Overall rating: B-
IN Below The Waist, cultures don't just clash; they wrestle, invade new spaces, get in one another's faces - and beds.

Paul (Orville Hall) and Janice (Deon Silvera) enjoy each other's company in this scene from the play Below The Waist.

It is always refreshing to sit and watch a play that explores sex, human relationships and the dynamics of family life without descending into vulgarity and lewdness. Thankfully, Below The Waist, a highly comedic play written by Orville Hall and directed by Paul Beale, accomplishes that for the most part without sacrificing taste, quality and class.

Janice (Deon Silvera) is an attractive young woman working and pursuing a Master's degree at the university. She is involved in a relationship with Paul (Hall), a Rastafarian bedroom bully, who 'burns' everything not to his liking and insists that his 'empress' be at his every beck and call. In their relationship, they don't always see eye to eye and to further complicate matters, Janice's father, Mr Livingston (a superb Volier Johnson) has a strong dislike for Paul. Janice's best friend, Brenda (Mellisa Gibson) is not a big fan of Paul either, as she believes her friend can find a better man.

But Janice sticks by her man through thick and thin. The added bonus for her: despite his many faults (unemployed, controlling nature and mountain-size ego), Paul is a terrific lover, who puts it down in the bedroom. That is not to say that Janice doesn't experience her share of problems. In fact, she grapples with various issues concerning the men in her life and an affair with her attractive doctor (Junior Williams) puts a strain on her relationship with Paul.

Most of the action in Below The Waist takes place at the Livingston house. Brenda, who is a tenant at the residence, regularly entertains her idiotic boops, Carlton (Everaldo Creary) when not verbally clashing with Paul while Mr Livingston (a police sergeant) spends much of his time chasing Paul from the house.

The play's language is often frank and the dialogue at times hard-hitting and provocative. In the role of the embattled Paul, Hall is a ball of passion and energy and is confident in his delivery. His performance is well matched to Silvera and Johnson's relaxed, naturalistic portrayal of their characters. Gibson, Williams and Creary (who is at home in the comedic role of Carlton) show, too, that they are comfortable with the material.

Hall's writing and Beale's direction seem complementary, but the show's second half could have been tightened more and the sub-plot involving Janice's unplanned pregnancy was a bit predictable.

Nevertheless, Below The Waist scores major points for the honest and tasteful manner in which it tackles sex and relationships in Jamaica, the clashing of ideas and beliefs and what it means to be part of a family.

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