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Oliver
stands out
Oliver
Twist (Allan Clelland-Goddard) is enticed by the Artful
Dodger (Dimitri Pollard). Photo: Zen Dionne Jarrette
I
was taken back to my childhood days in a most euphoric manner
last Friday when I attended the staging of Oliver! at Queen’s
Hall.
Some outstanding performances by very young actors reinforced
my belief that there is hope yet for our future. The roles
of Oliver Twist played by Junior Calypso Monarch Allan Clelland-Goddard;
The Artful Dodger, Dimitri Pollard, also a former junior
calypso monarch, and Nancy, played by Hanna Howard, were
performed with panache and maturity.
Throughout the musical I had to constantly remind myself
that Allan and Dimitri were pre-teens, their performances
belying their ages.
Presented by The UWI Festival Arts Chorale, in association
with the Faculty of Humanities and Education at UWI, the
production earned all marks available for outstanding set
design, wardrobe and music. Oliver! was directed by Louis
Mc Williams, its music directed by Jessel Murray, with choreography
by Hazel Franco, assisted by Adele Bynoe. The authentic
wardrobe was by Camille Rajnauth, assisted by Maria Mc Shine-Ransome,
Teresa Monsegue and Kristen Rajnauth, while Angela Francis
and her team were responsible for some stunning make-up.
When it comes to directing and music it doesn’t get
better than Mc Williams and Murray. Among some of the memorable
productions I’ve been fortunate to experience by the
director are Sing de Chorus; Ogun Iyan-As in Pan; and, The
Dragon Can’t Dance. Murray’s conducting of the
National Sinfonia was spot-on as well.
In the acting department I was also impressed by the roles
of Maurice Rawlins as Fagin, and Teron Lougheed as the murderer
Bill Sykes.
It’s a pity and loss to the national community that
Oliver! could not be recorded for subsequent use on television,
or reprised during the August school holidays.
Desperadoes
and saints
Fondly
known as “Pinky” by colleagues and fans alike,
this Witco Desperadoes tenor player gives his all during
the band’s performance on Saturday night, at Dining
with the Saints, at St Mary’s College in Port-of-Spain.
Photo: Zen Dionne Jarrette
Witco
Desperadoes showed its class last Saturday night when the
Laventille Hill steel orchestra wowed guests attending Dining
with the Saints, the annual fund-raising dinner hosted by
St Mary’s College’s ex-pupils association. Playing
two sets on the evening, Desperadoes was joined in providing
live entertainment by David Baptiste & B-Sharp.
Though devoid of Chinaware and sterling cutlery, Dining
with the Saints was a most enjoyable event, attracting,
according to one organising committee member, well over
a thousand diners. Even on cursory observation it was obvious
that organisers went beyond the call to ensure an enjoyable
time for everyone, including mounting huge, bright lamps
for four blocks, employing foot and bike patrols, as well
as a shuttle service, guaranteeing security for parked vehicles
and patrons.
The ambience was also enhanced through the participation
of cooks from other schools, inclusive of “chefs”
from QRC, Fatima College, St Joseph’s Convent and Holy
Name Convent. Some of the celebrity chefs seen in the “kitchen”
were Works minister Colm Imbert, former government minister
Gus Ramrekersingh, Nicky Inniss, Ron “Beef” Pollard,
Sayeed Emamali, Lawford Dupres, Waz Hosein and Ainsworth
Mohammed.
Black
Friday at the Oval
Having
turned in an entertaining performance, Queen’s Park
Cricket Club calypso monarch Wayne “Doppy” Dopson
(centre) is congratulated by friends at Queen’s Park
Oval. Photos: David Wears
GUESTS
in attendance at the launch of a CD by Queen’s Park
Cricket Club calypso monarch Wayne “Doppy” Dopson
on June 22 at the Queen’s Park Oval were in unison
in the view that the club should make Friday evenings a
regular liming session.
With this mind, the club’s events committee has come
up with most unique lime for Black Friday (July 13), where
the artistes billed have some form of association to “blackness,”
with special prices on “black drinks.”
Tentatively billed to perform are Black Stalin, Shadow,
Black Prince and Black Sage, and among the drinks specials
are Johnny Walker Black, Black Label rum, Guinness and Angostura’s
popular Black rum mix.
Doppy’s debut CD launch was a most enjoyable affair,
with guest appearances by Calypso Queen and past national
monarch Denyse Plummer and Colin Borde. He will have yet
another launch of his CD this evening at the monthly Harvard
Club lime, from 7 pm.
Sharing the spotlight with him will be police calypsonian/balladeer
Peter Cipriani, retro band Paradise and DJ Small Boxx.
Calypso
Queen Denyse Plummer leads the congaline as she performs
at the Queen’s Park Oval at the launch of Wayne “Doppy”
Dopson’s debut CD.
Saying thanks
Heartfelt thanks to the “old girls” of Bishop
Anstey High School (BAHS), principal Patsy Ann Rudder, former
head girl Wendy Rocke and the faculty for having me as a
special guest at Monday night’s Fifth Form graduation
dinner at Hilton Trinidad.
While I was lodged in the bosom of a lively Hilarians lime,
which included Valerie Bowrin, Lorraine Granderson, Jill
Padmore, Natalie Best, Charmaine St Louis and Ann Moore,
my every need was specially looked after. Acknowledged for
years as an honorary Hilarian (eat your heart out Russell
Huggins), I felt right at home in a packed ballroom of past
and present BAHS girls.
Playboyz celebrate
ANGOSTURA Woodbrook Playboyz is celebrating its tenth anniversary
at the end of the month, and to mark the occasion a week
of celebrations has been planned, featuring some of the
best steel orchestras on the planet.
The week of celebrations commences on July 30 with an “evening
of prayer and thanksgiving” at the band’s panyard
at 57 Tragarete Road, Newtown. The following evening, there
will be a concert featuring PCS Starlift and Playboyz.
As usual, on the Emancipation Day holiday (August 1), Playboyz
will join thousands in the Emancipation Support Committee’s
street procession. Band manager Brian Kuei Tung said the
public could expect a special repertoire on the road this
year.
On August 2, Playboyz’s band in the spotlight will
be reigning National Panorama champion Neal & Massy
Trinidad All Stars. The curtain falls on celebrations on
Friday, August 3, with a performance by Witco Desperadoes.
NY Panorama Sizzles
The season has just begun and already there have been some
major developments on the New York 2007 Panorama scene that
could have far reaching effects on the Big Apple's steelband
music landscape for years to come.
Sesame Flyers has secured the services of respected arranger
Pelham Goddard (who arranged for Marsicans from 2002-2005)
and Harmony has brought Ken "Professor" Philmore
(who last arranged in New York for Sonatas in 2003). Both
Sesame and more so Harmony, are young groups, but they have
made significant strides and progress in recent years, however.
The introduction of these two proven arrangers into the
bands’ respective mixes will raise expectations for
these two music organisations as they contend for a position
among the New York Panorama heavyweights.
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