'Comedy Fest' not all Comedy

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

When the audience was instructed to "take a ten-minute break and, if you do not want to, take the ten minutes to argue about it," it was clear that this was not coming from an ordinary run-of-the-mill emcee.

The speaker was Owen 'Blakka' Ellis in his role as co-emcee at the event dubbed Comedy Fest, held on Sunday at the very spacious University of the West Indies, Mona's Assembly Hall.

The show was relatively short, but entertaining.

While the organisers sought to generate laughter by injecting musical items into a show dubbed Comedy Fest, it was the stand-up comedians, as should have been expected, who had the fair-size audience laughing.

It (real laughter) began with some effective lines delivered by Kathy Grant, who seemed to be moving away from her Tan Deh Deh image. "Ity looks like a badly developed black and white photo ... Fancy looks like a Halloween mask ..." she said about the pair that has made her a household name. But alas, that is the nature of comedy; anyone is prime for the roasting.

Grant's breaking of the ice seemed to be just what co-emcee Claudette Pious needed.

On her return to introduce Michael Abrahams, she was witty, poking fun at some men's use of deception to get women, in this case herself.

"You look like Lisa Hanna," she quoted. And in response she told him "You remind me of my light bill ..." The rest of the statement was lost in laughter.

Abrahams brought precision to his performance. Beginning with his trademark entry, singing about a sleuth of social issues, he stopped abruptly "I would continue, but can't recall the rest of the lyrics ..." in reference to Justice Minister, Dorothy Lightbourne's famous lines, thus commenced his satire on the Manatt-Dudus Enquiry.

'krass encounter'

The encounter between KD Knight, the People's National Party (PNP) lawyer, and Prime Minister Bruce Golding was labelled as a 'krass encounter' instead of a cross-examination. He had the audience laughing to "KD is a cross between a pit bull and a tick ... him ranker than a ram goat".

After more swipes at the 'show', the doctor concluded his stint with another of his trademark pieces, playing the role of Mr Golding.

Blakka, prior to becoming the co-emcee, closed the first half of the two-segment show.

Entering from audience left as a drunkard, the veteran comedian satirised the dilemma of drunks: "I get drunk to drown sorrow, but sorrow can swim, you see."

And, like all conscious citizens, the drunk had to ensure that at his death there is a 'won't'. Yes, a 'won't' not a will, as the family won't get anything. The drunk also met a genie, after rubbing a bottle, but informed the genie that "he cannot be a man in Jamaica with such a name."

Part two brought on the dynamic comedians Ity and Fancy Cat. Through the audience (left and centre), they made their way to the stage with their spiced-up version of It's Gonna Take a Miracle, this coming after Christopher Daley's energetic entrance.

Daley was entertaining in his short stint.

He poked fun at those who have failed to see that he is no longer 'Johnny' from Lime Tree Lane, and ended his performance with a joke from his repertoire.

poking fun

Comedy's essence is about poking fun at people and Ity and Fancy Cat have shown that repeatedly. Former prime minister of Jamaica, P. J. Patterson, became both conduit to and subject of Ity and Fancy Cat's look at the Manatt-Dudus Enquiry.

Mimicking Patterson's habit of pausing for long periods, almost after each word, the duo made racehorse commentary laughable, especially when, Patterson, played by Ity, said "KD Knight a pirate me".

Their throwback to some popular sitcom theme songs had the audience singing along.

Comedy Fest was organised by the Past Students' Association of the Excelsior High School located on Mountain View Avenue. The event was staged primarily because the school is celebrating its 80th anniversary.

Winsome Halliman, president of the association, explained that it was a fitting way to raise funds, as the school was known for famous cultural ambassadors such as the Hon Louise Bennett Coverley, along with Ellis and Pious.

One of the main achievements of the association to date is their lobby that brought back a sixth form as the senior grade at the institution.