The first thing one notices with Jane Bette-Bennett is her voice. Beautiful. Deep and husky. One also notices her remoteness. It doesn?t last. For the simple reason that it has nothing to do with coldness. You see, Jane doesn?t quite live in this world; she is an artist and if she doesn?t like the way things are, she creates a new world.

?We don?t seem to learn, do we?? I look at her, slightly taken aback. I had asked whether politics interest her. ?The world is such a sad place for so many people. If only people would just talk to one another, so many things could be prevented?, says Jane wearily. Is this why she takes refuge in theatre? (Jane and her husband Jim are the people behind the ?Rain or Shine Theatre Company?.

?I suppose it is, to a certain extent. Don?t people say that it?s a way of escaping?? Then, she smiles. ?What I like doing best is comedies. I love it when people laugh and to think I am the cause of their good mood is life?s greatest reward!? By this time, her aloofness has turned into warmth and passion. So I thought I?d get familiar? I ask her if she knows any swear words in Creole. ?Yes, go in the cane!? Is that a Creole swear word? ?It isn?t? Oh well, I don?t know,? replies the lady, undeterred.

Jane walks around with a huge calendar. Too big to fit in a bag so she carries it under her arm. Each and every square is filled with her handwriting. Why? I ask. Mrs Bette-Bennett replies she needs to write everything down because she forgets. A diary? ?I do have one. It?s in my bag,? says Jane matter of factly. Confused? Remember, she is an artist?

When Jim (her hubby) and Jane leave Mauritius next year, they are thinking of travelling Europe in a caravan and eventually settling in Italy. ?If it works, it works, if it doesn?t, then so be it.? But, for the time being, she has learnt to love this island ?where the dodo lived.? All she knew about Mauritius before was the dodo, the Blue Penny and the beaches. ?When you start living here, it slowly dawns on you that there is a whole population living here, that eats, sleeps and dies; there is a whole industry; it is a real country and not just a holiday destination??

For Jane, it is all about people. Wherever she goes in the world, she takes a part of the people and carries them with her. She needs them, you see; she needs to impersonate them on stage. So that she may hear people laugh?