The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

SUMMER MADNESS, the longest running theatrical production in the Bahamas, promises to live up to its reputation and serve up laughter while taking a satirical look at timely issues when it returns for the 32nd time next month.

The production, presented by James Catalyn and Friends, will take place at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts. The event is slated for September 11-13, with an encore presentation from September 19-20.

The team of veterans, amateurs and newcomers are excited to present the event for the 32nd time around.

“We are very proud that we have been running for 32 years, no one has been running longer,” Juliet Holmes, writer and member of James Catalyn and Friends.

“Once again we are going with typical, topical and timely topics. So there are several skits that touch on day-to-day Bahamian life. We want people to laugh at themselves. The show right now is fully cast. We have been in preparation and rehearsals have been going good. We have some of our veterans coming back to stage after a hiatus.”.

Celebrating 32 years of existence, especially in the world of Bahamian theatre, is no small feat. Ms Holmes said she believes James Catalyn’s longevity lies in his ability to get people to laugh at themselves and address current issues.

“The show has gotten so popular right now that we actually had to add an encore week. Ordinarily we do not do an encore week, but we found that so many people want to see the show. There are some people who see the show three or four times in the one week. We do not like turning people away and we would love for everyone to see it,” she said.

“I think what is really popular about the show is that James pokes fun at everyone. Some people say, ‘Oh well, you can’t say this about a particular government or you cannot say this about a particular person’, but there is no off-limits to James. Everyone enjoys that. There is not any malice involved; there is no slander involved, because everything he says is truth. People can identify with every skit because you can identify with the people; either you are that person, you have some of those traits, or you know somebody who is like what is being portrayed in the skits. Being able to relate those things to your life and still have a good laugh, that is what encourages people.”

One of Mr Catalyn’s goals for Summer Madness in recent years has been to allow some of the group’s members to write skits for the play. The group has presented the writings of Val Maura, Graham Thordarson, Neil Cleare, Jevon Butler and Dwain Wallace. This year, the cast will also be performing skits by Ms Holmes and Jevon Butler.

“James has written some of the skits and some of our cast members have written some skits that we will be performing in the show. James has decided to come out of retirement, so he will be the director of the show this year, which is a nice little treat,” Ms Holmes said.

“Everyone has their own writing style that we tend to stay true to, but at the same time when we write we try to write the skits, not so that they conform to James’ way of writing, but that it feels similar and so that it is not such a stark deviation. The writing by other team members fits in the show without sticking out too much.”

All performances will begin at 8pm. For more information, contact the Dundas’ box office.