Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
Ryan, a student in the Managing Entertainment Events course at VTDI does a one-man skit as a country preacher. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE VERY serious business of providing fun was put to the test on Saturday night at the Vocation Training and Development Institute (VDTI) on Gordon Town Road, St. Andrew.
'Out Of Many, One Sinting a Fusion of Fashion, Food and Live Entertainment' was an on-stage examination for the students of the Producing Entertainment Events module of the Managing Entertainment Events course at VTDI and play for most of the people who occupied about half of the chairs arranged in an arc before the stage at the well laid out campus' Communication Lab. Most, but not all, as there were unidentified judges in the audience.
The students' often dual roles of production and performance were underscored close to the end of the first segment of the show, when the evening's host and student Amelia Sewell was about to announce poet Kamal Stephenson. There was a pause for a stoop and scoop up, as Stephenson, dressed in full black in his role as stage manager, came on stage to retrieve the white headwrap and skirt left by the previous performer, dancer Roneisha (incidentally, the daughter of another student).
PROBLEMS
The problems with the floodlights that delayed the start of the show and which Sewell pleaded lenience for were over and dispensed with when The Gleaner arrived at 8:00 p.m., with opening performer, poet Marsha Hall, starting the live entertainment segment of brief performances. The fashion, Image Wear worn by a quintet of female Finesse Models, was interspersed with the live performances, while the food, notably from Livity Restaurant, was set up on the pavilion outside the Communication Lab.
The models, who appeared three times to good reception and student Ryan, who delivered a one-man skit in the garb and speech of a country preacher, deservedly got the most stage time. The young ladies saved most of the heat for the grand finale in very hot summer wear, bustier tops, jolly bottom cheeks and all, although the first model up in their initial showing before intermission had set the pace for some steam in a short shorts pink set.
'BEEZY' SHIRT
Ryan, in brown felt hat, oversized shades, two-tone shoes, a very 'beezy' shirt and an equally florid, floral tie, introduced himself as the 'Reverend Honourable Grand Overseer Deputy Bishop' from the 'Jehovah's Witness, First Born, Church of God, Pentecostal Church'. The titles set the stage for a rollicking delivery in which he attributed the existence of Captain's Bread to Jesus resisting temptation in the wilderness, dropped in Bounty Killer's trademark 'yow hello!' and advised that "lying is an abomination to the Lord, but a present help in times of trouble".
Ryan left laughter in his wake as he gave his hat to a member of the audience with the request to 'take up the offering' and left.
The deejay/singer male duo TMX from Portmore and a trio of ladies from Dance Theatre Xaymaca who danced to the live cut of Bob Marley's Exodus to very good applause, were the other guests for the concert examination.
And, at the end of it all, Sewell thanked all for coming out and reminded those present of the serious nature of putting on fun.
"It was a long road getting here and it is all over now," she said.
