The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

THIRTY years later and the laughter lives on. The Dundas Centre was filled to capacity last week, as faithful followers of “Summer Madness”, the annual James Catalyn and Friends show, staged its anniversary performance.

The 30th anniversary performance took a sarcastic and ironic look at topical and timely subjects in Bahamian society today; poking fun at politics, and of course “the dig up roads”.

“I always come because I know I can count on a good laugh. If you remember, there is one thing he said at the end of the play. He encouraged people to laugh at themselves and I like that, this is what I always get from it. He had many funny parts in the show tonight but one of my favourite themes would have to be the “Prison Life”.

Even though the situation is one we are facing in the Bahamas everyday, he made persons look into it and understand it, and made them laugh while doing it,” said MJ Sands, a college student, who attended the show on account of a school field trip. This was not her first time seeing a James Catalyn theatrical experience, however.

In “Prison Life”, the two actors Kennedy Storr and Eric Adderley play an ex convict and a police officer. They have a conversation based on a local perception that prison life is the “sweet life”.

The actor playing the ex con paced around the stage appearing stressed out due to the fact that no one would hire him because of his criminal record.

Approached by the police officer, he was accused of loitering around in the street and causing trouble. The conversation went back and forth with the ex con “schooling” the police on the life of a prisoner. In the end, the ex con suggested that the police officer arrest him because his life would be better in prison than on the street without a job.

“The great thing about James Catalyn is that he keeps everything current. Whatever has transpired in the past year, you can definitely be assured that you can come here, sit down and laugh at some event from earlier on in the year, so it is a lot of fun,” said actor Leslie Ellis-Tynes, who performed i

“The New Relationship” and “The Prom” skits. She has been a regular member of the Summer Madness cast for four years now, and believes it is a refreshing treat to keep coming back for more laughter. Leslie said her favourite part in the show, from a “biased” point of view, was her performance in The Prom. However, she said there were many great moments to pick and choose from, such as the “Her Majesty” skit.

Matthew Wildgoose, who acted in “His Majesty”, said his second year in the show was rewarding, as the experience only gets better as the years roll on.

“The skits changed, but they all are just a reflection of what we do everyday such as politics and things in society. We just make fun of these things, because if you don’t laugh about it, you will cry about it,” said Matthew.

Another audience member and first time Summer Madness patron, Jessie Ferguson, said she thought the event touched on a comprehensive selection of issues from the past years. She said it gave people a good belly aching laugh and also food for thought.

“One of the most profound messages communicated during the play is the role everyone plays in crime. This has been probably the most talked about issue over the past year, especially during the election season. I thought people especially parents needed to hear that if their children are socialized, and brought up in the right way, then maybe they would think twice about stealing, committing murder or doing some other heinous crime.  I guess ultimately that is what James Catalyn was trying to communicate, that crime starts first in the home,” said Jessie.

For 48 year old Theresa Simms, a Summer Madness enthusiast of 20 years, the show never gets old.

“People may sit down and think it is all about the laughter, but I think it is way more than that. The themes and the topics are funny, but if you pay close attention, you will understand how important they are. Tonight there was emphasis on the dig up roads, school children that are uneducated, the crime issues, people who scam and the prison system. The acts were hilarious, I still can’t stop laughing when I think of it, but it made people think. People in the audience were laughing, but they were also shaking their heads in agreement,” said Theresa.