Verona, the troubled Cherry Garden's wife (played by Maylynne Walton), grips a carving during a panic attack during the rehearsal of 'Uptown Bangarang', at Little Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Drive, on Tuesday, December 19, 2006. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Barbara Ellington, Lifestyle Editor

It tells a classic tale ofwhat happens when Jamaica's two worlds collide; when concrete meets zinc fence and when corporate chic touches ghetto fabulous.

The cast of characters include: a neurotic housewife, her sexually frustrated husband, their gay son and his girlfriend from the heart of the ghetto. And the audience meets them all in the opening scenes of Basil Dawkins' latest work, Uptown Bangarang.

So it's been over a year since she was robbed and almost raped, Verona (Maylynne Walton), seems bent on reliving every moment of her ordeal every day of her life. And this is inspite of counselling, medication and near divine intervention, backed up by a loving, supportive and patient husband, Edgar (Andrew Lawrence). She is still far from ready to face reality and move on with her life. In fact, she is on top of the cuckoo's nest and poised for a hilarious take-off.

Off to 'the big apple'

The tension has extended to her only son Abe (Lawrence 'Max' Woodham), so he escapes to his friend Precious (Sakina) in the ghetto, only to have to face gun shots and other forms of violence on each visit.

But things take a different turn when by the end of the third scene, Verona's New York-based sister Alma (Ruth HoShing), comes for a 'visit' but really, it's a ruse to get Verona to take a vacation in 'The Big Apple' in the hope that a change of scenery will pull her from the brink of madness. Alma is reluctant to leave her two men in the company of their maid Precious, especially after catching her budding televangelist/politician husband with her in a most inappropriate way. But off she goes.

New York is an eye-opener. Alma's much bragged about dream house turns out to be just that - a dream. She lives in a basement apartment and she also has a boy toy, Bobby (Jerry Beswick), who is too friendly plus a master con artist to boot! Verona quickly wises up to the situation an she wants to return home, she can't because Alma has confiscated her passport and plans to milk Edgar for her room and board.

Backhome

Meanwhile, on the home front, and in one of the play's best scenes, Edgar learns his son is gay, Precious emerges in a whole new light and all hell breaks loose. But you will have to see this one for yourself to find out the unbelievable ending.

There is some good acting, particularly from seasoned professional Ruth HoShing whose versatility, range and understanding of a character, remain refreshing after all these years.

Verona is a scream, literally, especially those high-pitched laughing spells that seem to come from nowhere. I like her management of the role. Abe at times seems to be just a little unnatural but in scenes with his parents, he can be felt coming through loud and clear. Bobby does not appear too real, perhaps because the New York accent is obviously fake but Precious gets full marks for a job well done.

The set designer kept to minimalist theme, costumes seem well researched and musical selections for the play work very well.

Uptown Bangarang is directed by Jeffrey Anderson-Gunter and is currently running at the Little Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, Kingston from Tuesday to Friday at 8:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.