After 12 years, For Better… For Worse is set to make a return to the National Cultural Centre stage on March 19 and 20.
The play, written by Ras Leon Saul, had seven sold-out shows in 2004. Saul had started it as a radio serial in the late 1970s. The success of the radio serial led him to have made it into a play in 1981 which saw eight sold-out performances.
This time around, Max Massiah, who acted in the play in 2004 is the producer/director, and according to him, the play follows the same storyline, but with the playwright’s permission, has been modified to suit today’s culture.
The story surrounds the Fennimore family and portrays a life of adversity, love, deception, drugs smuggling and political intrigue, mirroring the world of today. The Fennimore family has to deal with unexpected plots.
“It brings out that love will always conquer adversity regardless of the circumstances and that crime doesn’t pay. We have a very professional cast. Viewers will be fully entertained. The play is very intriguing and suspenseful. It is totally different to most of the other plays held at the Cultural Centre because of the storyline,” Max said. “It is a thrilling and intriguing love/action drama,” he said.
He adds, “I have done many plays but this one’s a total exception for its strong and passionate story. I’m urging viewers to come out for a delightful and heartening experience of real stage entertainment.”
Max who had his debut in For Better… For Worse in 2004 as Superintendent Bobby Dunn, said he felt it needed to be done again. “I thought that the most opportune time to have it done was now, coinciding with Guyana’s 50th anniversary,” he said.
For Better… For Worse stars Sonia Yarde as Violet Farrow, Mark Kazim as Conrad ‘Sugarbaby’ Constantino, Mark Luke-Edwards as Liverpool Fennimore, Clemencio Godette as Ma Fennimore, Opara Samuel as Pa Fennimore and Timolyn Barclay as Audrey Fennimore. Other cast members are Akeem Joseph as Pedro Grizzly, Latisha DaSilva as Sergeant Sunita Naidoo, Kanimi Fyffe as Superintendent Bobby Dunn, Paul Budnah as Rash Yoshua, Barbara Phoenix as Empress Woman, Kimberly Fernandes as Bubble Gum, Melinda Primo as Zika and Ras George as himself. Clive Jordon as Stage Manager; Rae Wiltshire, Assistant Director, Sandy Thompson, Props Manager and Max Massiah as Producer/Director round out the production team.
For Better… For Worse comes to you with the compliments of A Ally & Sons at the Giftland Mall. Tickets are on available at A Ally’s & Sons, Kester D’s Gospel Shop and at the National Cultural Centre. Tickets cost $1,500 and $1,000 and the play starts at 20:00 hrs.
Patrons are urged to get their tickets early. There will be prize giveaways for lucky ticket holders.
