“Woman Tongue” – An Absorbing Theatrical Experience Gets Ready for a Short Run

I wish to congratulate writer, publisher, entrepreneur (and now playwright) Tanya Batson-Savage on her first play, “Woman Tongue,” now running for a very limited period in Kingston. In fact, there are only six performances, so do make sure you catch one. Highly recommended!  Here is the press release:

Director Eugene Willaims in conversation during rehearsals with actors Bertina Macaulay and Karen Harriott for the upcoming play Woman Tongue.

April 21, 2016

Woman Tongue Gets Ready for Limited Weekend Run

The latest production, Woman Tongue, to hit the Kingston theatre scene is revved up and ready to go, running high on feminine energies. The anthology play will take over The Courtleigh Auditorium on Thursday, April 28, 2016. The play explores several issues about femininity and boasts an enviable all-female cast of Barbara McCalla, Karen Harriott, Carol Lawes, Hilary Nicholson and Bertina Macaulay.

With celebrated director Eugene Williams and lighting designer John DaCosta also on board, Woman Tongue is promising to be an experience that theatre-goers will not soon forget.

Written by Tanya Batson-Savage and produced by Scarlette Beharie Productions, Woman Tongue is only on for a limited six-show run and closes on Sunday, May 1, 2016.

“I’m particularly excited to be producing such a fascinating play that pulls together some diverse and thoroughly entertaining often irreverent stories which under the expert directorial hand of Eugene Williams and this stellar cast are going to take the audience on a thoroughly enjoyable emotional ride,” said Scarlette Beharie.

Carol Lawes, Hilary Nicholson and Barbara McCalla in rehearsals for Woman Tongue.

This exciting new anthology play is a montage of 7 short pieces that shine a spotlight on older women, engaging in conversations often thought taboo. Mixing comedy, drama and even a touch of the tragic. Woman Tongue explores love, sex, sexuality, evolving family dynamics, changing mores and values, life and death, prostitution, and death.

“I’m thrilled that my first play is has such a fabulous cast,” Batson-Savage said. “These are all women whose talents I admire and respect because they are all capable of presenting such nuanced and believable portrayals. It also helps that Scarlette is a producer who understands my vision and Eugene has been amazing,” she concluded.

Woman Tongue will also benefit from the great technical skills of Angela Gay-Magnus for musical direction, Bryony Kummer-Seddon for set design, Charl Baker for costumes and Neila Ebanks for movement.

The show plays at 8pm on Thursday and Friday, 5pm and 8pm on Saturday and 6pm on Sunday. Call 459-8382 for additional information.

Eugene Williams is one of the Caribbean’s most celebrated and accomplished directors. Having recently retired from his 17-year stint as director of the School of Drama, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, he has turned his attention to directing Woman Tongue, his first piece of commercial theatre in several years. (Photo: Gleaner)