THE YAM LIFT: Maas Joshie (Ray Jarrett) huffs and puffs his way to win the yam-lifting competition in the LTM Pantomime Runner Boy opening Boxing Day, December 26, at the Little Theatre. - Contributed

A few persons got a glimpse of what's in store at the 2008-09 Pantomime Runner Boy at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, on December 26. The event was launched last Monday at the Little Theatre and it showcased some songs and dialogue from the script, as well as a synopsis of the story.

Runner Boy, set in Yam Hill, tells the story of the people (Maas Joshie and Miss Janey, Chicken Foot, Marcus, Denny, etc). At their annual village fair, the Yamalympics, Marcus, who wins the Yam Dash, goes on to represent the village at Champs in the town. But he faces challenges from a fellow villager as well as others who share his status.

Challenges

The Pantomime launch began with a welcome and then a chiding of those who were expected, but were late, by Barbara Gloudon, writer of Runner Boy.

In her opening speech, Gloudon also highlighted some of the challenges faced by the production team. Despite a request to take, Pantomime back to the country, this could not be done as "there is no space for performance". The Pantomime needs more space than is available at schools in rural Jamaica.

Creating the appropriate costume designs for Runner Boy was also challenging. The required designs should be that of fairy tale costumes, thus enhancing the spectacle. Despite the obstacles, the Pantomime team has found ways to make the production interesting, Gloudon continued.

To reinforce her point, the cast of Runner Boy was invited onstage to perform selected scenes. Dressed in bright colours depicting people of various professions in Yam Hill, they sang 'Morning Light' and a light interplay between Maas Joshie and Miss Jane called 'Womanlogics'. 'Ketch Dem Tief', another entertaining piece about a thief on a motorcycle, provided advice on how to deal with crooks.

The audience was also given a taste of Yamalympics, the premier showpiece of props and controlled acting by the cast.

The very colourful characters were also introduced to the audience.

Lead roles

They included Chicken Foot and his son Lickle Chicken, who aspires to be a singer but sings worse than a croaking frog, and Man-Man, who is as dumb as a nail.

Unlike previous Pantomimes, the lead roles in Runner Boy will be played by the younger members of the cast. But familiar faces, lead by Faith Bucknor, will grace the stage.

The production team has the regular line-up: music by Grub Cooper; movement - Rex Nettleford; stage management - Lauriston 'Larry' Watson, and, Bobby Clarke as director.

Clarke, for whom this is his seventh Pantomime as the director, hopes "that the presentation is enlightening".

However, Clarke should have no fear as two young members of the audience, 11-year-old Asharde Wright, liked what she saw, in particular the 'Rastaman' (Lickle Chicken), and eight-year-old Tyrecse Walters "liked the dancing and the singing".

"Go team Yam Hill," sing the villagers as they give a rousing salute to the Yam Hill Team on its way to Champs in a dress rehearsal of the LTM National Pantomime, Runner Boy. - Contributed