June 20, 2006 — Jamaican funnyman Oliver Samuels is back and funnier than ever in his newest comedic play "Class of '73," according to a release issued June 20.
The play premieres in the Virgin Islands July 7 at the Island Center for the Arts on St. Croix, and July 8-9 at the Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas.
In "Class of '73" Samuels draws laughs as Mr. B Bringle, a "hardly-working" teacher, practically rejected by his profession. Mr. Bringle finds himself saddled with a bunch of intellectually challenged social rejects known as grade 6Z. The play follows Mr. Bringle and his class of social misfits on a laugh-a-minute ride towards their unlikely graduation. True to the 1973 setting, Mr. Bringle sports jheri curls and bell-bottom polyester pants.
Behind the humor, "Class of '73" is a statement on the dismal state of the education system. The play's underlying message tackles the treatment of some children as substandard human beings and relegating them to failure even before they get a chance.
"Class of ‘73," written by Patrick Brown and directed by Trevor Nairne, stars Samuels' favorite sidekick Glen Campbell in dual roles as Milo the kleptomaniac and Drop-Short, the bigoted principal of the school. The play also stars Courtney Wilson as Mutombo, a stuttering Rastafarian boy; Sharee McDonald-Russell as Phoebe, a ravenous overweight girl; Camille Davis as Raquel, the fashion-conscious girl; and Orlando Anderson as Carlos, a finger-sucking pervert.
"Class of '73" is in keeping with previous Samuels productions that have thrilled audiences in his native Jamaica and across the Caribbean. His previous sell-out performances at the Reichhold Center for the Arts include: "Ras Noah And The Hawk," "Guava Jelly" and "Christopher Cum-Buck-Us."
"Class of '73" opened at the Centre Stage Theatre in New Kingston, Jamaica, on Dec. 26, 2005.
Tickets are available on St. Croix at Alliance Clothing, Urban Threadz (Sunny Isle) and the UVI Bookstore.
St. Thomas ticket outlets include: V.I. Bridal and Tuxedo, Urban Threadz, Parrot Fish, Modern Music, UVI Bookstore, and the Reichhold Center box office at 693-1559.
