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Tonight, an all star cast will be on stage at the Bliss for the debut of John John's Blue, a play based on Evan X Hyde's 1975 anthology, Feelings. It's a two night event, and features actors such as Audrey Matura, Steve "Groovemaster" Perriot, Indira Craig, and Yas Thalia.
It may have been written 50 years ago - but the themes are still relevant. The play is set in Lake I and showcases the socioeconomic challenges the residents face. Last night at the rehearsals, we found out more.
Melissa Castellanos Espat, Producer/Co-Director/Playwright
"First of all it is a fundraiser for St Martin's De Porres Parish, the fundraiser is needed, we host over 550 students at the primary school and it's a very important project because if you know, the children that attend St Martin's De Porres come from very impoverished areas, they have many circumstances that they're struggling to live with so we decided that this would be a really good avenue to get some of those needed funds but what better way than to highlight the social justice issues happening in the Lake Independence area, but not only Lake Independence area, but Southside of Belize in general."
"One of the bigger issues that we want to highlight is poverty, police brutality, poverty, gender based violence of course, because we have to look at the issues that are happening out there, so poverty being the number one theme that kinda is the umbrella for all the different element happening in the play."
Avaunt Kelly, John John
"For me, it's my cast members because they help me so much like how it's my first time on the stage, they push me when I need to remember the script, help me, and you know people tend to get angry when you ask a lot of questions, they are so… supportive. "
Reporter:
"What are people going to take away when they see your character?"
Avaunt Kelly, John John "Well, a usual black man from Southside just trying to get through life but in this one, I get to explain that black man's story and people get to hear the story that most people don't hear."
Cristie Jefferies, Blue
"So far the experience has been just wow, working with great people, people just there to push you and motivate you and I can't even say what to expect in this play, you guys just need to come out and see what happening in today's society and everything, just come out and see and I know you guys will be very happy about this."
Tickets are available at St Martin's De Porres and can also be purchased at 222-4449 or 610-3627. All proceeds go to St Martin's parish.
