June 20, 2007 – Jamaican funnyman Oliver Samuels returns to the Virgin Islands with an ensemble cast in the "Cutie & the Freak," written by Patrick Brown, directed by Trevor Nairne and produced by Jambiz International.
"Cutie & the Freak" is a comic Caribbean remake of "Beauty and the Beast."
The play premiers at 8 p.m., on Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15, at the Reichhold Center on St. Thomas.
The story begins with 21-year-old university student, Cutie, who wants to experience romantic freedom. In her quest, Cutie befriends Frank, a homeless man with facial deformities, who was violently evicted from his community because of his "ugliness." The unexpected happens when Cutie looks beyond the physical and falls in love with Frank. The two lovebirds are alone in their struggle as not even Frank's imaginary friend Ben (Glen Campbell) finds solace in the union. Oliver Samuels, as Tiny, the father, tries to convince Cutie that Frank is too ugly for her, and certainly too ugly to be the father of his grandchildren.
The cast also includes Cutie's mother Victoria (Belinda Reid) as well as their housekeeper Munchie (Sharee MacDonald-Russell).
Samuels has long been Jamaica's ambassador of comedy. Entertaining for more than 35 years, Samuels' brand of comedy established such hits as "Oliver at Large," "Oliver…Large Abroad" and "Oliver's Posse."
On St. Thomas, tickets are $20, $25 and $35 at Modern Music, Parrot Fish, UVI Bookstore, V.I. Bridal & Tuxedo, Urban Threadz and the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559.