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Jamaica, Farewell, a Stunning One-Woman Show, at Santa Monica Playhouse

Santa Monica Playhouse (1211 4th Street Santa Monica, CA 90401)
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Jamaica, Farewell returns to the Santa Monica Playhouse after successful runs all over the world. Debra Ehrhardt's solo show is based on a mostly true story about her journey to the USA from Jamaica in the turbulent 1970s of the Manley Era. When Ehrhardt was an 18-year-old secretary in Kingston, Jamaica, she and her passion for America bumped into a handsome CIA agent over a bowl of oxtail soup. She decides to squeeze through the pinhole of opportunity with the help of this love-struck American. Her way out of Jamaica is blocked by many obstacles: an alcoholic father, a bible-spouting mother, the price of airfare, and U.S. government suspicions. Nevertheless, she begins a dangerous adventure that only the single-minded passion of a teenage girl would chance. The boundary between bravery and foolishness becomes blurred as she grows more desperate. When she agrees to smuggle a million dollars in cash to a mysterious contact somewhere in Miami, the agent becomes her unwitting accomplice. Every part is played by NAACP award winner Ehrhardt, an actress capable of amazing mimicry. This one-woman caper's got generous dollops of humor, laughter and light. Jamaica, Farewell has been optioned for film by a major Hollywood producer.

* Additional fees apply.

1211 4th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-394-9779
443348playhouse_main_stage_inside_view

Reviews & Ratings

269 ratings
4.8 average rating
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Goldstar Member
15 events
5 reviews
5.0
attended May 01 2013

As a long time theater goer I look for high quality entertainment. Jamacai Farewell is surpassed my imagination and is simply hilarious!! Debra Erhndhart does an outstanding job of telling her story with such sensitivity & humor.. She keeps you laughing with her wit and theatrics as she morphs into multiple characters. I've seen it three time now and would highly recommend the show to all my friends.. Don't miss it!

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Missing_member_pic_grid_2_1
5 events
5 reviews
5.0
attended Apr 26 2013

Still the best one woman/man show in town.

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6 events
4 reviews
5.0
attended Apr 26 2013

Written with humorous wit and performed to perfection by a beautifully talented actress. This play is a "must see!"

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Touched_up_photos_-_david_carlson_005
7 events
2 reviews
5.0
attended Apr 26 2013

A fabulous show performed by a wonderful actress, Debra Ehrhardt!

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All 224 Reviews

Member Photos

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More Information About Jamaica, Farewell

Website

http://jamaicafarewelltheplay.com/

Quotes & Highlights

  • Read additional reviews for this show by Goldstar members.
  • "Powerful...with wit and a melodic Jamaican lilt, Ehrhardt proves to be an entertaining and charming raconteur." --The New Yorker
  • "Fantastic! An emotional journey that does full justice to the drama of her life-changing off-stage odyssey" --Time Out NY
  • "Flashes of wit and genuine lyricism combined with an adventure that might make James Bond sweat.…gripping and marvelously funny!" --Backstage, NY
  • "Winning! The evening’s real pleasure is simply Ehrhardt herself, She’s got it going on, living every day like Independence Day." -- Los Angeles Times
  • "A terrific story with wit and panache...suspenseful enough for a thriller and deliciously funny" --LA Weekly
  • "Not since Nia Vardalos' My Big Fat Greek Wedding has there been such a captivating and hilarious one-person show" --Livelyarts.com

Description

The Jamaica Cultural Alliance is thrilled to present the international hit comedy, Jamaica Farewell, written and performed by NAACP award winner, Debra Ehrhardt. Jamaica Farewell was the final production in the 2010-11 Subscription season at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre in Los Angeles, where it was produced in association with Rita Wilson and directed by Joel Zwick, director of Big Fat Greek Wedding. After successful runs all over the world, Debra brings back her thrilling tale to the Santa Monica Playhouse where it all began.

Debra Ehrhardt's solo show Jamaica, Farewell, based on a mostly true story about her journey to the USA from Jamaica in the turbulent 1970s of the Manley Era, is a hilarious and touching story of how one woman risked everything in order to fulfill her lifelong dream of starting over in America. Debra's tour de force performance is a wild roller coaster ride of suspense, intrigue, seduction, humor and manipulation.