The writing ability of Richard Ragoobarsingh is again obvious in Lotto Madness, one of his past works reprised last week at Central Bank Auditorium in Port-of-Spain. The attorney/playwright, whose CV includes the critically acclaimed Mary Could Dance, shows in this work his skill at presenting a comedic piece that includes very serious moral and social issues.Initially staged 13 years ago, Lotto Madness is graced by a strong cast that includes Debra Boucaud Mason (Gillian Bruce); Caroline Taylor (Anna Lucky); Leslie Anne Lavine (Amanda Sanchez); Glenn Davis (Russel Aberdeen); and, Ragoobarsingh (Marlon Lucky).
Playing the Lucky's feisty maid, Boucaud Mason was actually casted in this role 13 years ago, one for which she won the Cacique Award for Best Supporting Actress. Like in so many other roles, the most recent as Mother Senna in Funny Farm/Ha Ha Ha Production's Talk Yuh Talk, she nails this one again.Taylor is excellent as Marlon Lucky's wife Anna. She succeeds in capturing the time worn perception of "convent girls" being naive and steeped in the religious mores of Catholicism, but is fortified by her outspoken and brash maid, also presented as a stereotype of a street smart menial worker from Laventille.
In her role, Taylor has raised her hand to be a worthy contender for the Best Actress figurine in this year's Cacique Awards.Amanda Sanchez is Anna's elder sister and it soon becomes obvious that these women come from a dysfunctional family, one with a history of domestic abuse and mental problems. The relationship between these siblings has a stark similarity to the one portrayed between the characters played by the late Whitney Houston and US Virgin Island co-star Michelle Lamar Richards in the movie The Bodyguard.
Gillian, who has a deep-seated dislike for Amanda, convinces Anna to hire her "cousin," private detective Russel Aberdeen, to investigate her husband. Aberdeen's, whose trademark slogan is "I'm for hire, can prove he's a liar," is a zany character.Ragoobarsingh is successful in highlighting that greed and love of money are extremely powerful inducements to test one's religious indoctrination, moral virtues and fidelity, with murderous intent and consequences. Lotto Madness is a must-see production, with a great script and equally superb acting.Lotto Madness will be repeated on June 14-15 at Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, at 8.30 pm.