Deception drives the plot of Boopsie’s Homecoming, the latest play by Patrick Brown, currently running at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston.

Most of that conniving behaviour comes from Petal, played by Daindra Harrison and Renae Williams.

The Jambiz International comedy, which opened on December 26, stars Glen Campbell as Boopsie, Petal’s husband. Courtney Wilson as Larry, Petal’s brother; and David Crossgill as Papa, her father, complete the cast.

Although she has been acting since grade 8 at Ardenne High School, Harrison says working with the experienced cast at Jambiz International put the edge on her skills.

“I got the role of Petal through auditioning and, honestly, the experience so far has been truly spectacular. The rehearsal process was really intense because we had so much to get done in a short amount of time. But now that we’re past that, I’m genuinely enjoying Petal and having fun with the show,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Petal lives in Jamaica while Boopsie resides in the United States. He sends money to her over eight years to build their dream home, but when he returns to Jamaica finds that no construction has taken place.

Harrison admits getting into Petal’s devious character is intriguing.

“Outside of the rigorous rehearsals and daily practices, my preparation really came from trying to understand Petal on a deeper level. The situation she’s in, what led her there, the kind of woman she is, and how she relates to the other characters in the story,” she said. “Once I grasped the essence of who she is, the preparation process became much more enjoyable.”

Born in Glengoffe, St Catherine, Harrison was raised in Kingston. After graduating from Ardenne she attended The University of the West Indies where she majored in integrated marketing communication.

Her acting credits include the plays Pickney Worries and Pitchy Patchy.

Boopsie’s Homecoming plays Wednesdays to Fridays at 8:00 pm, with two shows (5:00 pm and 8:00 pm) on Saturdays and Sundays.

— Howard Campbell