MIAMI – This Labor Day weekend, South Floridians will be given the opportunity to enjoy another of Basil Dawkins’ classic plays as Sunshine Theatre Company presents the award winning comedy, TOY BOY.
TOY BOY is written by Jamaica’s leading playwright, Basil Dawkins and stars Voliere ‘Maffie’ Johnson and Barbara McCalla and is directed by Robin Baston. In its original run 6 years ago, it starred Leonie Forbes and Voliere Johnson who won the Best Actor award from the International Theatre Institute (ITI) for his role as ‘Wrap Up’ the homeless madman. In this remount Leonie was replaced by Barbara McCalla who then won the Best Actress award from the ITI for her role as Josephine Bennett, the lonely widow.
Barbara McCalla
Best Actress
TOY BOY is a love story with a difference and like most Basil Dawkins plays can be categorized as a dramedy (drama/comedy or ‘laafta wid substants’ ). It is the story of a lonely widow who has been ostracized by her peers after the death of her husband. She ‘rescues ‘ a homeless man and becomes intrigued by his ‘knowledge and intelligence’ which at times is so advance it borders on ‘madness’. She restores him to the point where he becomes not only her friend and confidante but also her Toy Boy.
Voliere ‘Maffie’ Johnson
Best Actor
In her review the Gleaner theatre critic, Tanya Batson-Savage says, “Toy Boy presents an interesting peephole into the modern dynamics of male/female relationship, but more importantly, it’s downright funny.”
The show will be held at the North Miami Beach Performing Arts Center on Saturday September 2 and at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts on Sunday, September 3. Tickets can be purchased on-line, www.sunshinetheatrecompany.com/tickets.html.
