When Okyeame Kwame developed the idea to stage this year’s Versatile Show, little did we know that the 8th of November, 2014, was going to live up to the billing and hype but deliver it did, for the night shall be remembered for the sheer display of brilliance, talent and artistic creations.
For those who didn’t have the opportunity to attend either of the shows, they are the poorer because of the feast they missed.
Although the attendance for the first and second shows could have been improved, given the capacity of the National Theatre, performers and guest in attendance made nonsense of the few empty seats as they relished in each other’s company.
The run-up to the shows saw team work and immense energy on display as the various artistes rehearsed for the big show, in the end patrons had something to hold on to till rap doctor Okyeame Kwame and his ‘cabal’ choose to unleash their creative venom once more in dishing out well-choreographed dance, poetry, and comedic performances next year.
The show had a beautiful storyline with scenes running through from the crowd’s admirable Beggars, to the Politician who arguably had answers to every questions, to the Police who was unfairly just, to the Pastor who had by chance turned himself from the supposed ‘man of God’ that he should be to the ‘god of men’ that we saw in the drama, to the Pimp who will not back down on seeing his dream of becoming the ‘man’ he wished for, to the Prostitute who rigmarole her way through from start to finish. In one piece, the show gave patrons value for their money and a time well spent.
Everything that was displayed on the stage came out well although as with any human endeavour there were one or two blips, but on the whole Okyeame Kwame and his crew deserve praise for a job well done.
Lest we forget, the Magician who urged patrons to get closer to the edge of their seats with his mesmerizing craft was on point. His artistry on the show spoke volumes. The myth behind his act had a message of – be careful of what you see – yet it was a sight to behold. Every top notch celebrity that had his or her chance to showcase some gift did so brilliantly.
With the creation of the concept-Versatile Show in 2012, with the help of Uncle Ebo Whyte and Prof Nii Yatey of Noyam Dance Institute, the 2014 edition showed maturity and improvement in terms of the execution of the concepts and stage craft.
The show had Okyeame Kwame, Adjetey Anang, Ecow Smith Asante, Wanlov the Kubolor, Benjamin Kwadey, Adina, Samini, Keche, Obrempong (De Royal Entertainer), Pearl, Bradez, Edem, EL, Praye Eugene (Choir Master), Prof. Von Kujovi, Yasmeen, among sixty other cast and crew.
For a show which had the media talk a lot, write a lot, and made patrons dream a lot about it, organizers can pat themselves on the back smile, go home and sip on a favourite beverage as well as munch on delicacies and relax in preparation for another edition in 2015.
Well done! Ayeeko!