own."

Against His Will, which also stars Nadean Rawlins, Jean-Paul Menou and Marguerite Newland, continues this weekend at the Theatre Place.