ASHE in 'Curfew - The Musical' at the Little Theatre on Tuesday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance photographer

The ASHE Performing Arts Company is known for its energetic, but sometimes controversial productions. On Tuesday the company began its 2009 season with the restaging of Curfew - The Musical, a production that is real in content but uncomfortable for some.

The season is dubbed 'Sweet 16' but there was nothing sweet about the brutal existence of the characters, residents of Barrack, an inner-city community. Their plight was reinforced by well-coordinated sound effects of gun shots, sirens and screams, creating graphic images in the minds of the audience at the Little Theatre.

Placed under curfew to stem the flow of violence that plague their community, the residents of Barrack live under a cloud of nightly barrage of gunfire from both their protector (the police) and their tormentor and the antagonist, Satta, the don (played by Michael Holgate).

Their despair worsens when a peace concert, planned by the protagonist, Trevor (Ifidel Williams), erupts into a fiery destruction of the Barrack community centre, destroying lives and properties.

"I like it," a member of the audience told The Gleaner at intermission. "Things like that happen in my community. It is real."

Story flaws

The reality check in the story did not manifest totally in the production's directing and acting. There were some flaws. Split focus was constant, especially each time the radio/television broadcaster (not sure which), played by Sharee McDonald-Russell, came into action.

Another flaw was the mixing of styles and real water coming from a tap that clearly had no running water. The overuse of the upstage area around the pipe was somewhat annoying as well.

The performances were mixed. Generally, the roles were captured well and the costumes were spot-on. Likewise, the members were spectacular in their execution of Holgate's choreography. The principal characters had some difficulties. Articulation was a major hiccup, Orlando Pinto, as Gungo was one of the guilty persons, chiefly in the delivery of his songs.

Credit must go to Anika Hill (Jeanne) who was especially great on vocals. Taunia Flowers was almost brilliant in her characterisation of Mama T. Williams as well, and gave a very emotional performance toward the end of the play.

A true test of how well an actor plays the antagonist in any drama is the audience's response to him or her in the curtain call. Holgate, who also co-directed this second staging of Curfew - The Musical, might have started weak but his acting and delivery improved with each appearance. So it was quite fitting that he was given the antagonist treatment by the audience when he took his curtain call.

Curfew - The Musical was first directed by Trevor Nairne, who also designed the set. The set was practical but not completely functional. Its graffiti-decorated high walls helped to create the illusion of a community in turmoil but begged for some questions: Why was the clothes-line at the corner of the street? Where were the gates to at least one of the houses on the street?

Overall, the ASHE Sweet 16 Season of Excellence, with its different productions (Lift Up Jamaica , Brawta, Boonoonoonoos), promises to be entertaining.