Godfrey Naughton’s No Tricks, No Business, which packs a serious dramatic punch and delivers an interesting, humorous story about relationships in today’s society, is set for the National Cultural Centre (NCC) next month.
The play is the first for Naughton in three years, coming after Perfect Stranger in 2005. It had been originally scheduled for June but was pushed back following the fire at the NCC, and was further shifted as a result of Carifesta X celebrations.
Naughton told The Scene that No Tricks, No Business comes at a time in Guyana, when the search for good moral foundation for relationships, between friends and family and business associates, is as elusive as no other time in the country’s history.
“Man’s business acumen lots of times is judged by his lack, or near lack of scruples. An honest businessman is viewed as ‘out of time’”, Naughton said.
Offering a synopsis of the play, he said, that a good nurse uses her need for ambitious fulfillment to rationalise unethical behaviour.
The country, she says, owes her a living, because she stayed to serve, despite the chance to defect to England. But as she goes along she realizss that a terrible price is attached to her actions. She later saved from her ‘comeuppance’ by the treasured friendship between patients in her ward.
According to Naughton, each will say and explain how they owe the other their lives. He said their story is an object lesson on how dire situations can transcend ethnicity, and good clean Guyanese humour is the vehicle used to carry the drama.
He added that each of the four main characters’ stories is skillfully linked to produce, one poignant snapshot of life at present in Guyana; each person represents a stratum of society.
The cast includes stage veterans Sonia Yarde, Lydon ‘Jumbie’ Jones, Michael Ignatius and Naughton, in addition to Nicola Moonsammy, Ocenna Hoppie and newcomer, Lynhus Adams.
The play will run from October 11-12 and tickets range between $100-$300.
