The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

PLAYWRITING has become a favourite pastime for Tamara Moncur.

From stage play scripts for church programmes when serving as a youth director at the All Saints Anglican Church from 2001 to 2005 to forming her very own drama group years later, she said what she enjoys most is being able to make people laugh by way of creative thinking outside the box and writing about everyday life situations.

Her company, After Dark Productions, is a Christian-based drama group that was started with her husband, Franco, in 2012 with the aim to entertain, inspire and motivate the public through drama while embracing Bahamian culture and rebuilding communities “one laugh at a time”.

Tamara will take her talent a step further this Sunday with a live stage play “Christmas on Sapodilla Street” at the National Performing Arts Centre on Shirley Street, starting at 5pm.

The central synopsis of “Christmas on Sapodilla Street” is to unite a small inner city community as it faces various challenges and seeks ways to overcome them. At times the strong opinions and personalities of the characters will clash, which only makes Sapodilla Street an interesting place to live.

The cast of characters is reminded of the real meaning of Christmas and God’s redeeming love by characters Pastor Brown and Ms Myrtis, as they reunite through songs and laughter.

With 12 performers, the stage play will feature exciting characters like Hezi, an old retired drunk played by Franco Moncur; Pearl and Bulah, who are partners in crime known for gossiping and gambling played by Latisa Whyte and Fabia Johnson; and Linda and Danny, the good Christian couple who try to keep the community together played by Tiffany Arahna and Kencil McPhee.

Ms Myrtis, played by Aris Moxey-Flowers, is the mother of Linda who often gives Godly advice from her old school training; Tina, a young Christian lady who gets blinded by love and is viewed as very strange because of her OCD condition, is played by Raquel Pinder; Pastor Brown is the community’s spiritual leader played by Urvan Moxey; Joe the nice, easy going guy is played by Kevin McPhee; and Quila the community “junglis” is played by Carla Sands. Willie is the lover-boy played by Stanley Northe, Victoria Darling the sophisticated “over the top”, “fast” single lady is played by Lonelle Sweeting, and Tamara plays the Prophetess Josie, the over-the-top Christian who always finds a way to remind people of their wicked and evil ways.

The music and vocal team includes Calvin Parker, Gia Smith, Nadia Rodriguez, Michael Zonicle, Destiny Knowles and Mia Smith.

“Phenomenal” is the word that comes to Tamara’s mind when describing the experience of preparing and rehearsing for the upcoming show. She is looking forward to the audience reporting a lively, fun-filled show where they had not only lots of laughter but an experience they will never forget.

“There is never a dull moment at rehearsals as we find it very difficult to get through certain scenes because of the outburst of laughter,” she told Tribune Woman. “The love and support we share in our group and during rehearsals can only bring out the best in us and propel us to the next level.”

She said meeting and working with talented people who share a passion for their gifts always make the job much easier. Her parents have always been her biggest career influence: her father, the late Benjamin Rolle, for his sense of humour, and mother Delores Rolle for her writing abilities.

“I believe Sapodilla Street is the beginning to my ultimate vision of employing singers, dancers, musicians, artists and actors/actresses to become a part of the stage production company, After Dark. After Dark will employ both full-time and part-time talented Bahamians as well as produce a feeder programme for Tots and Teens.

“Sapodilla Street Teens will use teens as cast members addressing various issues and challenges in a live comedy style show while Sapodilla Streets Tots will use puppets and children as a part of the cast to encourage learning, morals and Godly principles,” said Tamara.

In the meantime, she encourages readers and supporters to stay tuned for upcoming stage plays entitled “Murder on Sapodilla Street”, “Polling Day on Sapodilla Street” and “Gunshot Wedding on Sapodilla” coming in 2016.