'Where Is My Father?', funny, brilliant, deep

Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Where is my father? is a question often asked by children whose fathers are absent from their lives. But if playwright Basil Dawkins has his way, asking such a question opens a world of many other questions about society.

This was evident in Dawkins' latest production, Where Is My Father?, being staged at the Little Little Theatre on Tom Redcam Avenue.

Where Is My Father? is entertainingly painful, brilliantly writte,n and justly executed.

The compelling drama tugs at both the tear ducts and whatever causes that warm, fuzzy feeling that signals the unleashing of joy. It lifts a huge part of the proverbial rug to reveal some of society's dust.

Evadney (Allison McLean) was gang raped by her high-school boyfriend, Ian McDermott, and his friends. She becomes pregnant. And so, the sixth-form student drops out of school.

Living in a rundown apartment with a baby, she must also bear the burden of knowing that her tormentor left school and his whereabouts are unknown.

Her dilemma is further intensified because she gets no family support from her only parent, mother Joycelyn (Nadean Rawlins). Unemployed and with little to feed her family, Joycelyn is more than happy to push her daughter into an unwholesome relationship with Rupert (George Howard).

Determined protagonist

But the feisty protagonist rises above her mother's living-in-the-box reality. With some help from Miss Wilson (Julene Robinson), a secretary, she takes on the well-connected criminal lawyer Mr McDermott (Rodney Campbell), father of her now ex-boyfriend. She is determined that not only will young McDermott pay for his actions, but that her daughter will know her father.

Unravelling the story takes the mighty lawyer from his expensively decorated office to the abyss of poverty, the home of Evadney.

Craftily written, Dawkins' pen speaks of more than parental matters. The wily playwright, with some potent philosophical remarks from his characters, highlights an interdependence of social classes through McDermott, the criminal lawyer, and Rupert, the criminal. As Rupert says, they need each other to survive.

But their connection goes beyond their professions as both are willing to make significant sacrifices to protect the ones they love.

Where Is My Father? is best described as a tragicomedy. Its comical characters, placed in tragic circumstances, also allow for many moments of laughter. The feat is made easier by some outstanding acting from Howard, Campbell, Robinson, McLean and Rawlins.

Commendable character portrayals

Rawlins presented the pathetic Joycelyn in a very convincing but hilarious way. With each gesture and mannerism, she carved the character into believability.

McLean, too, was brilliant in her characterisation of the sometimes frustrated, sometimes seductive, and the wise and mature Evadney.

Credit also goes to Robinson for capturing the seemingly dim-witted Miss Wilson and to Campbell's great portrayal of the arrogant McDermott. Likewise, Howard gave a very good account of the hardcore Rupert.

Set and costumes are also worthy of mention. It is not known who to credit for the appropriately designed costumes, but commendations to them.

Robin Baston's set was quite functional. With settings alternating between the lowly apartment of Joycelyn and Evadney, to the contrastingly lovely office of McDermott. All done on a relatively small stage, Baston's work was beautiful.