Ever popular, Rundown turns 21

Scene from Rundown 2011

Rundown, Cayman National Cultural Foundation’s annual comedy revue, is back this year, celebrating twenty-one years of entertaining audiences in the Cayman Islands. The show, created by Dave Martins, retains its format under the penmanship of director, Henry Muttoo and continues the tradition of looking at life in the Cayman Islands through the lens of comedy.
Many of the show’s regular cast members have returned and are joined by a number of newcomers, who are not only willing and able, but fairly bursting in anticipation of bringing audiences to submission with Rundown’s unique, annual overdose of knee-weakening and ‘belly-busting’ humour. Original cast member Harwell McCoy returns ‘home’ to the show with two vintage performances, in the mirage roles of “Mr Premier” and “Q Brown, PhD, PhD, DTh, QC, MBE”. This, despite the fact that ‘the Doctor’ himself has joined the cast. What a mouth-watering prospect!
The popular Michael McLaughlin plays a leading role reprising the feisty ‘Gramps’ character, which audiences will remember from previous years. Other familiar Rundown players in this year’s show are Leroy Holness, Fritz McPherson, Rita Estevanovich, Giselle Webb, Priscilla Pouchie, and Judy Singh. Completing the multicultural mix, for which Rundown is justifiably famous, are first-timers Andy Blake, Jacoline Frank, Vijay Singhera, Kevin Creary and Kevin Morales.
According to Henry Muttoo, the show’s director and for the second year, also its writer, “Writing the show has given me a much clearer understanding of Dave Martins’ creative talents.
To use a Shakespearean quote, Dave is ‘… a great observer and he looks quite through the deeds of men…’ The challenge has always been locating the comedy in situations, which if we stress over them, would otherwise drive us all absolutely insane.”
Mr Muttoo continued, “Rundown is now an institution to the point where people get in touch with us and suggest topics – mainly of a political bias, but it just goes to show how attuned residents are to what’s happening around them. Once January rolls around, we get constant calls asking about the show – even the media call and write us for the scoop on topics being played, when the opening date will be, and so on. Well-known personalities mentioned in past shows will even enquire if they ‘are in it again’ and are quite disappointed if they are not mentioned.”
According to a CNCF source, the organisation was not going to do the show this year, but “we got a leaked document from a source, which shall remain unnamed, who we understand – although this has not been confirmed – works at a firm which has a roof that lets in rain. That ‘someone’, whose name has been redacted, had plans to bring a no confidence motion against CNCF for mismanagement of Cayman’s laugh time so, we had no choice but to plug the leak by going ahead with the show.”
Rundown opens on 12 April as part of Cayfest – the Cayman Islands National Festival of the Arts – and plays for two weekends, Thursdays through Sundays. It then returns for its finale over the weekend of 4 – 6 May.
The opening night performance on Thursday, 12 April promises to be a sold out affair and tickets for this show are available exclusively from the PTA of the George Town Primary School. According to Cheyenna Stewart, fund-raising chair of the PTA, “What better event to raise necessary funds for our school, than Rundown! The show is so well known and loved that selling tickets will be a breeze. Added to that we will also be assisting the show to play to a full house of patrons who will no doubt spread the good word and by doing so, assist CNCF. We are grateful for the opportunity and wish to thank CNCF and our generous sponsors, Jacques Scott and Foster’s Food Fair, who each donated items for the event.
“The funds raised will go towards a playground for the school. We have chosen this project to coincide with the new building being constructed at George Town Primary. We feel the time is now to focus our attention on accomplishing this much-needed project for our children as George Town Primary does not currently have a playground.”
Tickets for all other performances are $20 from Foster’s and Funky Tangs and the CNCF office.