You are in for a treat when “My Best Friend Marriage†meets “Fatal Attraction†on Canada’s theatrical platform … Caribbean style!
“Till I Find A Placeâ€Â, the classic Guyana stage play will première with a gala dinner and theatre performance on October 31st, 2009 for a total of five performances, ending November 15th 2009; to be held at three locations across the GTA: Etobicoke, Brampton and Scarborough. In spite of its mature theme, “Till I Find A Place†is for the entire family as it takes a look at what can happen in a household when best friends ONLY Commandment is broken – “Thou shall not let YOUR BEST FRIEND stay at YOUR HOUSE even if … THEIR HOUSE fell down LAST NIGHT.â€Â
{rokbox text=| Watch the Youtube Video|} http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzVDi8QFxE {/rokbox}
Prince SMAHO Productions in association with SMAHO Arts Workshop and Guild present “Till I Find A Placeâ€Â, the ever popular Guyanese stage play, written by noted Guyanese award winning actor, director, and playwright, Ronald Hollingsworth, who holds the distinction of winning the best Guyanese playwright awards for four consecutive years (from 1995-98). “Till I Find A Placeâ€Â, remains his most popular and successful play to date.
If you can’t laugh at the pain of life; how about snickering nervously at the puns of a little temptation? ‘Till ah find a Place’, the play asks the audiences to put aside their judgments and fear about extending a helping hand and look at how friendship, can be defined and redefined for selfish reasons.
The pacing is terrific and it is the sort of play where you sometimes laugh because you can’t believe you just laughed or because you clearly can relate to a circumstance. It’s not all dark, either. There’s some well wrought physical comedy that causes unsolicited audience participation.
The key to the success of the humour here is that its main character Linden Lewis doesn’t look to winning audience’s sympathy or laughing at himself; he simply tires to undo something he doesn’t want to accept that he’s done. After adamantly trying to convince his wife Roxanne that it’s never a good idea to have friends come to stay indefinitely because of crises, it’s never good to subject ’friendship’ to certain tests; Lewis falls victim to a man’s needs when his beloved Roxanne is away for an extended absence.
Disgust and detest turn to desire and passion for Donna, the friend who finds herself pregnant and determines she’s going to become the new mistress of the Lewis home. Spurred on by a ‘sweet-boy’ lover Eddie and a need for betterment Donna sets about securing her position to wear her friends’ shoes.
Now let’s talk about the players, the cast: Lead by the talented and versatile John, a household name from in Guyana, where he is regarded as one of the country’s finest actors with numerous awards and acting credits. John is joined on stage by the equally versatile and talented Jamaican born, Damian Brown with whom he had previously worked with on the critically acclaimed Jamaican born, playwright, Devon Haughton’s “Meh Get Meh Landedâ€Â; and the most recently re-staging of “Big Yardâ€Â. The cast is rounded off by seasoned professionals, all of Guyanese and/or Caribbean Heritage, they include: Christie Maingot, Natasha Lewis, Josimar Tulloch and Samantha Mohabir.
“Till I Find A Place†is produced and directed by Shirvington Hannays, who is no stranger to the stage and recently directed Devon Haughton’s “BIG YARDâ€Â, which featured Caribbean comedy icon and the international award winning Jamaican actor, producer, playwright, Mr. Oliver Samuels, O.D., who has been working with Devon Haughton for many years; and who applauded Shirvington for his unique ability in making the playwright’s script “comes to life!â€Â. A trained filmmaker, writer and actor himself, Shirvington is a graduate of the Theatre Guild of Guyana and Centennial College, Toronto. He has worked on more than fifty productions as an actor, producer or director, for which he received several awards and nominations in all categories. He brings his undisputed experience to “Till I Find A Place†and promises “non-stop laughter and thought provoking momentsâ€Â.
For a true ‘taste’ of the Caribbean (as some shows will include Caribbean style dinner), right here in Canada, and in a language that speaks to all generations and cultures, then you don’t want to miss this play. “Till I Find A Place†opens on the 31st of October at the Empire Banquet Halls, 246 Brockport Drive, Etobicoke (Hwy 27/Belfield Road) with a Gala Dinner and theatre performance, priced at $45.00 per person and starts at 7:00PM. Continues on the 6th and 7th of November at the Lester B. Pearson Theatre, 150 Central Park Drive, Brampton (Inside the Civic Centre Building), for theatre only performances, starting 8:00PM nightly at $35 each. Final dinner and theatre performance will be on the 8th and 15th of November, at the Northern Tropics Restaurant, 880 Ellesmere (Kennedy /Ellesmere), Scarborough; priced at $40 each, starting at 6:00PM.
FYI: There is a $5 discount on all tickets purchased in advance from Lester B. Pearson’s Theatre Box office: (905) 874-2800 (theatre only) or, $8.00 off if purchased online at www.tafap.com.

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