Purple Arts Production presents ‘A Treat for my Mother 5’ at the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Mess Hall on Mother’s Day. The show will treat its audience to a night of fashion and music.
The event is the second of its kind to be hosted. The first was held by Winfield James for more than 20 years and was called ‘Tribute to Mothers’. After he ended his Mother’s Day production, CEO and founder of Purple Arts Production, seasoned actress Simone Dowding began hers, but took a slightly different turn.
Tribute to Mothers, she noted, had been done year after year in the form of a play. “I wanted to bring my own concept about Mother’s Day. Instead of a play, I [went] with fashion which I call The Fashion Trap, … a springboard for budding designers spearheaded by award winning designer Nelsion Nurse. I also turned the stage into a café called ‘The Purple Café’ where we would have a grand piano on the stage surrounded by people sitting at tables on the stage dining. When music played, they got up and danced,” Simone shared.
Purple Arts Production began its version in 2016, with its fourth edition being in 2019. There were no shows in 2020 and 2021. As such, this is the show’s fifth year production.
Along with Nelsion, Simone shared, there are four new people on board for this year’s event: talented writer Mosa Telford who will be serenading the audience with her amazing voice; Paul Budnah on strings; Michael Smith on steel pan, and Francis Bailey on the saxophone. The audience will also be treated to the voices of popular artistes Calvin Burnett, Charmaine Blackman, Bonny Alves and Sheron Cadogan.
Formerly, the show was held at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) every year. However, in order to host an event at the NCC now, producers are required to write a letter seeking permission from the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. Simone’s request was denied.
Nonetheless, she was able to secure the GPF Mess Hall in time for the designated date. With the new location, Dowding was able to add a few other activities to make the event even more exciting. This year there is a cocktail bar and unlike the NCC where attendees can only have refreshments at the bar during intermission, the GPF Mess Hall will allow patrons to enjoy the show while sipping on their cocktails.
And while they do so, makeup enthusiasts can look forward to having their makeup done by former Miss Universe Guyana, model and makeup artist Meleesa Payne.
There will be booths with locally made pepper sauce and other sauces as well as plants. The best dressed mother in purple will win a beautiful piece of jewellery from L Seepersaud Maraj and Sons. There is also jewellery for the second best dressed mother in purple sponsored by Sunflower Jeweller. A lucky patron will also win a lovely piece of furniture from Jermaine’s Woodworking Establishment. Patrons will also benefit from hampers sponsored by Muneshwar’s Limited.
The show begins at 8 pm and runs for an hour and a half.
Tickets cost $2,500 and can be purchased by contacting 685-0743.
