Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Oliver Samuels

A full house turned out for laughing matters in a serious cause at the ballroom of The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday evening. An a wet weekend's final spatters of rain were a damper outside, there were no wet blankets at 'Come Mek We Laugh', a benefit for the Musgrave Home for Girls, as the laughter was loud, long and lingering.

Still, rain was on Barbadian MacFingal's mind, who asked whether it was always raining in Jamaica. "Shower. Is that the new slogan?" he asked. And he noted that "in Barbados we have potholes in the road. In Jamaica you have roads in your potholes. You take care of your potholes well. Make sure they are deep".

He also addressed the matter of 'bun', or 'horn' as it is called in Barbados. "There is nothing wrong with getting bun. Is when you find out," he said, defining he who buns as a 'bunner' and he who gets bun as a 'bunee'.

Cautioning the men

MacFingal ended by cautioning the men that there was no way to 'mash up' a woman, to which there was applause. He related his attempt, for which he drank "ginsing, ginsang and ginsung". He put in the work and felt proud, but half an hour after he felt a tap on his shoulder. When he asked the fellow down below if he was up to the task there was a 'no', MacFingal swinging a hand below his waist to indicate the nodding nay.

There was laughter all around and host Oliver Samuels remarked that the Barbadian had demonstrated a level of artistry, showing that "yu can be nasty but clean".

There was song before inter-mission, as Voicemail explored 'Bembe' and showed the 'Doctor Bird', among many other dances. There was a touch of humour in their songs, which were sometimes delivered with too much volume and not enough attention to harmony, as at points members of the trio did a seated dance delivery.

After the break it was more dance from Dance Theatre Expressionz, a trio of ladies and one man dancing to tracks from Assassin and Beenie Man. Then it was laughter and insight with Elva, who intoned a trademark, "Yeh Yeah" to spark anticipatory laughter before she hit the stage.

She explored Portmore living and living free in that order, Elva presenting herself as a tour guide who invites all to "come and see the toll road, where you pay your toll and sit in the traffic for six hours". Then there was the invitation to "the redlight district of 'Back Road', see things on sale you have never seen before".

Portmore joke

As for the quads, she said, "I think when Matalon did a design them he had GP in mind, but him just call it Greater Portmore. They are small, they are hot, there is no ventilation." But she swore by her quad and its conveniences, as "if you are lying on the bed an yu waan go bathroom yu jus' shif'".

"Yu can cook, wash an use bathroom same time," Eva said to more laughter.

Elva said that she had quit her job, realising that "many times people live to work. A no so it fi go. Yu mus' work to live". And her freedom continued with her car 'Roopsiloops', a Toyota Starlet with no a/c, but winding down the window would bring in SSB. So So Breeze.

"I am free," she said throughout, describing her reintroduction to the public transport system at the demise of 'Roopsiloops'. "Me learn sey one an ready is a lie," Elva said.

Apache Chief and Sarge mixed music and comedy to close 'Come Mek We Laugh' with an extended run, the Chief in his combination of all types of security calling up Apache who responded with "I are here". It was the beginning of an interview with a simulated Reneto Adams, in whose distinctive voice Apache Chief said "before the Braeton killing I was nobody. After the Braeton killing my career took off".

There were screams as he dropped the Reneto drawl for 'Alicia Padlock', as he sang beautifully, the duo working through CD problems for imitations of Gregory Isaacs, Buju Banton and Lady Saw.

And there was a change for Sarge as well, who left the stage to return cross, angry and miserable in a spot-on imitation of Bounty Killer in speech, dress and deejaying. Apache Chief interviewed him as Michael Sharpe ("I hear you lick Angel") then became Mavado in voice for them to move the house mightily.

And then Chief dropped a 'Hear Attack' Beenie Man style, the 'Killer' stalked off and 'Come Mek We Laugh' was over.