On Friday, August 19, at 6:30 p.m., book and theatre lovers are invited to enjoy Theatre Night at Bookophilia, where they will be entertained by a theatrical re-enactment of scenes from Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine, from the book 3 Jamaican Plays, produced by Paul Issa Publications.
August is Caribbean Books Month at Bookophilia, and Theatre Night marks the first in a series of events that highlight the depth and dynamic nature of our culture. Theatre Night at Bookophilia promises to transport the audience back to postcolonial Jamaica, to revive the enigmatic characters Katie and Lettie, to be played by Nadeane Rawlins and Hilary Nicholson.
“Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine” by Patricia Cumper, Honor Ford-Smith, Carol Lawes, Hertencer Lindsay and Eugene Williams, is a long time favourite for many theatre lovers. The play tells the story of two homeless women- one Black and the other white- who battle for control of a dilapidated colonial mansion which both call home. As each woman attempts to persuade the other that the house belongs to them, they weave tales of belonging based on old colonial narratives of the good servant and good master. The play addresses issues concerning gender and colonial stereotypes.
The book 3 Jamaican Plays also features“Masqueraders” by Stafford Ashani and “Whiplash” by Ginger Knight.” Paul Issa, publisher, conveyed his excitement and describes the book as more than a series of plays. “[It is also] a social and political history of that period in Jamaica’s history between the optimism of Independence and the cynicism and economic and social difficulties of the 1990s and beyond.”
Issa continues, “…we are proud of this project, because we feel we have preserved pieces of Jamaican culture that would otherwise have disappeared and ended up in cardboard boxes in someone’s garage. Instead, these plays will continue to live by being taught in schools and universities and performed in theatres and will become part of the cannon of Caribbean literature.”
Theatre Night is being held in partnership with Paul Issa Publications.
Bookophilia is an independent bookstore, specializing in content across a wide array of genres. It is located at 92 Hope Road, Kingston 6. Guests are encouraged to browse and read from the eclectic collection of bestsellers, prize winning titles and Caribbean classics including Dog Heart by Diana McCaulay, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua, Good to Great by Jim Collins and On the Coast and Other Poems by Wayne Brown. Bookophilia is open 7 days a week, with services that include a café, free Wi-Fi and Saturday morning children’s storytime.
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