Glen Campbell (Fungus) and Courtney Wilson (Scabbie) in a scene from Patrrick Brown's play, Easy Street, showing at Centre Stage, New Kingston. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

'Tis the season to be jolly and, for the 13th year, Jam Biz International has played its role in spreading this merriment.

Staged at the home venue, Center Stage Theatre, located in New Kingston, the 2009 cheer is titled Easy Street. Easy Street is hilariously funny and seriously sobering. The storyline is minimal but is creatively wrapped in a package (technical, directing and acting) that is refreshingly sound, for the most part.

Easy Street comes from the pen of Jam Biz's prolific playwright, Patrick Brown. It is a window into the lives of five characters - Queenie, Princess, Fungus, Scabbie and Corporal Bullie - and is set in a section of a dump called Easy Street. But while these characters with their colourful names escape some basic social obligations, like paying income taxes and utility bills, their lives are anything but easy. Their survival depends on rummaging through garbage deposits and stealing food and clothes.

Great characterisation

With the use of witty language, and sprinklings of malapropism, the story of Easy Street unfolds through a flashback based on Queenie's memory. Throughout the play, the biography of each character unravels in trickles. Queenie - who is the last to join the community already formed by Fungus, Scabbie, Princess and Bullie - was left at the altar on her wedding day. Jaded and hurt, she lands on Easy Street.

Princess and Bullie are married but he constantly beats her, after he was imprisoned 'for doing his job' as a police constable. Scabbie was hurt by a woman and does not wish to have another affair until Queenie arrives, and ill-tempered Fungus has a son in Canada who is filling for him. As the story progresses, some are given a chance for a fresh start, but not before two tragic events.

In spite of its lenience towards theatre of the absurd genre, Brown's characters present growth and challenges.

Last Sunday, the talented cast delivered - the cast of brand familiar: Glen Campbell (Fungus), Camille Davis (Queenie) Sharee McDonald-Russell (Princess), Courtney Wilson (Scabbie) and Christopher Hutchinson (Corporal Bullie).

Collectively, Davis, McDonald-Russell, Wilson and Hutchinson's acting was fantastic. For the most part, they captured the essence of their characters, adhering to each beat as required.

But the best performance of the night came from Campbell, who gave his finest act to date. Not only did he play the aggressive Fungus with conviction, producing topical anxiety, but there was no bulging of the eyes and flaring of the lips to get the full house rocking with laughter. He captured the heart of the young Fungus, and was also believable in his role as the older Fungus.

Directors Trevor Nairne and Brown were brilliant with their choice of movements and stage business. They also managed to capture the pace of the play in blockings - at times movements were stopped for effect.

Effective entrances, exits

Likewise, the exits and entrances helped to reinforce the setting, although the final exit for the airport was inconsistent with the previously established 'swine entrance/exit'.

With use of materials such as sheets of zinc, board and cloth, the set design was unattractively perfect. The three houses reflected the personalities of the occupants. The artistic-minded Scabbie's house was decorated with drawings, but no window. While the wily Fungus' house, placed centre, had windows but no artwork. Levels were created with the elevation of Princess and the intimidating Bullie's house.

Another plus was the nightly burning fire, which strengthened the spectacle, along with the sounds of the pigs, especially towards the end of the play. However, the absence of smoke in the daylight presented another inconsistency.

Overall, Easy Street is a must see. It will make you appreciate what you have.

Glen Campbell (Fungus, left) and Courtney Wilson (Scabbie) in a scene from Patrick Brown's play, 'Easy Street', showing at Center Stage, New Kingston. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer