Tu Do shines in ‘10A Norbrook Drive’ play

Actress Trishana Wright has been wowing patrons with her portrayal of a straight-talking ghetto female with attitude in Orlando Sinclair’s latest play, 10A Norbrook Drive, which opened last weekend at Johnny’s Place on Washington Boulevard, St Andrew, and continues this weekend.

“I personally prepared for the role by reminding myself that I had a story to tell but it was not about Trishana, just Tu Do and observing the way people from inner-city communities operated who want better for themselves with hopes of getting things a little easier,” Wright beamed, adding, “I also spent a lot of time with my script, thinking how I could make the words come alive so the messages could be much more meaningful.”

The play revolves around a voluptuous career woman named Kim, played by Latoya Malcolm, who is having an affair with a married man, Tom, played by Michael Nicholson. There are cameos from the next door neighbour, Kemar (played by Shaun Drysdale) who is attracted to Kim, and his pesky, nosy wife, Laura (played by Michelle Edwards), who later strikes up a friendship with Tu Do.

The grenade of melodrama later explodes in the play which lags a bit on the first stanza but picks up dramatically in the second, with revelations involving Tu Do’s overactive sexual choices. The word ‘slut’ – that barometer of female sexuality – is never used in the play. However, Sinclair uses the female’s sexuality expertly as the true measurement of female status and self-worth where it is either a badge of honour or a gross put-down.

“The reactions to the Tu Do role have been good and quite funny at the same time. The audience finds the character annoying since she’s always asking about the ‘skybox’. Some call her a deceiver, red eye and disloyal. A few have questioned what extra she is doing to be capturing the heart and attention of the men,” Wright said, laughing.

“I haven’t heard much of the slutty jokes but I believe some will come given that we will be exposed to different audiences or target groups.”

Sinclair said that his intention is not to judge.

“Everybody is left wondering what is the magic that Tu Do possesses which has captivated so many men. We don’t judge or put labels on people, that is a part of the world of hurting, complicated words that inform young women’s lives, I am here to entertain, not to judge, this play has its own special narrative drive,” he said.

Patrons have remarked about the uniqueness of the name, Tu Do.

“It definitely is an unusual name. I have only heard of one person with that name and it’s a nickname that was given to that person by members of her community in Jamaica. As for the origin, I tried tracing it but I was not able to locate a definite origin even though it sounds like a name they would give to an African woman,” Wright explained.

Wright has made her name playing lead roles in plays such as Love Hurts, also written and directed by Sinclair, and Sugar Daddy, written and directed by David Tulloch.

Sinclair has an ear for how young adult Jamaican females talk and interact – their brash voices, their harsh jokes and their rampant sexuality and how they use these tools to mask their hidden vulnerabilities. Sinclair notices the ways in which girls can seek solace with one another, a habit that society at large rarely misses an opportunity to vilify, but which he uses to entertain and edify.

“Jamaican women are the most fascinating women on the planet,” he said emphatically.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com