THE National Cultural Centre will come alive on November 3 and 4 as veteran playwright and producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, brings to the stage, ‘The Last of the Redmen’.

The play was rewritten and directed by Henry Muttoo. The original writer Dr. Michael Gilkes is deceased.

The new production features veteran actor and director, Ron Robinson, who brings over 60 years of threatre experience to the stage. The play also has a supporting cast that includes the versatile Mark Luke Edwards, who plays the reporter role and several flashback scenes with upcoming actors Latifa Agard, Akeila David, David Hackett, and Stephon Romain, who represent children from his past.

A press release from Gems Production stated that the production is a remake of a 2007 Guyana Prize for Literature play. It was produced by GEMS Theatre Productions and Prime Time Productions with support from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture under the “One Guyana” policy.

‘Last of the Redmen’ first premiered in 2006, on the stage where it was born: The Taitts’ old ‘drawing room’ (the Ballet room) in the original Woodbine House, which is now the special “Heritage wing” of the Cara Lodge Heritage House.

The release further noted that the building still, remarkably, maintains its original architectural and artistic elegance. Dr. Michael Gilkes played the role of RAF Redman then. It was taken on tour to St. Lucia, Barbados, Trinidad, Toronto, and the Cayman Islands.

Gem told the Buzz that RAF Redman, an octogenarian, banished to an almshouse in Georgetown, tells his story to a reporter about the play he is writing.

He experiences a range of emotions including excitement, astonishment, elation, joy, happiness, and delight, to boredom, anger, fear, alarm, tedium, depression, disillusionment and madness.
The story represents the benign artistic and cultural influence of the so-called ‘the middle class,’ which can be identified in most of the territories of the Caribbean.

The play celebrates that influence with love and gratitude.

Theatre-goers will be treated to a high standard of production. It opens on November 3 with a gala performance which includes a cocktail. Part of those proceeds will be donated to Uncle Eddie’s Home.

The second showing is billed for the following day at 14:00 hours. Tickets cost $2,500.