Theater Review: Jamaica Farewell - A One-Woman Tour de Force - Page 3

We know she’s determined to get out of Jamaica. We know she’ll meet a lot of characters along the way. We want to meet them too, but we also want her to get where she’s going. For a few minutes these purposes crossed, making a couple of scenes in the latter part of the narrative a little longer and more repetitive than they needed to be, more anecdotal than essential. Another round of editing could tighten the places that sag.

We have Dorothy McCleod and the JCA to thank for bringing this excellent performance to the Los Angeles area. If you missed it, you missed an outstanding night. Along with the exhibit of Jamaican artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes paintings, the tantalizing tastes of Derrick’s Jamaican Cuisine, and the music from guitarist Olajide Paris at the reception afterward, the evening was a showcase for the richness of this island’s artistic community. (My only complaint was not winning the raffle of two Air Jamaica tickets to the island!)

Luckily, if you’re in Southern California, you have a few more chances to see this wonderful production: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 16th and 17th at 8 pm at the Luna Playhouse, 3706 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA (Reservations: 818-500-7200 or armeniantheatreco@sbcglobal.net) or Sunday Jan 7th at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 (Reservations 818-939-1026 or jamaicafarewell@yahoo.com for more information).

Article Author: Kathy Jones

Kathleen B. Jones is a writer and former professor of women’s studies at San Diego State University, where she taught for nearly a quarter century. In addition to four scholarly books on feminist politics, she published one memoir, Living Between Danger …

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