Crack Jokes, a full-length play comes at a time when the Link Show is usually on. Crack Jokes is said to be a hilarious comedy that brings together a number of characters with one aspiration: to get rich.
The play is centred on the Davidson family: a father and his three daughters who are unemployed, but employed otherwise.
Seventy-year-old George (Kwasi ‘Ace’ Edmondson) likes to have his drink. Desiree (Nuriyyih Gerrard), one of his daughters has just returned from spending two months overseas, with a lot of money and a fake accent which accentuates her bad grammar. Pastor Motombo (Mark Luke Edwards), Desiree’s husband turns out to be an undercover drugs dealer and trafficker.
George’s second daughter, Ismay (Melika Edmonds) is a single mother and a go-getter. She does anything to get money even if it means stepping on the family.
Mabel (Nathaya Whaul), the youngest of the daughters is the kind-hearted one and the backbone of the family. She is close to Desiree but only for the ‘prags’ that come with her.
George’s lover, Clarissa (Malinda Harris) is said to be a young woman who’s trapped in the body of an old woman. She’s still hoping that her fantasy of falling in love and living the rich life comes through.
Crystal (Kescia Branche), Ismay’s daughter is a high school graduate who’s aspiring to study medicine and expects her mother to find the money by hook or crook.
Colours (Johann David) and Scarrie (Nelan Benjamin) are George’s friends who are hustlers. Colours is always abreast with what goes on around him because he’s always reading the newspaper and Scarrie, a vendor who sells beverages is just as abreast, having Colours as a friend. Flavius (Mark Luke Edwards) is another friend of George’s who ten years senior to George.
Tiffany (Abigail Brower) is a family friend who fabricates all kinds of stories to get her egg balls sold while another friend, Tyrese (Michael Ignatius), comes from the ghetto and is the life of the party. Cheryl (Odessa Primus) lives next door and has two children. Her walkway is where the Davidsons hang their laundry. The final character is Titan Sweet (Johann David), a law officer who stutters when he speaks.
Will the Davidsons be successful in their get rich scheme or will their greed bring disaster? You’ll just have to be there to find out.
Crack Jokes is written and produced by Primus and co-produced by Gem Madhoo-Nascimento. Crack Jokes competed at the 2015 National Drama Festival and won the Best Performing Cast Award and also placed second for the Best Production Category. The Best Actress Award went to Gerrard while Edmondson took the Best Actor Award.
It runs from tonight until Tuesday night at the National Cultural Centre from 20:00 hrs. For tickets check out Giftland Mall, Ashmin’s, Nigel’s Supermarket or the Cultural Centre.
