Oliver Samuels accepts ‘wonderful’ Red Stripe Living Legend award

“This award is wonderful ... marvellous,” veteran actor Oliver Samuels said as he received the Red Stripe Living Legend Award from the company’s brand manager, Nathan Nelms, on Friday night.

The event took place at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, before a large audience, to whom Samuels then asked, “Yu think mi deserve it?” Applause and shouts of “Yes, yes!” showed that they did. Along with the Red Stripe award, Samuels received a huge cake from some of his 13 grandchildren.

The audience’s enthusiastic response was expected, for, as Samuels said, “I been in this business for 45 years.” His business is show business, and, especially through stage and television, he has been entertaining millions in Jamaica and abroad.

In fact, the main event of the evening was the staging of Samuels’ latest comedy, Teet an Tung, in which he stars. It is produced by Oliver Samuels Entertainment Ltd, directed by Pablo Hoilett, and features fellow Jamaican actors Deon Silvera, Audrey Reid and Tesfa Edwards.

Samuels added, “I accept this award on behalf of all who’ve worked with me over the years.” Along with his current cast members, he named the late Volier Johnson, with whom he shared entertainment platforms for decades.

In Teet an Tung – a phrase that is part of a longer Jamaican saying to the effect that, despite disagreements, teeth and tongue stay together – Samuels plays Joe, a middle-aged businessman. For 30-odd years, he has been living with Muriel (Silvera) in a common-law union and her main problem is that she wants the reluctant Joe to marry her, or at least to get him to say why he won’t.

He keeps telling her, “I don’t know,” and explains that every time he considers marriage, his body starts reacting negatively, breaking out in sweat, et cetera. She accuses him of having other women. He denies it, but we wonder.

The two other characters in this domestic comedy are Muriel’s best friend, Della (Reid) and the couple’s son, Solomon (Edwards). Della is always in outlandish attire – with bright, inappropriate colours and mispatched components, while Muriel stays plainly dressed. Della thinks Muriel is too conservative and often brings her clothes that look more like costumes, somewhat like her own outfits.

Solomon’s problem in the play – and what are characters without problems? – is twofold. He and his parents are anxious that he starts having children and all are delighted when one of his girl friends says she is pregnant. On the other hand, it seems that he doesn’t want the “wrong” girl friend to get pregnant.

There are various twists and turns in the story which shouldn’t be revealled in a review. They would spoil the suspense. Suffice it to say that the acting and dialogue are true-to-life, and the characters come across as real, and the story is amusing.

Over the past few months, the production has been touring North America and its run at the Little Theatre ends March 22, so that the touring can continue.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com