Smile Orange "Jamaican Play"

Smile Orange is a satirical play by Jamaican writer Trevor D. Rhone, which exposes the hypocrisies of the island's tourist industry. It was first produced on stage in 1971 before being adapted into a popular 1976 film, written and directed by Rhone.

The story is set at a low-end Jamaican beach resort and follows the schemes of Ringo, a smooth-talking waiter and hustler. Taking a new busboy named Cyril under his wing, Ringo teaches him how to fleece tourists for extra money and attention, a practice he calls a "profitable art of servility". The plot largely centers on the staff's attempts to exploit the white tourists who visit the hotel, even as they are exploited themselves. The title refers to the staff's uniform color and the forced cheerfulness required for their jobs. 

Major themes and analysis

Smile Orange is considered a major work of Jamaican theater and explores complex themes of post-colonial life. 

• Post-colonial exploitation: The play portrays the tourism industry as a continuation of servile behavior left over from colonial times. The interactions between the black Jamaican staff and the white tourists highlight the power dynamics and economic dependence that persist.
• Double-sided exploitation: The play doesn't romanticize the Jamaican characters. Ringo's schemes demonstrate that the exploitation goes both ways. The staff schemes against the tourists for financial gain, while the tourists, in some cases, seek to exploit the local people for sexual pleasure.
• Survival and hustling: At its core, the play is a cynical look at survival in a society of limited opportunity. Ringo's charm and wit are his tools for survival, and the plot shows that everyone, from the waiters to the local gentry, is running some kind of "game" to get by.
• Race and power: The interactions between the predominantly white tourists and the Black Jamaican workers emphasize the ongoing racial dynamics in post-independence Jamaica. A light-skinned Jamaican hotel manager is even ridiculed for his attempt to ascend the social ladder. 

Scene from Smile Orange with the great Carl Bradshaw as Ringo Smith! 🇯🇲✨
How many of you remember this classic?
Cultural nostalgia never gets old these moments remind us of the roots of Jamaican theatre and film. 💛💚🖤

HERE IS THE FULL MOVIE