Blakka's return sparks encore

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

It was non-stop laughter from the get-go, well, almost, except when the comedian performed a poem that silenced the audience, just for the duration of the piece. Then laughter reclaimed its prominence.

So it was at Centrestage Theatre in New Kingston on what should have been the final of a four-night production of Blakka Ellis Live, Un ...

On the Monday evening, a dapper looking Blakka took to the stage. He was dressed in a cream suit over pink shirt and tie that contrasted with the setting of a yard that boasted a line for clothes tied to a dry tree, displaying an assortment of garments. There was also a block of wood placed downstage, centre, along with a screen upstage, centre, and other props.

"Everybody has to unwind ... anything political is cause to unwind ... nuff things to be un-said," Blakka began.

Approximately two hours later, the comedic maestro concluded his 'un-retired' journey, now clad in full black, with, "I am in therapy; I am not well, but I am taking something for it - money."

While the audience laughed, he continued. "If I have a jolt of energy, it is the people, if I have a hero it is Miss Lou [Louise Bennett Coverly]." And after a quotation from one of Miss Lou's poems, he said "amen" and exited the stage.

For the audience, the show seemed to have been the best thing since sliced bread - "wonderful, excellence, great show" floated around as the audience made its exit.

The Sunday Gleaner caught up with some of them.

"It was an excellent, excellent, performance," was the response from a pregnant Ceceile Maragh.

"Let me tell you, his take on political affairs, ah mean society, what is happening now, and for him to just intertwine it in the comedy was just fantastic, for me it was non-stop laughing from I came." Maragh continued.

Andrea Chin Scott and Howell Britton concurred.

"The bringing on of the family members was well cool, and people you have not seen for a while, was very good," said Chin Scott.

Comedic assistance

Her remarks were in reference to Winston Bell of the comedic duo Bello and Blakka and 'Rozah Roze' Ellis, son of the late Jamaican musical icon Alton Ellis and Blakka's cousin. The two joined Blakka in the second half of the show.

Both performers were brought onstage by Blakka with a creative introduction. Whereas Bello, who appeared first, was called to the stage during an act that seemed to be a satire on musicians and audience. Noel's entrance was preceded by an anecdote about his childhood. Needless to say, their performances were hilarious, especially Rozah Roze, who received a call for more at the end of his very entertaining act.

During the first half, Blakka's solo act covered topics such as drunkenness, security guards and more. All were presented in a refreshing way.

During this segment, he removed pieces of the suit he opened wearing in a timely manner, all the while using a screen to display words with the prefix 'un', to good effect.

Unfair, unethical, unimaginative and unscrupulous appeared while Blakka slowly unwound the audience with highbrow humour.

The comedic veteran poked fun at homophobic Jamaican men, who have a "cognitive dissonance", as well as the society's unfair treatment of men; the dress code of children and women's "low-ride jeans on their high rise bottom".

Neither sex nor members of his family were spared.

On the topic of sex, he was mildly risqué, but his anecdotes about his upbringing were riotous - Aunty Becka the "contradictions of ghetto life" will always be remembered with a smile.

Alas, only a taste of the wonderful jokes can be given in this forum, but the show's late start, due to the setting up of video cameras may provide the chance to see and hear more. But in closing, like the other members of the audience, the conclusion here is that the Blakka Ellis Live, Un ... was indeed a fantastic effort.

So fantastic was it that last night, Blakka performed the first of two additional shows. The second at the Centrestage venue takes place tonight at 6 p.m.