The Tribune

“The More The Merrier”, a new two-act play by James J Catalyn, takes a look a serious topics such as family planning, child rearing, sexually transmitted infections, sex education or the lack thereof and HIV/AIDS.

The central figure is Moses, a “wild man” about town, who feels that he must have “every gown tail he can see” and as many children as he can, or as women will let him. Neither age nor looks are a problem for him.

Moses has all the answers to everything and tries to encourage other men, especially his good friend Killer, to follow his lead with wild abandon.

Then there is Doris who comes from a large family, where none of the children knew who their fathers were. She in turn followed in the footsteps of her mother and had several children for a variety of men and hasn’t a clue what her children are doing sexually or otherwise.

Her brother on the other hand, being fully aware of the conditions and environment in which he grew up, is determined to have only two children and is intent on planning for them when the time comes. He does not want his children to have his experiences and wants them to know love.

His girlfriend, Sandra, is determined that she wants a pile of children, the more the merrier, and is prepared to take alternative actions if her boyfriend doesn’t want to give them to her. She is prepared give him his two and then have all the others she wants, by any man or men who are willing to give them to her. She is an only child and thinks that a large family is the way to go, no concern given to the care of so many children.
Meanwhile, there are the straight-laced, old maid spinster sisters who operate a school where the word sex is forbidden to be uttered, much less sex education being taught.

And there is the nurse who has a massive task of turning old ideas around and has to chip away at old taboos, misconceptions and ignorance, and educate the populace about sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and promote the idea of abstinence, monogamy and the use of condoms.

Although the messages are serious, they are presented through an entertaining and light-spirited script. Audiences, the writer says, will be able to identify with the situations and maybe know persons in real life of the characters on stage.

“The More, The Merrier”, a James Catalyn & Friends Production, is directed by Omar Williams. Cast members include Brentwood Thompson, Stephanie Braynen, Eric Adderley, Dion Farquharson, Inderia Greene, Rose Mary Hepburn, Tara Woodside and Ach-Cheriea Strachan.

The play runs at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts from Thursday, May 29, through Saturday, May 31, at 8pm nightly. A benefit performance to aid the Kiwanis Clubs of Over-the-Hill will be held on Thursday. Tickets for this performance are priced at $30. All other performances are priced at $25 for regular seating and $30 for preferred seating.
For reservations, contact the box office at the Dundas at 393-3728 or 394-7179.