Paula Anne Porter (centre). she is surrounded by curious playmates (from left) Kathy Owen, Judith Bodley and Dahlia Harris in a scene from the Jambiz-produced Children Children.
JAMBIZ INTERNATIONAL, producers of several award-winning productions including Breadfruit Kingdom, is at it again with the remounting of the popular Children Children. This is a production with a difference. The producers have pulled out all the stops to put some of the leading media personalities on the same stage. When the register is marked for Children Children, theatre-goers will see another side of FAME FM's Paula-Anne Porter and Judith Bodley, TVJ's Dahlia Harris, and RJR's Gerry McDaniel. Kathy Owen (formerly of CVM TV) makes a re-entry having performed in the 1998 production. Completing the cast are popular actors, Munair Zacca, Winston 'Bello' Bell, John Jones and Angella Jarrett.
Uniform and ribbons, short khaki pants and epaulettes make for serious transformations. But, how are these media personalities handling drama on stage? Judith Bodley says that she has always wanted to act. "I'm learning and loving every minute of it, though it was a huge shock that it was such hard work". Paula-Ann Porter is not exactly a newcomer to stage. She tells us modestly that in the Secondary Schools' Drama Festival, she was adjudged Best actress for her role in the play Legacy for Isabel. "However, I'm not laying any claim to being an Actress" she cautions. "So far it has been very hard work, but it has been great!"
Dahlia Harris comes to the production with a wealth of experience from the Jamaica Cultural Development Comm-ission's (JCDC) National Per-forming Arts Competitions. She has been performing in the competitions since the tender age of four. She went on to be President of the Creative Arts Society of the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now UTech). "I think I was born for drama, but does that make me an actress? she laughs. "I'm putting everything into the effort and I believe that the team is working well together".
Gerry McDaniel reveals that he responded with 'childlike enthusiasm' when he was asked to join the cast of Children Children. At the age of four he tested the staged when he appeared as Courage in a Christmas cantata. The love of stage has remained with him all these years.
In the 1997 staging of Children Children, Kathy Owen then a CVM TV presenter, was approached by JAMBIZ to read for a role in the play. She proved without a doubt that she had a natural flair for drama. Shortly after that stint on stage, Kathy was invited to be a member of the star studded cast of the play, Oliver and Pinnochio. Since then she was featured in the locally produced hit movie Third World Cop and has been reading for roles in films and other local productions.
The year 2000 production of Children Children is directed by Lenford Salmon with Jon Williams taking responsibility for musical arrangement and Barbara McDaniel doing movements. Children Children will have a limited run at the Centerstage Theatre.
