Ladies Man coming to Cultural Centre from Feb 28
Stabroek News
February 23, 2003
A Ladies Man, a musical play written by British-born Ted Sabat, will this weekend travel from the mining town of Linden to the stage of the National Cultural Centre.
First staged at Licas in Linden 20 years ago, Sabat says he now hopes that his humourous love story would be a breath of fresh air to the comatose theatre industry in Guyana.
In a recent interview with Stabroek News, the playwright explained that one day, more than two decades ago, he sat down in a disco and decided to write a play based on the romantic escapades of a group of teenagers. There is ‘Frankie,’ the main character played by Lionel White, who figures he can “control” all the girls. Many become his victims, until one snags him with a wedding ring.
“The play goes on to show how he has to overcome his irresponsible attitude and face up to his responsibilities... There are the usual heartbreaks, but the play has a high moral content.
It shows young people what takes place and the pitfalls of life (or love). It briefly touches on the health risks and premature pregnancies, but it has an unexpected ending, which I can’t disclose,” Sabat said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
In the space of two days, while sitting in that disco, the playwright/director said he was able to compose the music for the play. But being written in 1981, what message would such a play send to a society with a growing awareness to sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS?
“It will make young people, especially girls, much more cautious... the playboy days are done, everyone has to face reality that you cannot have more than one partner,” he said.
Sabat said there were many attempts to restage the production over the years, but he has only now found the time and resources to return to Guyana to do so. Dubbed one of Guyana’s first musical plays, Sabat says he hopes the production will widen the scope of theatre in Guyana.
“Theatre on a whole needs a boost. The scope needs to widen... more variety, more freedom. There is a large scope of talent in Guyana that has to be exploited.” His large cast includes other actors such as Kim Lucas, Errol Chan, Simone Dowding, Sheik Sadiq and Jacquey Bourne. It also introduces Nicole Telford, Sherah Liverpool and Yvonne Drakes.
A Ladies Man opens at the Cultural Centre on February 28 and runs until March 2. Tickets are available at the Cultural Centre’s box office, Guyana Stores and from cast members.
