The St James Stage Group have done it again! Their 44th Annual Easter Monday Night Variety Concert was fantastic.It was an absolutely funny, two and half-hour production that at times nearly caused some in the sell-out audience to fall from their seats in laughter; and others brought to their feet, clapping in uninhibited appreciation of the onstage impersonations, singing of familiar secular and religious songs, nursery rhymes and a bit of burlesque here and there.As we have stated over the decades, many of the ladies in the stage group (there were in fact only three males performing Monday night) are from the community at large, being aged mothers and great-grand mothers, some in their eighties who ordinarily can be seen sitting sedately in the amen corners of their churches and choirs.But come Easter Monday night they put on their comical costumes, assume roles as teachers and parents attempting to discipline wayward children in nearly a dozen different skits written and produced by the performers themselves.Master of Ceremonies Monday night was former Customs Officer Geoffrey Butler-Durrant, who has been dubbed ‘The Sheik of Sandys Parish'. The concert was under the distinguished patronage of former Attorney General Kim Wilson.Rector of St James Church and Archdeacon Emeritus of the Anglican Church, Dr the Ven Arnold Hollis were in attendance for their 34th year in the church hall.The skits, costumes and all that goes into the show is made up by members of the cast. This production was first presented in 1968, being a vision of Elizabeth Ford and Jessie Dickenson, both deceased to help raise funds for the St James Choral Class and Communicant’s Banner, for their 50th Anniversary in July 1969.Members of that original cast who were still performing Monday night were Alsace Dill-Trott, Melvina Smith, Marilyn Burchall and Mr Butler-Durrant.Monday’s show got underway precisely on time, with cast members parading from the rear of the hall displaying their Easter attire and carrying baskets of flowers, all to the songs of Easter Parade and Get Acquainted.One minute of silence was observed for the late George Rogers, the iconic musician and entertainer, and a Stage Group member who passed away in March at age 88.His wife Viola (Pinkie) Rogers served different terms as group President nearly ten years, beginning in 1978. Their son Jonathan Rogers and his two daughters are active members.In fact, it was Jonathan, capped in an outrageous wig, who got the show off to a rollicking monologue about life in the ‘olden days, when we were poor and didn’t know it.Thad was followed by Marilyn Burchall, one of the original actors back in the day acting as a baby, learning her “A, B, Cs” at the They’re Sooo Cute Children s Nursery of Cynthia Simons and Jennifer Hall.The drama ‘God’ Saving Grace’ depicted a bawling woman being converted from her decadent lifestyle, displayed the unique ability of the stage presentation by Jennifer and Joyce Eve.Their skit was appropriately followed by the inspiring rendition of 'My Life’s In Your Hands' by the Sandys Community Center’s Fifty-Plus Choir directed by Shanti Smith.Robert Lewis brought the house to its feet with his song ‘On the Wings of Love'.It was followed by ‘A Fashion Show with a Difference, with Robert’s mother Barbara Lewis-Mills commentating about models parading in an array of home-made dresses of newspapers, neckties, lollipops and a bridal dress with a long natural train a model toy train atop its end.It was really a star-studded cast with veterans like Lilymay Bulford, Hattieann Spencer, Marjorie Talbot showing their versatility, making quick changes from one crazy skit to another.Marjorie Talbot was level on the floor of the stage with her ‘Paper Man’ skit. Rosemary Joell Cann armed with a shovel and broom and dust pan in her ‘Should I or Should I Not’ skit gave a new meaning to healthy eating.'Island Women' saw Patricia, Jennifer, Lilimay enjoying a social time at a nightclub, getting so caught up in the music they almost lost control attempting Limbo dances. They had the audience in an uproar.Another audience jerker came when ‘Tummy’ — Jennifer — took a load of Senior Citizens under Lilimay as their nurse on a bus tour from Somerset to Town.They hardly remained in their seats in the cardboard bus with lights, careening around corners, bouncing over Somerset Bridge, keeping Tummy happy with nuts to eat. It was a different story when the passengers told him they had problems with their teeth and had supplied him with the nuts only after sucking off the chocolate first.While the amateurs were out front there was a highly efficient technical staff behind the scenes under West African-born and bred Director Rotimi Martin; stage manager Weldon Gilbert; Dewin Thomas and Reginald Tucker expertly handling the sound effects and systems.There was never a dull moment between acts, from start to finish with renditions by the group’s Old Fashion Orchestra comprising Thomas Bean, accordion, Elliott Perinchief, drums, Ms. Allana Simons, piano and Leon Virgil, bass guitar.A sterling performance was given by Judith Virgil, a powerful singer and musician in her own right, who is now sightless, with her rendition of ‘Open Up All My Doors’ accompanied by her sister Janice Beek.