Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

Inez (Kajha Escoffery) pleads with her brother, Brisoce (Lee Patience), not to fight Tiny Satan.

Filled with fun and littered with music, 'Man Better Man' at the Philip Sherlock Centre, UWI campus last Sunday evening held the audience's attention.

The adaptation of Trinidadian playwright Errol Hill's 1960s play, was dubbed 'Jamaica Style' and put on by the Jamaica Youth Theatre and the Philip Sherlock Centre. This was seen in the use of the Jamaican dialect, with a few musical references to the likes of Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Munga and others. 'Man Better Man' tells the story of a village's struggle to be released from the web of superstitions created by the local obeah man Papa D.

This struggle begins with a young man, Briscoe (played by Lee Patience), who enters the ring of stick fighting to win the love of the proud Miss Lily (Honica Brown). Briscoe goes up against the fearsome Tiny Satan and seeks the help of Papa D to make him win. Unknown to the village Papa D is the archetypical 'trickster', using his cleverness to outsmart his minions. One of the funnier scenes is when Briscoe goes to Papa D's hut in the forest to seek his 'spiritual power'. Papa D has Briscoe stand in a tub of water and chants foolishly over him, while he spins him around in circles.

Rumour

Papa D tries to convince Portuguese Joe of his power, as Joe looks on in disbelief in 'Man Better Man', put on by the Jamaica Youth Theatre and The Philip Sherlock Centre, held at Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, UWI, Mona, on Sunday. - photos by Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer

However Papa D plots to spread a rumour that Briscoe will win while he bets on Tiny Satan and steals all the gambling money. In a matrix-dance like stick fight Briscoe loses and takes it out on Papa D but is clubbed in the head by Papa D's assistant Minee Woopsa. In the end Briscoe's so called ghost comes back to haunt Papa D who confesses and Briscoe is crowned the champion.

A well done set, creative lighting and music helped to create the right ambience. Dike Rostant who played Papa D stole the scene whenever he took the stage. A young Trinidadian actor, Rostant's booming voice and expressions were amusing and had the true trickster flair. Another stand out was Rising Star's O'Neil Peart who played Hannibal, the local musician.

In an effort to better interact with the crowd, the actors sometimes entered the stage from the stands, which often surprised and shocked the audience. Not attempting the play in its Trinidadian format was probably the best decision, as it would have seemed fake and less understandable by the audience. In a generation that is filled with comedies and littered with roots plays it is good to see a classic work of West Indian literature enacted on stage by the young and inventive cast and crew.