THE St. James Stage Group (SJSG) has outdone itself again, in a classic way with its 39th Annual Easter Monday night Old Fashioned Variety Concert. It was as usual, lively, colourful, and most hilarious, with monologues, skits, music and well attended by an enthusiastic audience.

It was termed the “on again, off again and finally on again” show. Its production was jeopardised by uncertainty over travel plans by veteran cast members to the Cricket World Cup and unavailability of others for one reason or another.

But with only two months to spare, the irrepressible president, Mrs. Marjorie Talbot, stage director Rotimi Martins, and production manager Geoffrey Butler-Durrant put their feet down, with the result the 2007 production was as good if not better than many others in the series.

And there to help the group along was its oldest active member, 99-year-old Mrs. Olive Smith, who was backed up in the audience by another founding member, Mrs. Iona Maxwell, who is 97.

Mrs. Smith sang a solo, If I Can Help Someone Along the Way, My Living Would Not be in Vain.

Refreshingly, SJSG managed to debut a promising stand-up comic in Johnathan Rogers, son of veteran performer and five-time group president Viola Rogers and entertainer George Rogers.

Johnathan revealed a new and funny side of his professional life as owner-operator of Summit Video Productions. And to boot, he brought to the stage his two young talented daughters.

Khylah Rogers sang as a solo, I Believe I Can Fly, and playing her flute, joined her trumpet-playing sister Kiarrah in an instrumental duet.

The girls are members of the Saltus School Band; their mother is Alana Rogers.

The cast of nearly 20 displayed their characteristic versatility, ad-libbing and reliving everyday events in the ‘now happening world’, and recalling the good old days gone by.

Lillymay Bulford, Myra Bristol, HattiAnn Gilbert, Brenda Wingood and Melvina and Delma Smith went through so many different roles, it was a wonder they were not giddy at the end of the night.

They played ‘mommas’, cantankerous wives, wayward children, and as male characters, compensating for the fact that there were only two regular males, Winfield Todd and Mervin Smith.

Eula Mears was really funny in her Cup Match monologue. Lillymay seemed like she had missed her calling, playing the part of magistrate in the domestic court skit,>Pleas, Peas and Peaches; and later as a patient in a doctor’s office, and as a duplicitous wife trying to give her husband a six for a nine in explaining how she wrecked the family car.

Among the skits were A Married Man’s Woes, How Many Spectacles, Medical Problems, Unsettled Childre$>and The Meaning of Being Poor, acted out by Winfield and Johnathan.

The concert was under the patronage of Dr. Burton Butterfield and Mrs. Gina Butterfield. Present were the Rector of ST. James, Archdeacon Emeritus Ven. Arnold Hollis, and Mrs. Hollis; and Canon Thomas Nisbett and his wife WinifredOur pictures show:<$>

Top left: Cast setting out on its grand Easter parade entrance. Nearest camera in front is the president, Marjorie Talbot.

Centre: Stage director Rotimi Martins and production manager Geoffrey Butler-Durrant had every reason to be beaming over the success of the 2007 show. Front with bouquet is 99-year-old Ms. Olive Smith, a founding member) and still active performer; she’s with her daughter, Mrs. Winifred Nisbett and her husband Canon Thomas Nisbett.

Above centre: The versatile Viola Rogers, past president with her son Johnathan Rogers making his debut as a truly funny stand-up comic and his talented daughters Khylah and Kiarrah, who sang and rendered instrumental selections.

Middle left: The Touch of Faith Orchestra was a show unto itself, with their musical interludes. Earl Bascome, piano; Elliott Perienchief, drums (hidden); Thomas Bean, accordion; Charles Virgil, lead guitar; Leon Virgil, bass guitar; and Mrs. Shirley Virgil, harmonica.

Below left: HattiAnn Gilbert in skit with doctor Viola Rogers checking out her ailing husband Mervyn Smith.

Below right: Joan Dismont and Winfield Todd always prove to be big stage show hits. She’s left singing Mom & Dad’s Waltz. Dad of course was Winfield and Brenda Wingood was the Mom. Winfield was quite a contrast this year in his flour bag trousers, compared with the file photo (top right) from last year when he and Joan took to the stage.