Jooky Jam hails Paul Beale as a leader - Playwright credited for character’s development

A ctor Stede Flash, better known by th e stage name, Jooky Jam, is overwhelmed at the passing of pla ywright, director and producer, Paul Beale. The news of Beale's death late Friday evening quickly made its way through the theatre and film communities, sending shock waves to some who were still mourning the passing of Franklyn 'Chappie' St Juste, whose funeral will be held today.

Beale, 57-years-old, was a writer for Stages Theatre Company, where he introduced the character, Jooky Jam, in the 1989 production, Maama Man Part One and launched the character to theatre stardom. Of Jooky Jam's endurance offstage, Flash simply stated that "the name stuck".

"Paul not only put the characters in script, he laid out all the characteristics each had to have in order to make a production a success. When he first introduced Jooky Jam to us at Stages, he said 'Jooky Jam comes with a walk, to jook and jam, find that walk to match'. It really encouraged an actor to do research to build the character," Jooky Jam shared with T he STAR.

He continued: "It was definitely part of a learning process, and the lesson was how to make a character become reality. He helped me with my own skills as a director while putting Bashment Granny together."

Greatest memory

Jooky Jam has worked with Beale for three decades, from the start of Maama Man Part One and then Part Two, The Driver, Like Father Like Son and The Plummer, yet his greatest memory is the first time meeting him and going through the script of Maama Man. "The actors could see the joy in Paul's face like he knew he had a hit," he recalled.

Jooky Jam also expressed that the playwright/director had many more years of work left in him.

"He was well-rounded and understood the psychology of theatre. We have lost one of the branches of theatre - a great writer, director, filmmaker and producer who has a lot of ideas. He writes down everything, so I know there must be some records of those ideas," he said.

At the time of his death, Beale was working to launch the remake of The Plummer, titled Melcita and the Plummer. Flash, who has been residing overseas, said the fraternity will work hard to make sure the playwright's legacy is carried on.

"To sum it up, he is a leader in the field, a professor in his own right, and for me, a father and friend...somebody I am happy to say I have worked with throughout my career because it is always great energy and persons leave with knowledge. There is something special in the making in honour of his life. He is missed," he said.