One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

Synopsis/Company

Set in a middle-class upwardly mobile Black family in late 1970s Philadelphia, USA this brilliant comedy is an exploration of class and gender in a middle class community. The Reverend Avery Harrison, a Baptist preacher, clings to his position in the local black elite. His upwardly mobile philosophy is avidly shared by his wife, Myra (an insightful reimagining of Mrs Malaprop), and by his son Felix, a ‘preppy’, privately educated college boy. Their comfortable world is shaken when Beverly, the only daughter of Avery’s recently deceased brother, arrives from the rural South. Her father has left her in the custody of Caleb Johnson, a street-wise, fast living man who was the partner of Beverly’s father in a disreputable local nightclub. If Caleb is to keep his shares in the club he has to look after Beverly till she comes of age - but Beverly has other ideas. Beverly’s razor sharp common sense attitude to life affects all the household as the Reverend and his wife find there is more to life than money and status; Felix falls for the local charmer "Li Bits" and Caleb finds himself increasingly helpless in Beverlys’ presence.


Performers Jacqueline Botswain (Mozelle/Mrs Caldwell), Karl Collins (Avery Harrison), Jocelyn Jee Esien (Myra Harrsion), Beverley Harrison (Rebecca Scroggs), Caleb Johnson (Clifford Samuel), Issac Ssebandeke (Felix Harrsion). Author Don Evans. Producer Eclipse Theatre. Director Dawn Walton. Design Libby Watson. Sound Adrienne Quartly. Lighting natasha Chivers. Distributor chelle Rose (Lil? Bits).