The Soho Playhouse
presents

JAMAICA, FAREWELL

Written by Debra Ehrhardt
Directed by Joel Zwick
Sound Design: Danny Ehrhardt

Featuring: Debra Ehrhardt

Press Representative: Heller Highwater

Soho Playhouse
15 Vandam Street
Sundays at 6:30 pm through May 18th
212-691-1555, www.sohoplayhouse.com


Debra Ehrhardt’s one-woman show is a compelling, true story of her childhood dream to move to America, a permanent Disneyland in her eyes. When her simple childhood dream is realized, it is not without apprehension, obstacles and some nightmares she acts out as she chronicles the harrowing tale.

This native Jamaican of mixed heritage portrays several characters, including her good Christian mother; her alcoholic, gambling father; the Sunday preacher; a CIA operative; her boss; her father’s drunken friends; and countless other colorful characters to give us a vivid image of her childhood in Jamaica. In her unpredictable life at home, her father gambles away his earnings and Debra is forced out of private school and collectors empty their home of its furnishings. Her mother helps her pretend and invent stories to make it all seem like an adventure. But when economic and political unrest hits Jamaica in the 1970s, things only get worse and Debra’s desire to leave grows.

The highlight of her story comes when chance encounters present the opportunity to travel to America, including a very large sum of money to smuggle and a CIA agent who is unknowingly used for cover. The tale is exciting, frightening and near fatal, and leaves you unnerved.

Ms. Ehrhardt cleverly depicts the many characters in her play with charm and humor, without a change of scene or costume. Though she makes it to America as a teenager, Jamaica and its people remain in her soul. She is a gifted storyteller who brings her story to life on stage.

Gloria Talamas