Graphic Design
Large and In Charge
Oliver
Samuels, Jamaica's premier comic and all-round entertainer, is a man that needs
no introduction. Here, Oliver tells NuBeing his views on
"the business," being the best and always having the last laugh. Interviewer: Paul
Osbourne.
NuB1: I just wanted to ask you, first of all, being in the business for
quite a long time, what's your secret to longevity?
Oliver: My secret to longevity, sir? I don't know, I'm a God-blesser,
y'ear? And I believe that is it. When my number play, I ready to go.
NuB1: With all the new comedians coming up in Jamaica and all over, you
know, how do you maintain to be on top?
Oliver: Consistency. I have always been consistent. And I do not move
away from my people. Success does not mean anything to me. My people is the key to my
success.
NuB1: Besides acting, do you do any writing or producing or directing?
Oliver: I write, I produce, I direct, I even sing.
NuB1: (Laughing) Wow.
NuB2: Wow.
NuB1: I see you in such, uh, roles, as like, you know, more serious roles
as Room For Rent and that type of thing. Are you looking forward to doing more roles like
that or is it strictly comedy?
Oliver: Oh yes. No, I like those roles, you know, because in my view, in
my experience, they're easier to do than comedy. Because comedy is looking at life from a
humorous perspective whereas life itself is a tragedy.
NuB1: Um...today I was noticing, it seems like you do a lot of research
when you doing, I guess, plays in foreign. You're in touch with a lot of political
issues...is that usually a big part of your work?
Oliver: Oh, no, no, no...and I must credit Marvin Ishmael. Because he
lives here and he knows of the political ranglings that go on and the political trickery
and this kind of stuff and he brought it. From how we approach it, though, he had to tell
me the real situation, the real story before I could translate it to the humour.
NuB1: Another thing, dealing with the foreign thing, do you find it's
a different type of, uh, reaction to your...
Oliver: Lawd, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Foreign people and Jamaican
people and West Indian people are de same, y'ear? Some of dem tek' on a new air and go on
like dem never come from de Caribbean...
NuB2: (Laughing)
Oliver: ...but dat is their tough luck! But basically, all Caribbean
people...and I can speak of Trinidadians and Jamaicans, dem don' change. Dem accent hardly
ever change, dem lifestyle don' change, de food dem eat is de same. But other island does
want to forget where dem come from, which is a tragedy. And, you know, some of dem do go
on like dem born here, dem speak like you people who born here and all dat sorta t'ing.
But, you know, say I goin' out with a Jamaican family, and dem is real Jamaican, real
hardcore Jamaican...
NuB1: Which part of Jamaica do you come from?
Oliver: I am from a place called St. Mary. I was born in St. Mary but I
now live in the City. And for more reasons than one. The City is the hope of making money
and getting rich and all, you know...
NuB1: Just one more question. Specifically, how did Louise Bennett
influence you?
Oliver: That is a long story. And Miss Lou would say, 'tory deh fe tell
but long bench nuh deh fe draw. She is de most natural, natural Jamaican that I have come
across who use the language wit' a lot of panache, a lot of polish and with a lot of
positiveness. And that's why I adore her and I'll forever do my work in dialect. It's in
her honour.
NuB2: Okay, can I have a couple of pictures before you...?
Oliver: Lawd...!