‘Oh, Daddy’ comes to Peace Mo

This October, for the first time, Vincentians around the globe will be treated to “Oh, Daddy!”, an original radio drama featuring an all-Vincentian cast, and broadcast in front of a live audience from the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown.{{more}}

Theatre Arts St. Vincent, in conjunction with NICE Radio, will present this original musical Vincentian soap opera for three nights, October 17th, 18th and 19th, at the Peace Memorial Hall. The Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 pm. Sunday’s afternoon performance begins at 5:00 pm. The cost is $30 for Friday and Sunday’s performances, and $60 for Saturday’s gala performance, which includes a post-performance party. Tickets may be purchased at Peace Memorial Hall, Alliance Francaise, The Bounty, Gitts Supermarket, The Music Centre and the office of Dr. Francois Truchot.

“Oh, Daddy!” made its first appearance on NICE radio in 2002 when it was broadcast on mornings at 7:30. The program was written by Marc Erdrich from an idea by Erdrich, Ruth Boerger and Pam Ratti. October’s performance reprises the story of the Grant family in a totally new 2-hour episode written by Erdrich for radio and the stage. Original music for the performance was written by Boerger. Ratti is the choreographer.

“Oh, Daddy!” is the story of the Grant family and their friends and neighbours. Sam Grant (played by John Horne) is a retired St. Vincent and the Grenadines Royal Police Force detective who has suffered a mild heart attack. His daughter, Gloria (played by Ann Marie Hunt), has recently returned to St. Vincent from New York City – where she has been living for the past seventeen years – to care for her ailing father. Despite his failing health, Sam, a widower, cannot stay away from police work – or the rum bottle – and is forever involving Gloria and his best friend Elbe (played by David “Darky” Williams) in one escapade after another. Meanwhile, Gloria has become involved in a tawdry affair with a former high school chum, Reverend Rick (Anthony Theobalds); Sam is having an affair with the family’s long-time housekeeper, Rosie (Rachel Davis); and Elbe is about to fall afoul of the law. Other characters include Gloria’s best friend Keisha (LaFayette Johnson James), her daughter Melissa (Tabia Matthews), and Sam’s nemesis, Inspector Delroy Brown (Chester Toney).

Aside from the drama, there’ll be plenty of music as well, from Vincy favourites Skarpyon, Tabia Matthews, Deighton Anderson, and the Theatre Arts band and dancers.

On Saturday night, October 18th, the entire production will be broadcast live, locally and over the Internet, to a worldwide audience. Listeners can tune in to NICE Radio at 90.3, 96.7, or 101.3 FM or via the internet at www.niceradio.org. Choose to “Listen Live” using your favourite media player. The broadcast begins at 8 pm.

Theatre goers at the Saturday night performance will have an opportunity to send greetings to relatives and friends listening in America, Canada, the UK and elsewhere. A post-performance party with live music at Peace Mo is included in the ticket price.

“Oh, Daddy!” is the second major performance by Theatre Arts of St. Vincent. In 2005, the company debuted with “From Ballads to Broadway”, a review of classical and popular music from early folk ballads to opera to the Broadway musical theatre. The programme was a rousing success.

“Oh, Daddy!” will be televised by K45 later this year. Vincentians who cannot attend the performance are encouraged to tune in to NICE radio on Saturday night, October 18th, at 8 p.m, and to check their television listings for dates and times of future airings.