Bellyful o’ Laffs

Whether you can afford it or not, Yuh Got To Pay ­– and “Dem” will make sure of it.Offended? Upset? Annoyed? Just Laff It Off.That’s exactly what a bumper crowd in the Ann Johnson Auditorium at the St Gabriel’s School did for about three hours at the opening weekend of the Laff It Off production, now in its 29th year.The four-member main cast spared no jabs at politicians, prominent Barbadians or the average person on the street.Many of the punchlines on Sunday night were aimed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s cost and care, tuition fees at the University of the West Indies, new “taxes” and the man who is deemed to be  at the epicentre of the island’s financial storm – Minister  of Finance Chris Sinckler.  Paying rapt attention,  the audience responded  with hooting, hollering peals  of appreciation.Although not as much time was spent in the Nook And Cranny Bar as in previous years, the latest “plan” for the establishment was to run  a mortuary and restaurant there – De Last Supper  and De Last Stop.Trouble ensued in the second half, when the two businesses became  hilariously entangled, causing “Willow” (played by Peta Alleyne) a bit of distress.Ishiaka McNeil caused more than a stir in his embodiment of “Rose”, who was being interviewed for Righteously Reasoning, while Alleyne’s portrayal of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Education Ronald Jones  are must-sees. Toni-Ann Johnson flaunted her  adeptness at regional accents in various sketches.But perhaps one of the biggest hits came just before intermission, with the portrayal of Sinckler’s (played by Chrispen Hackett) “budgetary speech” which ended with a “flash”.Want to know how? Yuh Got Tuh Pay.