The fixation here with Jamaican stage shows continues next month when Synergy Promotions offers up a taste of the latest instalment of comic relief from the island, Like Father Like Son at the National Cultural Centre on December 6 and 7.
The show has a following here already because its producers are widely known for the hit show Bashment Granny.
In a press release issued this week Synergy said the play was written and directed by Paul O Beale who is known for “his tremendous work in Jamaica”. The company said Beale understands his audiences and knows how to connect through comedy though the issues highlighted are often serious.
The company said that the story is about the similarities between Mr Eviction (Maxwell Grant of Bashment Granny fame) and his two sons.
Trevor the Bad boy from Bashment Granny (Garfield Reid) is the elder son. He is described as an ambitious, skirt-chasing record producer, who compromises his professional obligations when he falls in love with his lyricist, Winsome (Sharmane Wisdom). Trevor later becomes the target of jealousy from a number of his female artistes with whom he is romantically involved.
The release said Trevor’s younger brother, Jooky Jam also from Bashment Granny (Stede Flash) has his romantic exploits, 38,000 feet up in the clouds on an airplane as he is a commercial airline pilot. His wife, Nicole (Dainty Bellanfante) far from being amused and is taking steps to ensure that her husband returns with a sudden jolt to earth.
A character called ‘Heart-beat’ (Keith ‘Shebada’ Ramsey) manages Daddy Eviction’s store, but has taken on far more than his job description suggests, according to the release and inserts himself in the middle of numerous domestic conflicts.
Further, Synergy said, the previous show and the upcoming one have triggered a local competition called, ‘Shebada Dance and Look Alike Challenge’. It credits this to the dancing abilities and outrageously colourful portrayals by Ramsey.
Preliminary rounds of the competition are currently being held and persons interested are being asked to tune into the Show Whatz Hott which is hosted by Classique Dance Director, Clive Prowell. According to the release, the competition is open to all male dancers who think they can be Shebada. Participants are encouraged to look at videos of Shebada to see the costumes he wears to guide them to authenticity. The semi-final of the competition is slated for the City Mall on Saturday December 5 and the final at the Cultural Centre on December 6 at 7.30pm. Shebada and other members of cast and crew are expected be in attendance at the City Mall, according to the release.