Wanton laughter ruled supreme at the Rose Hall Aqueduct in Montego Bay last Thursday as the Cedric 'The Entertainer'-hosted Caribbean Comedy Classic turned out to be quite a rib-tickling experience, chock-full of drama and wittily delivered social commentary.

In fact, except for a few sober moments when time out was taken to pay tribute to pop icon Michael Jackson, who died hours earlier, the Caribbean Classic Golf Invitational (CCGI) event was rich comedy from start to finish.

Jamaican duo Ity and Fancy Cat, who opened the show, used a blend of facial expressions, stage antics and hilarious local and international situations about figures such as former Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, former US President George W. Bush, dancehall stars Beenie Man and D'Angel to induce almost non-stop laughter.

"Jamaicans and Americans react differently to gunshots," Fancy Cat said in one of his many rib-tickling lines. "When Americans hear a shot, they wait around to find out what is happening. That is why you have so many people dying in those college shootings. In Jamaica, as we hear a shot we gone."

It was quite clear that host Cedric 'The Entertainer' did his homework as he was able to serve up several Jamaican slangs laced with patios. His interpretation of the 'bias' reaction to the Chris Brown/Rihanna domestic spat all but brought the house down when he asked, "Where were these people (those who wanted to see Brown sent to jail) would Lionel Richie got his butt whopped?"

alternate fuel

Cedric drew even more laughter when he argued against using marijuana to make alternate fuel, saying cars could start behaving like 'stoned out' smokers. He had the Jamaican members of the audience cracking up when he related an experience of seeing eight persons piling into a small Toyota Corolla car, which was already loaded with construction material.

International comedian/actor Bill Bellamy infused sex, thug life and real-life experience to stunning effect in his highly animated presentation in which he poked fun at rapper Jay-Z, his wife Beyoncé and rapper 50 Cent.

"How many of you believe that Jay-Z, with his ugly face, would have gotten a second glance from Beyoncé if he was not that wealthy?" Bellamy asked. "I want to know how 50 Cent got shot nine times and still maintains his swagger."

Renowned comedian Tommy Davidson, who was both dramatic and expressive, added a singing dimension to his routine and delivered jokes about US President Barack Obama, the Latino community and African-American icon Sammy Davis Jr. He really had the patrons cracking up as he demonstrated the mannerisms of Spanish newscasters.

Latino comedian Johnny Sanchez, whose facial expression alone was enough to elicit laughter, his female Latino counterpart Jill Michelle Meean and the Miami-based Malin S. Sanon all added their special touch to the humour that flowed.

Sanon had one memorable line when he described 'child support' as the latest sexually transmitted disease, while Sanchez drew a bellyful of laugh when he described how young attractive Mexican men's bellies get big and their hands grow short when they get old.

- Adrian Frater