Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Actors confront each other in a scene from 'Nuff an' Plenty'. The occassion was the launch of the 2007 National Pantomime at the Little Theatre on Tuesday.

As Barbara Gloudon introduced members of the 2007 National Pantomime's production team at the Little Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, St. Andrew, on Tuesday evening, she said that "it is the longest-surviving theatre tradition in the English-speaking Caribbean."

And, she noted that keeping that tradition "is very difficult because we have no subsidy", this in a situation where there is a "punishing deadline", as Gloudon said, "every year it opens December 26, at 6:00 p.m., not 7:30 p.m."

When the curtain goes up on the 67th National Pantomime at the Little Theatre it will be Nuff an' Plenty on stage, as the community of that name is engulfed in a power struggle between Miss Gertie (Doreen King) and Gravalicious Brown (George Howard), the latter promising all the opportunity to head to the promised land of foreign through the pearly gates of the 'embassy'.

Robert 'Bobby' Clarke is the director, Grub Cooper is responsible for the music, with Calvin 'Bubbles' Cameron leading the orchestra, while Kevin Moore, George Howard and Rex Nettleford take care of movement. The design team comprises Michael Lorde (set), Anya Gloudon (costumes), Symonne Coombs (props), Michael McDonald (lighting) and Lauriston Watson (stage management).

Book and lyrics are by Barbara Gloudon.

Mixture of music

Before some of the song and dance from Nuff an' Plenty was presented on Tuesday evening to an audience which included Institute of Jamaica executive director Vivian Crawford and former Creative Production Training Centre head Wycliffe Bennett, Gloudon pointed out that there is a mixture of music, including dancehall, ska and reggae.

The dancehall was immediately evident in the first number and a few of the dances were very familiar, including the 'Willie Bounce' and 'Rock Away', as the players sang the delights of Nuff an' Plenty, where "when yu visit ya yu nah left empty".

It was not all flying arms and legs, though, as when Gravalicious organised the residents of Nuff an' Plenty into a compact chorale to sing the virtues of Embassy oh Embassy they at first stood at attention, then did reserved swaying.

After members of the cast were introduced, the preview of Nuff an' Plenty ended with a rerun of Pem-Peh-Lem.

After opening on Boxing Day, Nuff an' Plenty runs from December 27 to 29 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 30, at 4:30 p.m. There is no show on New Year's Eve and it resumes on New Years Day at 6:00 p.m. Showtime on January 4 and 5 is 7:30 p.m. and at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 6. Thereafter, it is on on Fridays and Saturdays in January at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 4:30 p.m.

Doreen King is an animated Miss Gertie during the launch of the 2007 National Pantomime at the Little Theatre on Tuesday. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer