Third-year UWI med students produce 'I fi I'

Davina Henry, Staff Reporter

As is customary, the third-year medical class at the University of the West Indies, in its effort to raise vital funds for charity, will be hosting its annual Smoker production.

Smoker is a long-standing tradition that dates back decades. Third-year medical students do an annual production in aid of various charities and attempt to give back to the country from which they have so greatly benefitted.

Speaking with The Gleaner, Candi Whittick, Smoker Planning Committee chairperson, stated that this year's Smoker, titled I fi I, will run from September 13-16 at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts. Funds procured from the four-day event will go towards The Gastrointestinal (GI) Department at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI).

life choices theme

"Essentially, I fi I is about a young man who returns from the UK to his inner-city roots. He faces corruption, an attack on his family. It's a statement of human character and knowing that the choices we make will define our destiny. It's not a full musical, but we do have about five musical pieces. This is 100 per cent written, produced, and directed by the class of 2015," Whittick told The Gleaner.

I fi I will run from Thursday through Sunday, with the gala show on Saturday night.

"On Thursday and Friday, the show will start at 6:30 p.m. There will be two shows on Saturday. The gala show will be on Saturday, starting at 4 p.m., where we will serve hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. A second show will be at 8 p.m., and then we will conclude on Sunday with two shows - one at 4:30 p.m. and the other at 8 p.m. The tickets for each show will be $1,500, except for the gala, which will be $2,500," Whittick said.

Whittick urged persons to support the production because it is for a good cause.

"The acting is phenomenal! It's going to be a great show, and it's going to be entertaining. It's also for a good cause. The life that you save could be your own," she said.

Tickets for the event are available at Xtras, Mall Plaza, and at Deli Works in Sovereign Centre.

The students are hoping to raise enough money to buy at least one refurbished Olympus endoscope and one refurbished Olympus colonoscope.