Different approach as 'Bedward' returns

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Louis Marriott's epic play Bedward will return to the Jamaican theatre early next year, but with major changes in the production personnel and in key technical areas. And a few were on hand to share the changes. On the other hand, some members of the previous cast will return. This was announced recently at a launch held at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College (JC) - the venue for the production.

Before the differences were revealed, Marriott, who is also the producer provided some background information on his work. The play has been around from 1960, first as a radio drama, and was called The Shepherd.

"It made a tremendous impact in radio and people started asking why not a stage version, and I hurried to complete a stage version," he explained. And in the same year, the first staging of the play took place at the Ward Theatre.

Revived

However, it was to be much later that the current title, Bedward, was used. He credited the change to Phillip Morris, while stating that the name came with 23 rewrites, in 1984. That year the metamorphed Shepherd was mounted at the Little Theatre.

Bedward was again revived in 2003-2004 when Marriott was asked by the Ward Theatre Foundation to join them in their celebration of the Ward Theatre.

And once again, the 2012 restaging of Bedward is by request. "People have been asking me and I have not been able to respond until now. But this time, there will be differences. I asked Yvonne Brewster, an internationally acclaimed Jamaican director to direct the play." Marriott continued. "Yvonne has brought a new approach to Bedward."

Speaking via a videotape, Brewster shared some of her innovations. She first gave a brief insight to her approach to directing, as she likes to work on the text. "The actors must remain true to the words of the playwright. I say people you cannot change this line. You cannot write it so you cannot change it. You must find a way of making it work," she said.

About the set, she explained that there would be no architectural constructions on the stage. "It is an imaginary playground." The setting varies from yard to church and as such, the set must be multifunctional and multidimensional.

Ron Steger, senior lecturer at Edna Manley College is the designer. With projected images of his designs for support, he explained that the production would be a "thrust production, meaning that the audience will sit on three sides of the stage". This allows for lots of elements in the production to come together. These include the creation of a road, a gate and a river. The set will be completed with an elevated platform to the middle and ultimately transforming the JC auditorium.

Historical icon

The JC auditorium is not only ideal because of its appropriate space: for logistic and financial reasons, but technically it offers a possible connection to the Jamaican historical icon, Alexander Bedward, whose life is captured in the drama. It is believed that, while living in August Town, he was known to have traversed Papine and Liguanea quite often. Perhaps he may have stopped in the very area that aspects of his life will unfold. Additionally, Brewster did not want to use a proscenium space.

The responsibility of lighting the production goes to Nadia Roxburgh. For her, the challenge is to not only light a non-theatre space but also to light actors on all three sides. But she promised that the lights would be used to complement the set.

While the cast list is still not completed, veteran actors like Alwyn Scott, Trevor Fearon, Rischelle Bellamy, Winston Bell, Teddy Price, Andrew Lawrence, Barbara McCalla and Michael Forrest have made the cut.

The Gleaner spoke to Forrest, who will be making his third appearance as the inspector. He expressed delight at being invited to perform once again in the production. "As a young actor in 1984, Bedward challenged me in a number of ways and now I am a more mature actor, I think I will be challenged to bring more to the role."

He also said that Yvonne Brewster was his teacher at Kingston College. "Here I was, auditioning before my former drama teacher and I just felt the energy." After his audition "she just said okay Mr Forrest, lose a little weight though."

Bedward will open March 2, 2012, with two shows. There will be an early show for students, followed later by a gala premiere benefit for the Jamaica College Old Boys' Association.