'Miss Zella' stars in Old Story Time

Local television audiences have come to know and love her as 'Miss Zella', the doyenne of the television comedy Lime Tree Lane, whose 'Earth Mother' style and wise sayings guided their lives in that fictional inner-city community. However, Dorothy Cunningham, whose performance in 30 theatre productions and television shows, spanning 35 years behind the proscenium arch and in the glare of lights and cameras, has played many theatrical roles.

And she has also performed in 16 movies, as well as written and voiced radio programmes, earning a Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica in 1993, which she declared, "Is one of my most treasured possessions."

The former president of the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Arts (JADA) brings a wealth of theatre experience to her current role as 'Miss Aggy' in Trevor Rhone's classic drama, Old Story Time, being directed by Eugene Williams, which opens at Stages Theatre in New Kingston on October 5.

"I remember being called to read for a part when Old Story Time was being produced for the first time, at the then Wayout Theatre, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel," she recalls with a wry smile. "It was a dreadful reading. And, I was not surprised when I did not get the part."

However, this time around, given her experience of working with and observing some of the greatest actors locally and internationally, her knowledge of drama, and what it takes to bring a character to life, as well as her 1977 Best Actress gold-medal award from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), Dorothy believes that she is "ready to play Miss Aggy".

She joins a cast of seasoned and emerging actors, including Winston 'Bello' Bell, Keniesha Bowes, Michael Forrest, Patria Kaye-Aarons and Devon Yetman.

Commenting on the character, Cunningham maintains that, "Miss Aggy is definitely a product of her time. When it was 'If you white, it's all right; if you black, stay at the back.' She is the epitomy of the woman who will sacrifice for her children, even if her obsession eventually pushes them away."

She credits Rhone for the authority of the script, which is replete with crises and conflicts, exploring the relationships of the characters in a format that commands your attention.

"This is one of Trevor's greatest plays, and I am so glad that I've reached the age where I'm now considered mature enough to play Miss Aggy!"

Director Eugene Williams stated, "Dorothy brings an authenticity and sensitivity that give life to Rhone's salt-of-the-earth character. Her experience and incisive intellect have been instrumental in the subtle interpretations that she brings to the production."

And, he maintains that, as rehearsals progressed, "I have found her to be an inspiration in unearthing the cultural sensibility of the piece."

Since the early tryouts, Dorothy's theatrical journey has taken her beyond local footlights, and led to her to major performances in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago and the Cayman Islands.

And, she has played some memorable characters in productions, such as Office Chase, The Burglar, Not About Eve, Front Room, Flatmate, The Trial Of One Confused Black Woman, Positive and Second Chance.

"They all had their rewards," Dorothy maintains. "However, Not About Eve ranks high on the dramatic scale for its artistic satisfaction, as that play called on the actors to suspend their own spheres of reality, examine how they related to their mothers and off-spring, and reach for another level."

Reaching for higher levels has been a constant for Cunningham, whose eclectic career has taken her through myriads of theatre and corporate professional experiences.

A co-founder of KOMEDY CLUB, the first stand-up comedy club in Jamaica, she and others attempted to consolidate the humorous output of a variety of comedians. "The venture enjoyed some successes; and, the comedy duo, Ity and Fancy Cat, graduated from that club," she stated.

In her post as president of JADA, Dorothy was a representative to the Women's Economic Empowerment Project and the Entertainment Policy Steering Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture. She has lectured in drama at the University of Technology Jamaica; and was a member of the board of the Copyright Licensing Association.

"I have enjoyed my work in corporate Jamaica," Dorothy points out, having worked as a cultural intervention officer for the Correctional Services Department; director of marketing and public relations at the JCDC; and has been a financial adviser in the life insurance field for many years.