AN older man engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage schoolgirl, infidelity and deception are just some of the issues dealt with in David Tulloch’s latest production Not My Child. The production is based on a real-life scenario.

The play, which opened on Ash Wednesday, is showing at the Green Gables Theatre in Kingston. Directed by Bunny Allen, the production stars Leonie Forbes, Donald ‘Ice Man’ Anderson, Rosie Murray, Belinda Reid, Joanna Johnson and Crystal Fletcher.

The story focuses on a married businessman Alvin Johnson (played by Anderson) from an urban inner-city community, who gets involved with a 14-year-old girl, Deandra Myrie (played by Fletcher and Johnson). The businessman impregnates the teenager, who threatens to expose their affair to his wife if he doesn’t give her an expensive cellphone. And that’s where everything goes awry.

The plot is an interesting one which keeps patrons on the edge of their seats. An elderly woman Mavis Jones, played by Forbes, lost her job as a domestic helper. As hard times set in, she tries to get her former employers to hire her disabled daughter, Patience James (played by Murray).

When this fails, Jones suggests to her granddaughter Deandra (James’s only child) to utilise her female charms to engage in sexual relations with Alvin in exchange for cash.

Alvin gives in to the charms of the schoolgirl as he recently found out that his wife Mary (played by Reid), who runs his day-to-day business operation has been cheating on him.

Deandra’s continuous demands for money and showing up at his home without notice, takes a toll on Alvin. When Deandra becomes pregnant, this was just too much for the businessman. Deandra’s demands and threats to expose their relationship to his wife, if he doesn’t meet her demands drove Alvin to murder.

The timing and delivery of lines were on spot. The acting is believable and convincing.

Actor Boy Award winner, musician and comedian Anderson found his role very challenging.

“This was an extremely challenging character. I never played a role like this before. Alvin is somebody who has values but got into a situation that was not planned for. He got into a relationship with this young girl because he wasn’t getting the attention at home, and she used her girlish charms to lure him in and he fell for it,” Anderson told the Jamaica Observer.

Forbes spoke about the support each cast member gave on stage.

“It’s a wonderful way to work with a team and the support that you get. We spend time learning about each other’s characters and everyone is just caring. Bands of support,” she noted.

For 19-year-old Fletcher, this is her second production.

“I looked at young girls and observed their behaviour and attitudes. I don’t recall how I behaved when I was 14, so I had to do some research. I also read up on the incident and got some background information,” Fletcher explained.

For Reid, it has been a lifelong dream of hers to share the stage with Forbes.

“One of my dreams was working with Leonie Forbes and it has become reality. The situation of the story people resonate with it. Society tends to shy away from truth and this is truth’, the ten-year acting veteran reinforced.”

Reid is a former member of the Cathi Levy Players. She is known for her role as Pam Pam in the television series Royal Palm Estate.

As the disabled mother Patience, veteran actress Rosie Murray executed the role with dignity and grace.

“It was a very challenging role. To play a disabled person with taste and making it believable has never been an easy job for anyone. The story is an amazing story, not the nicest story but it is reality. This is a role I have to make the audience understand,” said Murray.

Not My Child plays Wednesday to Sunday at 8:00 pm.