Two acts of kindness - JADA stages one-act plays for ill theatre practitioners

Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

In mid-October, the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artists (JADA) will put on two acts of kindness - literally - at the Theatre Place on Haining Road in New Kingston.

Amba Chevannes' 'Ms Burton Gets a Promotion', previously staged on Kingston on the Edge's (KOTE) Theatre Night, and Basil Dawkins' Josephine's Night Out, which will be making its premiere featuring a rare performance by Christine Bell, will be presented to establish the Theatre Artists Benevolent Fund.

Previously slated for October 1-3 but postponed because of the weather conditions, the benefit weekend is now set for October 15-17.

Scarlett Beharie of JADA told The Sunday Gleaner that "we have identified six members of our community who are in need. These are people who have given 30, 40 years of their lives to theatre". While the need for the fund indicates that these persons, their ages ranging from 60s to 80s, need assistance with medical expenses especially, Beharie points out that they worked in an era when there was not much money to be made from theatre.

groundwork

"Our concern is for the people who could not benefit from the salary we can enjoy now," she said. "They laid the groundwork for what we can do now."

However, Beharie said younger persons now actively involved in theatre can also benefit from the fund if they have a pressing medical bill and meet the criteria. And being a performer is not a requirement, as Beharie says "it involves anyone who has given of their time to the theatre arts - set, directors, acting, wardrobe".

Ms Burton Gets a Promotion and Josephine's Night Out will be shown on Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m. with a gala performance. Tickets cost $2,000 and Beharie says "there is no possibility of it being held over".

Bell's final show?

Christine Bell was last on stage eight years ago, in the lead role as the mother in Dawkins' A Gift For Mom. Josephine's Night Out may well be her theatrical swan song, as Bell tells The Sunday Gleaner "I believe it is my one shot".

She has made the effort for a one-woman performance which "is very different" because "I feel very strongly that there is a need to be filled and if there is anything I can do to contribute I will".

"From we first met to say there were people who needed some assistance and what could we as founding members of JADA do to assist, we thought, let us form the organisation and launch the fund," Bell said.

And she is confident that for show night "I will move through. I'll be ready".

Rishille Bellamy Peliece plays Ms Burton in Ms Burton Gets a Promotion.

Beharie says the fund was originally conceptualised with the late Fitz Weir in mind. However, she said, "he passed before we could put it in place." So there is a determination to have the fund operational while the intended beneficiaries are still alive.

While the combination of Ms Burton Gets a Promotion and Josephine's Night Out will not be held over, there will be further fund-raisers for the Theatre Artists Benevolent Fund. "This is supposed to be the inaugural one," Beharie said. "We are hoping to have an annual event. It is the jump-off to agitate for corporate support."

She adds that JADA formerly held a one-night variety concert and there is a possibility that it will return.

"This is just supposed to be the beginning. We are not trying to start something and two years later nobody knows what happened to it," Beharie said.