Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Olicer Samuels stars in 'Class of '73' as teacher B.B. Bringle. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JAMBIZ INTERNATIONAL knows what their audiences are looking for and so once again they present a healthy serving of laughter with their latest Christmas production, Class of '73. Written by Patrick Brown and directed by Trevor Nairne, it is a case of 'takin' serious tings mek laugh', recognising that what you are dealing with is serious business.
Using laughter as the proverbial sugar to make the medicine go down, Class of '73 tackles the treatment of some children as substandard human beings and relegating them to failure even before they get a chance. As though it is not hard enough at ages 10 - 12 to be subjected to a test that will determine the level of education you will receive, the system is compounded by conceptions of race and class that mark some children as the beasts of ignorance. They are chalked up as 'unteachable' and are left behind and relegated to failure.
IMPRESSIVE CAST
Class of '73 boasts an impressive cast. It is once again headed by Oliver Samuels and Glen Campbell. Samuels plays B.B. Bringle, the new teacher of class 6Z at Ackee Tree All-Age, while Campbell once more tackles multiple roles. His main role is that of the Milo, along with a supporting performance as Drop Short, the school's principal. The rest of the supporting cast features Courtney Wilson as Mutombo, Camille Davis doubling up as Raquel and Hattie, and Sharee McDonald-Russell as Phoebe.
NOT THE SHARPEST PENCILS
Indeed, the members of the class are clearly not the sharpest pencils in the draw, but they have also been severely dulled by misuse, abuse and poverty. Yet, with laughter as its tool and though there are a few serious moments toward the end, Class of '73 shakes off most of its heaviness, presenting hilariously ironic scenes such as the children singing (with big smiles on their faces) that they cannot be "movitated" and are, as such, the "what lef' back".
Bringle, as intellectually challenged as his students, is your classic Oliver character. He is loud, cantankerous and scheming. Rather than teaching, he spends most of his time insulting them. There are a few of the insults that are so cutting, laughter might actually stick in one's throat. Bringle's worst trait is not his own questionable education, but rather his commitment to his student's worthlessness.
AUTHENTIC REPRESENTATION
Campbell clearly went back to school to tap into childhood movements; and goes beyond an adult acting like a child to present an authentic representation of a child. Davis and Wilson, who were both in Jambiz's last play, Vibes, also do a good job, though Davis has not yet mastered Hattie, as the broad accent she goes after occasionally slips. Nonetheless, there are commendable performances from the younger members of the cast, including McDonald-Russell.
Additionally, the music is particularly enjoyable, both from a musical and lyrical standpoint, and the production also benefits from good choreography. Class of '73 handles its subject well, but is driven more by entertaining dialogue than by plot. Indeed, though the play attempts to escape being too fairytale-like, its final scenes drag a little and the audience involvement (though quite entertaining) this time feels like a time filler.
Overall, Class of '73 is quite hilarious. It deals with a serious subject matter, but one will be laughing quite hard, while one discovers that that is so.
