Andrea Wright is used to getting laughs whenever she slips into Delcita, the madcap role she has played for over 30 years. But when it comes to her substantive job as a guidance counsellor, it is serious business.

Wright called on experience in the latter to help guide her in The Ex-Baby Motha, a play which starts its latest run on December 17 at Colonel Cove in Morant Bay, St Thomas.

There are eight shows, two scheduled (December 22 and 26) for the Courtleigh Auditorium in Kingston, with the others taking place in Clarendon (Vere Technical), St Catherine (Angels Primary School), Clarendon (Frankfield), Manchester (Belair High School), and St Ann (Ocho Rios High School).

Wright, who again plays the feisty Delcita, addressed the superior number of rural dates in an interview with the Jamaica Observer.

“Our hands are forced, as there is no Kingston venue to host long-term showing of plays. Besides, the rural audience needs theatrical entertainment, too. These projects are expensive, but the show must go on,” she said.

The Ex-Baby Motha cast is completed by veteran Trudy Campbell; Kai-Alana O’Conner, a sixth-form student at York Castle High School; Calneth Reid; and Derricka Johnson, who Wright describes as “energetic newcomers”.

Wright’s plot surrounds children from broken homes, who are separated from parents due to “distance, jealousy and disruptive family events”.

As a guidance counsellor, she is used to such situations, which influenced her “100 per cent” when writing The Ex-Baby Motha. At the same time, it is another chance to play Delcita, her unpolished alter ego.

“I get to slip out of my guidance counseling, guest speaking mode and create havoc with indomitable creative spirits. I was born for comedy and social commentary. When on stage I feel like a choir director — I command all the instruments and voices, without overpowering my support (cast). The better the support system, the more I get to be creative and have the audience in stitches. Theatre is real therapy for me,” Wright stated.

She first played Delcita in 1990s Mr Dweet Nice, a comedy written by Paul O Beale. The role has made Clarendon-born Wright a roots theatre force. She has also written and directed plays such as Court House Drama, Border Patrol, Granny Del, Honeymoon With Delcita, and Patchie.

The Ex-Baby Motha is scheduled to close its run on December 30 at Ocho Rios High School.