You could feel the emotional charge of the patrons as they left Centre Stage after watching the ASHE Caribbean Performing Arts Foundation’s, latest staging of ‘Curfew: The Reggae Musical Of Our Times”, last Wednesday evening. This award winning musical cleverly incorporates and reflects the harsh realities and the true spirit of inner-city life.
The story follows the lives of residents in Barracks, an inner-city garrison, in the midst of a curfew, implemented to control the frequent outbreaks of violence. Amidst longstanding disorder in the community, the members try to create peace in every way possible.There is fall out between the Don, Satta, and Trevor, an aspiring musician, as Satta tries to influence one young community member, Gungu, to become a gunman.Trevor, realizing what is happening encourages Gungu to stand strong and this angers Satta, who begins a series of reprisals against Trevor.The community is drawn in by their allegiance to Satta and their comradrie with Trevor.Eventually, the truth of Satta’s actions are revealed, Satta is arrested, and peace is restored to Barracks.
The set creates the real life ambience of a garrison, with the community standpipe, bullet holes, zinc fences, graffiti, shoes hung over a wire symbolizing lost loved ones, and board houses. ‘Cass cass, passa passa, mix-up, blenda…” Curfew begins on a typical ‘ghetto morning’: wash your face, drink your tea, throw on a jersey, jump into a skirt, go on the road. The ghetto girls get their hair done, while the boys on the corner can be seen ‘holding a meditation’: the typical ghetto scene.
The drama is played out with a series of original songs and dances that elicit strong emotions and reinforce the message of unity for peace. Artistic Director of ASHE, Michael Holgate, who also played the notorious Don ‘Satta’, and the rest of the Curfew cast, took the audience through a kaleidoscope of emotions. One actress in particular, ‘Caroline’, played by Latoya Moulton, was exceptional at bringing her character to life and engaged the audience with her brilliant performance.
Curfew is a must see. A series positive messages are sent as the play brings to life the issues of the inner city. Issues of extortion, crime, police corruption, and manipulation are explored. According to one enthusiastic patron, Vanessa Foote, “It was very good, very interesting, all the elements of drama were present and a very good ending. It would be a good idea for ASHE to do this in schools and communities”. Curfew is a true interpretation of what unity can do to realize the dreams and aspirations of those in the inner-city, as expressed by Othniel Nation aka ‘Trevor’ “I want to go back to a time in Jamaica when every youth want to hold a guitar or a tune, not a gun.”
The production is sponsored and promoted in association with USAID who played an integral part in making Curfew a reality. Also present was Ms. Ann-Marie Campbell, representative of Jamaica’s Solution To Youth Lifestyles and Empowerment (JA S.T.Y.L.E) and director of the play, whose project was responsible for the commissioning of the script and the theatrical production over all.
ASHE is the recipient of numerous commendations in the recently staged Actor Boy Awards, including the Actor Boy Awards for Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Actor In A Lead Role, Best Original Score and Best Original Song.
