Tomorrow night, the Belize Theatre Company will premiere its first play for this year. It is called "Cyaant Walk Da Mi Plantaish" and organizers say the production is going to be huge. There will be 8 main cast members, a number of extras, 5 singers, live music, and comedy. We got a sneak peak last night and spoke to two of the leading ladies.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Linda Blease and Jackie Castillo are the main characters in the Belize Theatre Company's production of Kathy Esquivel's "Cyaant Walk Da Mi Plantaish." The play is built around the misadventures of two twins. Linda is one half of the pair and she goes by the name Ditsie.
Linda Blease, 'Ditsie'
"My role is Ditsie. I know it is a far stretch from my personality since I am so sophisticated as you can see. My character is a fun and bubbly type of person. She has a signature laugh and yeah it is very neat I guess, my character. I am kind of out there in the sky and they always have to pull me back down."
Ditsie's other half on stage is Dotty - played by Jackie Castillo.
Jackie Castillo, Dotty
"First of all I like soldier man. I love only white men. I am a little bit more smarter than Ditsie. We are supposed to be twins, it's called fraternal twins, so we don't look anything alike but we're ditzy alike in our own ways and when we get together, you can see that on stage."
The play, which is a musical comedy, is being directed by Diane Haylock but it was written by Kathy Esquivel. Esquivel says the most important element in the play is the music - Belizean folk music - and on all three nights the soundtrack will be performed live with backup from the Wesley College Band.
Kathy Esquivel, Wrote Play
"The story is two young foolish girls whose heads are full of boys and material things and hard times catch the family and they have to go and live on a farm in the country and it is basically their adventures and what happens and how they grow and change through the course of the play. I just thought it would be nice to have a vehicle to bring out Belize folk songs so the story is designed around getting in all the Belize folk songs."
Jackie Castillo,
"It is a comedic play that uses music, dance, and theatre acting all to put off a great show and it's extremely funny. We've been practicing since September. We've gave up our Sundays and all nights; we practiced from like 7:30 to 11. Right now we are practicing from six to almost 12 o'clock to prepare for the show. It is a ton of work so I had any kinds or husbands they would have already left me because we are completely dedicated to our work."
And the harvest of all that work will be reaped on the Bliss Stage beginning tomorrow night. Linda says there will be live music, comedy, and absolutely no reason for you to not be there.
Linda Blease,
"Let's put it this way. You guys will be entertained. Its singing, its dancing, its acting, there will have a live band, everything will be performed live, no pre-recorded stuff, nothing at all."
The play premieres tomorrow night at the Bliss Center and there will be an encore on both Friday and Saturday nights. Showtime for all three nights is eight pm. Tickets are $20 for premier seating, $15 for reserve, and $10 for general seating.
