TANYA BATSON-SAVAGE, Freelance Writer
( left )Oliver Samuels at Falla Back A Mi, held at the national indoor sports complex, St. Andrew. ( right ) Iceman & Johnny performing at Falla Back A Mi, held at the national indoor sports complex. - ANDREW SMITH PHOTOS
IT WAS A night to celebrate Oliver Samuel's 35th year in theatre, so not surprisingly, there were laughs aplenty to be had at Falla Backa Mi, which took place at the Indoor Sports Complex on Saturday night.
Two and a half of the top comedy duos in the island were present to deliver a laugh to the audience. The youngest of the set, Ice Man and Johnny were the first to come to the stage. The two delivered an energetic performance that ranged from the in-flight service to an imitation of the Prime Minister who warned them to stop imitating him and then ended with talk of diarrhoea.
TERRORISTS ATTACK
Ity and Fancy Cat also added to the evening's comedy pieces diving into a quick set that poked fun at the possibility of terrorists on Air Jamaica, who would quickly find themselves at the mercy of hagglers attempting to defend their goods. Ity and Fancy Cat also moved through love in the age of cellular phones.
Blakka also served up some laughs with his stand- up piece. Beginning with the ditty 'Bringing in the Weed' he quickly moved to the nature of Jamaican people arguing that we are the only people to sing instrumental, and to take blocking roads as a profession. Targeting the current leader of the Opposition, who was sitting at the front he said, "When it comes to roadblocks, all that glitters is not golding," which had the audience laughing uproariously.
Even the night's musicians added to the comic theme of the night. Professor Nuts tackled the spate of violence plaguing dancehall, moved into his hit piece 'Nuff Man Deh Ya', then gave a hilarious version of 'Three Little Birds'. It was then time for body humour as he first attempted to discipline "dat ting dere" before moving through to a hilarious bit about diarrhoea. He ended with a fabulous take on Elephant Man's recent songs which had him looking for the "weddy" that the Dj had lost first 'Outta Road' then 'Over di Wall' and finally at Hope River as he was sent 'Pon Di River Pon Di Bank'.
Ernie Smith also included some of the more humorous pieces in his repertoire. Though he began with Tears on My Pillow and quickly proved that stand-up was not his game, his Martial Law, Duppy or Gunman and Play Di Music certainly added to the night's bout of comedy. Ian Andrews' delivery of impersonations of Louis Armstrong, Roy Shirley, Eddie Fitzroy, Gregory Isaacs, and Count Prince Miller also brought much hilarity.
Samuels, accompanied by Karen Harriott, Audrey Reid and Volier Johnson also brought laughs in two sketches. The night was hosted by Joan Andrea Hutchinson and also featured performances by Christine Hewitt, Lady G and Richie Stevens.
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