The Bahamas is infamous for its political silly season.  But while politicians prepare for the general election with hyped rhetoric, a group of actors will be concentrating on a different silly season -- Valentine's Day.
Miss Jessie-Pearl, a beloved character of the stage, will present her first full-length play at the Dundas Theater during Valentine's week -- February 16, 17 and 18. The script focuses on a unique love story that incorporates lots of laughs, said Enith Darling, the actress who created and portrays Miss Jessie-Pearl.
"People always tell me that they love Miss Pearl," Darling said. "They love the way she deals with so many Bahamian themes and she speaks about these different topics in a way that is humorous and insightful. They always ask when I would do a play rather than the short scenes that I do all around the country. Finally, I have the right script, and it I think audiences will think it was worth the wait."
To bring the play, "Miss Pearl's Merry Heart Madness", to the stage, Darling teamed up with Clarence Rolle, the writer/director who brought several hit comedies to the stage and screen.  Rolle produced his first play, "Da Web Shop Horror", in 2007, drawing sold-out crowds and critical acclaim.  Most recently, he struck gold with the feature film, "Crazy Love".  The romantic comedy has been well-received by audiences and critics in The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.
"It is a pleasure to work with Enith and to have developed a story for a character like Miss Jessie-Pearl, who can incorporate outlandish comedy and the depth of drama," said Rolle. "And the greatest thing about this project is that we were able to assemble an all-star cast. They made the work a lot of fun."
The cast includes Matthew Wildgoose, one of the stars of Crazy Love, who went on to be the face of Cable Bahamas' HD product. Neil Cleare, a veteran actor who is known for his standout Summer Madness performances, plays Miss Pearl's love interest. Rolle, standup comedian Simone Beneby, experienced actress Tossie Strachan, and Dion Johnson ("A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Tempest") round out the cast.
"Miss Pearl's Merry Heart Madness" is presented by Texaco, SkyBahamas and Romeo's Executive Limousine Service.
Tickets are available for tonight's final performance at The Dundas at 8 p.m. Call the box office at 393-3728 or 454-2465 for more information.

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