The curtain fell on the Barbadian run of the off-Broadway dramatic-comic satire Mannequin Diaries on Saturday night at the UWI’s Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination.
Written by playwright Brian Wiggins, the production, which opened on August 30 at the Walcott Warner Theatre offered a unique perspective on the fashion industry through the eyes of mannequins who come alive.
The play transported the audience into a world where these mannequins-turned-storytellers shared their experiences from different eras of the fashion industry. Through their narratives, the audience was confronted with broader societal issues, including homophobia and racism, providing a reflective and emotional journey that explored hidden truths.
Addressing the audience after the final performance, Wiggins acknowledged the challenges faced during the production’s local staging.
The mannequins represented various eras. (STT)
“We have had some difficulties putting this show together. There were some things that we were not expecting when we came here,” he revealed.
He further admitted that the production had incurred unexpected costs but remained optimistic, sharing plans to return to Barbados next year: “I actually wrote three or four more other productions that I would like to bring here in Barbados.”
Wiggins encouraged theatre-goers to look out for future iterations of the show, stressing the dynamic nature of his work.
“If you have seen this show one time, you will see it the next time and there will be something that will be a little bit different,” he said, noting that each staging of Mannequin Diaries features some changes to the presentation, set, and even costumes. “Mannequin Diaries is always evolving, it is always changing.”
The cast combined local and international talent. (STT)
Wiggins also urged greater support for the arts, particularly for Barbadian actors, telling the audience: “We thank you for coming, but we really need Barbados to support this production and to continue to support these people, these actors. A lot of these actors that you see standing here behind me have other jobs as well, but if you were to ask them, they would love for this to be their job. Things work quite differently here in Barbados versus being back in the New York area.”
Despite the hurdles, Wiggins expressed satisfaction with the camaraderie developed among the cast, which included local and international performers. “Many of this whole acting crew have met each other for the first time and obviously coming from the [United] States and abroad, look how well they have gelled together and become just very friendly,” he said.
The production featured a mix of familiar Barbadian faces, including Carla Springer-Hunte, Akil Ifill, Levi King, and Jada Best, all of whom contributed to the play’s engaging performances. (STT)
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