Expanded pomedy brings laughs

Curtis Campbell, Gleaner Writer

Comedian Rohan Gunter brought the auditorium at the University of Technology (UTech) to its knees last Friday, taunting local entertainers and political leaders during a brilliant half-hour set.

Gunter's presentation was part of the second staging of Yasus Afari's Pomedy. The first was held in St Elizabeth.

Afari also gave the audience a taste of his poetry, his unusually short set bringing much approval from the audience.

Hundreds of patrons filled the seats of the auditorium and sat attentively, ensuring they captured every line of comedy and or poetry that was delivered. The delivery came from the likes of Dr Michael Abrahams, Oliver Samuels, Joan Andrea Hutchinson and Gunter, a former Comedy Buss champion.

There were some obviously dull moments. However, majority of the performers delivered creditable sets, while encouraging participation from the audience in segments of their display.

Gunter impresses

Gunter got noticeable applause after unveiling his dream government cabinet, which he said would be comprised of Jamaican dancehall artistes.

"I would make Vybz Kartel to be the minister of security because he is always in a safe place, and make Busy Signal and Buju Banton ministers of foreign affairs because dem always deh a foreign," Gunter explained to the roar of the audience.

Hutchinson, also known as Dat Bumpy Head Gyal, also gave a good display by taking the audience on a trip down memory lane.

Using material from her childhood, Hutchinson humorously represented things that were normal as part of the development of children.

"Memba when dem used to cut one exercise book inna two?" she asked, the audience responding with a unanimous 'yes'.

Afari delivered popular hits such as Put It In, Hygiene and Patois Talking.

Before those performances, though, there was also a performance from the Utech Drummers, which earned much acclaim from an appreciative audience.

With the expansion of Pomedy to St Andrew, the series is expected to spread, first to other venues in the island like The University of the West Indies, and then to other Caribbean islands.

Before that, though, Pomedy is expected to tour the United Kingdom.