Get ready for a Local theatre revolution
After pooling together their time, resources and talents a group of actors, comedians and one business minded couple have completed successful auditions to ensure that the Guyanese theatre gets new life and is also recorded for posterity. The Mori Jvon team includes business entrepreneurs Ron Morrison and his wife Olive Gopaul with support from a board of directors inclusive of Steve DeSouza, Henry Rodney, Pastor Timothy King, Howard Lorrimer and Russel Lancaster.
Rodney is the creative director while Lancaster is the production manager. On the team also is costume designer/ dance instructor Clive Prowel as well as Granny Ivelaw.
The group is guaranteeing that as of November 7 this year, theatre in Guyana will begin a road to total revolution.
Business man Ron Morrison and his wife former Miss Guyana Olive Gopsaul told entertainer that they are getting ready to launch Mori J’Von comedy jams on November 7 at the National Cultural Centre from 20:00hrs for special invitees.
Last Saturday they held auditions for actors and comedians and the turn out according to Morrison was most encouraging. “We were not surprised that in excess of 75 people came out to auditions at Theatre Guild.” Of the lot only forty have made the shortlist for what the promoters are promising will be the best thing in recent Guyanese entertainment. Without disrespecting international comedy shows such as Oliver and Bashment Granny Morrison says they have their place but we believe that Guyana has its own pool of equally if not more talented actors, comedians, singers and dancers and so our plan is to give local a chance to shine and earn in the process. “Rehearsal begins today at the Girl’s Guide Pavilion in preparations for the launch and I assure Guyana that this is going to be a comedy revolution because we are tired of the imported stuff,” Morrison told entertainer. The show once started will be filmed monthly before a live audience at National Cultural Centre as a totally private venture.
Morison said the show will feature a rotating line-up of stand-up comedians and actors in short comedy sketches, music, dance and poetry.
He made it clear that all actors are being paid and will be signing contracts from November 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Dealing above board the directors will be paid in excess of $100,000 monthly while the actors will receive professional fees in volumes of between $10,000 and $30,000 per appearance. The show will be filmed and goes into syndication by December 1 for rebroadcast nationwide. Morrison says the idea is being considered for the shows like Bashment Granny and Oliver to be broadcasted out of Guyana on one of the regional channels.
Veteran Comedian Habeek Khan will be receiving a life time achievement award at the launching of the show a fund will be set up in his honour to ensure that he is supported financially based on public financial donations of appreciation for his contribution to Guyanese theatre and comedy.