Balfour Anderson returns to theatre with ‘Jamaican Hustlers’
Published:Sunday | December 24, 2023 | 6:16 AM
His name gained popularity in the 1990s for masterfully providing a bellyful of laughter to the masses. After spending decades in the wings, roots play legend Balfour Anderson is back in the spotlight with Jamaican Hustlers.
“ Jamaican Hustlers is a play that highlights street vendors, especially those who are plying their wares, food items. We’re looking at their plight ... how they survive on a daily basis ... their struggles ... how they interact with each other and how they relate to the state agencies, like the parish council, the police, as well as the extortionist; all those people who come at them regularly and make life difficult for them,” Anderson told The Sunday Gleaner.
Anderson, who received a Lifetime Award from the Jamaica Roots Theatre Foundation at its second annual Roots Theatre Awards in August, has put together a star-studded cast, featuring names like Rosie Murray, Owen ‘Blacka’ Ellis, Rohan Byfield and Peter Heslop, but he also plans to present newcomers to the scene.
“What I’ve also done this time around is to introduce some budding actors. I actually went to the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts and selected some graduates to give them their first opportunity to perform on the big stage. If students are matriculating from the college and not given a chance to exercise what they have learnt and exhibit their craft, then it would be fruitless...hopeless,” Anderson said.
The former drama educator a lot of them are forced to tuck away their theatre skills simply because some producers and directors shy away from using them “owing to lack of experience”.
“I’ve brought some in, so that they can get the experience alongside some real professionals,” he shared.
Staying true to form, Anderson is rolling out the festive occasion with a double cast. The idea of double casting came about to facilitate two performances simultaneously.
“Persons in Cayman have asked me to mount the play earlier this year, so, too, did people from Florida. So, there is a plan in place to work both locally and internationally,” the theatre veteran explained.
Jamaican Hustlers is not your average play. Anderson decided to make his comeback a magical one by bringing music to the mix. And the decision to create a musical stems from tapping into a rarity with the arts.
Outside of Jamaica Musical Theatre Company or the Little Theatre Movement, which stages the annual pantomime, musicals are not popular, and especially not for roots plays . The added vocal area requires expertise that many don’t possess. But what folks might not be aware of is that Anderson has a musical background.
“I’m not just a theatre person, I am a musician as well...being a former band member and lead singer. This aspect of the entertainment came naturally, which will add a little bit more excitement to the package,” he enthused.
As a jack of all trades, Anderson is wearing several hats for this production. Not only is he the scriptwriter, he is also songwriter, director, set designer, creative designer and producer.
“It’s a whole lot of creativity coming to the fore, which helps to streamline everything,” he explained.
He admitted that taking on these individual tasks is hectic, “but if you have the creativity, tenacity, and you’re willing to put your shoulder to the wheel, then you will reap success”.
His return to the stage came into play after receiving many requests from fans and members of the local acting community.
“There is a dearth; a real lacking in quality theatre. They need me to come back to bring back the high standard, so that people can be entertained, educated and have all-round enjoyment,” he explained.
And for those who believe that Anderson, a leading light in roots theatre, might have lost his touch, this is what he has to say. “They would need to come and see the production to know that I’ve not lost the touch. In fact, it has touched up a notch.”
Other productions are going out on Boxing Day, but Anderson has decided to start the season off on an early note. Jamaican Hustlers the musical opens on Christmas Day at the Green Gables Theatre. Showtime is 8:30 p.m.