Special Players’ ‘Trouble In Jamaica’
Two years in the making, the East End Special Players will bring a new production to Sag Harbor on Saturday called “Trouble in Jamaica.”
The 25-year-old company features the work of learning-challenged residents of the five East End towns, in performance, conception, and now writing. The new play is a comedy set to music that takes place in an apartment in Queens. It was a collaborative effort of the members of the troupe.
Jacqui Leader, the group’s artistic director, said the players were “getting more and more into every aspect” of the productions “and trusting themselves even more.”
Their previous play, “Gigi, the Life of a Doll,” had a simple theme: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. “From that they matured to thinking as even better writers, coming up with more stories.”
Most of the prior productions have been inspired by the hours of videotape Ms. Leader takes of the performers as they improvise to develop whatever characters they want to be. Thomas Weinberger, who died last month and was one of the stars of the ensemble, was key in coming up with the idea that the play would be set in a tenement and that the building would be condemned.
The ideas kept flowing. One actor wanted to be “a crazy lady who ate French fries in the park and danced,” Ms. Leader said. Some decided to be jewelry thieves; others decided to be cops. A country-western singer, a waitress, and a marriage counselor are other characters they created, each from their own process.
Mr. Weinberger’s character was the building’s superintendent, who never kept up with his duties because he was watching hockey all day. His death was hard for the group, and Ms. Leader was not sure they could proceed without him. They held a celebration of his life, and despite the sadness of the event, they found themselves singing and holding hands by the end.
Another actor stepped up to take his place, and the performers are dedicating their work to Mr. Weinberger. “Tommy was a brilliant actor. He once told me that he was a hambone in school, but that the East End Special Players turned him into an actor,” Ms. Leader said.
The subtitle of “Trouble in Jamaica” is “A Stinking Dirty Musical.” Ms. Leader, who created the script using the group’s ideas, is not a fan of musicals, but the actors wanted to sing. “So we did parodies with the songs. It was more fun, and they really get to sing. We really put a funny piece together.”
The performance at the Bay Street Theater is part of a benefit for the company. It includes a catered wine reception beginning at 5 p.m. and a “champagne-infused” auction after the performance. Reserved seats are $75; general admission is $50, $30 for students.