MANtalk

High Drama comes to the Queen’s Hall in August when a collaboration of Mermade Theater with MSJ Productions present MANtalk, a collection of finely crafted vignettes of Caribbean “Man-ness” written by the late theatre guru Earl Warner.

Mermade Theater will be remembered for its successful production in 2002 of The Vagina Monologues while MSJ Productions is a collective of three of Trinidad & Tobago’s premiere theatre stalwarts Stanley Marshall, Nigel Scott and the legendary Errol Jones.

Earl Warner who died at the early age of forty six has been described as “distinctly and unapologetically Caribbean” in his approach to inter­preting work for the stage. He was a theatre practitioner who felt strongly that Caribbean people must discover their own flavour and distinctive traits, that “we must sing our own song.” And sing he did!

His formal training in the theatre is impressive and includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama – as well as a post-graduate diploma in directing and theatre-in-education – from the University of Manchester, England. Additionally, he gained the diploma in theatre arts from the Jamaica School of Drama, Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts, where he would later became a member of faculty.

His record as a director of major productions is daunting. He worked tirelessly to present the literature of the Caribbean in the Caribbean, USA and, UK. He directed plays, adapted novels and poems and wrote scripts himself.

Among his major productions of works by Caribbean writers were An Echo In The Bone (Dennis Scott); In The Castle Of My Skin (George Lamming); Sufferer’s Song (Victor Questel) – which toured the Caribbean in 1982; A Branch of The Blue Nile, Remembrance, and Ti Jean and His Brothers (Derek Walcott); Life scripted and directed by him for performances in Barbados and Trinidad, as well as a tour of London and Birmingham in 1986; The Dragon Can’t Dance and The Wine of Astonishment (Earl Lovelace); Three Kings Darkly and The Defense (Edgar White) He was made a member of the prestigious World Consortium of Directors in 1993.

The producers have put together a cast that is worthy of Mr. Warner. MANtalk features experienced actors Noel Blandin and Errol “Blood” Roberts, supported by Gervon Abraham, Arnold Goindhan, Keino Swamber and Paul Pryce.

MANtalk runs from August 24th thru August 28th at 8.30 p.m. Patrons of Queen’s Hall enjoy a 10% discount on all performances including the Gala Performance.

Queen’s Hall Campers Give Praise

When 50 youngsters took their bows to David Rudder’s HIGH MAS’ it was a moment to reflect on the beauty, the magic and the hope that theatre offers and to Give Praise. For three weeks they had been dancing, singing, playing pan, acting and then for a magical 45 minutes it all came together. Their production, Camp! Not Callaloo, was an entertaining amusing and joyous interpretation of Peter Minshall’s story of his entry into the competitive mas’ arena. Charlene Harris, camp manager, dancer and teacher, directed the production, pulling together the work of the professional tutors and the technical staff of Queen’s Hall.

The Queen’s Hall Theatre Camp, now in its 16th year, was returning to the refurbished Queen’s Hall after four years in the cold and the youngsters were able to experience first hand the many improvements in the theatre. Many of the leading professional artists of today have been a part of the Theatre Camp experience - Penelope Spencer, Noble Douglas, Greer Jones, Cecelia Salazar, Dougie Redon, but this year was special as the workshops were led by a new young crop of professionals - Arlene Frank, dance, Caroline Taylor, performance, Simone Phillips, design, Jamal Glynn, music - steel pan, Rellon Brown music – voice.

Noble Douglas once again was the artistic director and Margaret Walcott and Shirley Kelsick provided the administrative back up.

Meet the Tutors at the Theatre Camp

Caroline Taylor is a twenty-two year old writer and performer. She recently received her B.A. Cum Laude and with Highest Honors in Performance Studies from Williams College, the top liberal arts college in the United States. While at Williams, she performed in the Concert Choir, sang Jazz, and helped run Canboulay: the Williams Steel Orchestra. She performed in productions of The Seagull, Voir Dire, The Bacchae, played the title role in Medea: Byword for Evil, and directed, designed and performed her own one-woman show called Dis, Dat & the Other.

Arlene Frank is currently an undergraduate student at the prestigious Alvin Ailey/Fordham University working towards obtaining the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. She is a keen student of Dance, both as a performer and a teacher. She attained the Royal Academy of Dance Syllabus advanced level in Ballet in 1997 and attended the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance in New York and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center to widen her technique, not only in Ballet but in Modern and Jazz. As a teacher she obtained certification from the Imperial Society of Teachers in Ballet Modern and Tap. In 1998 she was invited to join the Noble Douglas Dance Company. This is her second year with the Queen’s Hall Theatre Camp.

Jamal Jasani Glynn (Music – Pan) is reading for a Degree in Music at UWI St. Augustine. An accomplished pan player, he favours the Tenor pan, and the Double Tenor. He enjoyed a long association with Ebony Trust in the UK in the 1990’s both as a player and tutor to disabled children and senior citizens. At present he is a member of the T&T National Steel Orchestra, Phase 11 Pan Groove and the UWI Festival Steelband Ensemble.

Rellon Brown (Music – Voice) holds the B. A. Musical Arts UWI. A talented musician, his instrument of choice is the trumpet, but he is comfortable in many genres. At Carnival time he plays in the tents, he is a member of the Calypso Band at Klassic Ruso and NJAC’s Stars of Tomorrow . With his Jazz Band Dominant 7th he plays at the Hilton, Kapok, and Chaconia. He has also performed at the Bi Annual Caribbean Music Expo in Jamaica.

Simone Phillips (Design) holds the B.A. in Theatre Design from at Nottingham Trent University and the MA in Film & TV Design, received in 1996. Since her return to Trinidad, she has worked with the Caribbean School of Dance, designing for their performing company Metamorphosis Dance Co.; Westwood Park; Peter Minshall and the Callaloo Company. Simone has also produced costumes for Mavis John, the Astor Johnson Repertory Dance Co, Sonja Dumas, and JoyFour Dance Co. She recently mounted British Council’s Magic Pencil Exhibition at the new National Library.

Theatre in Alternative Spaces

Vanessa Bushe in Concert
Nella Fantasia (In my fantasy)
at the Simon Bolivar Auditorium
Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th, Friday 10th September, 2004 at 8.00 p.m.
Vanessa Bushe was awarded the Jean Abdool Trophy for the most outstanding vocalist in the recently completed Music Festival 2004. Her record at the Festival was outstanding, she was awarded the Chesterton Ali Trophy in the Recital Class, won the Leider Duet with Johanna Chuckaree and the Rochford Cup in the Operatic Duet with Natalia Dopwell and was the joint winner (north) in the Oratorio Class singing Handel’s Let the Bright Seraphim. Admission : $125 & $100

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AUGUST

2nd – 5th
Emancipation National Celebrations produced by the Ministry of Community Development & Culture and N.D.A.T.T.

7th – 4th
Annual Queen’s Pageant produced by P.S.A. 7.00 p.m. Guest Artists 3 Canal, Prof. Philmore, Mungal Patasar and others.
Admission $70

8th
It all comes down to love 6.00 p.m.
T&K Productions Interpretative Dance, Drama and other art forms. Produced by the Welcome Holiness Church.
Contribution $40

11th – 15th
Weekend Sex, Weekend Richard Comedy directed by Richard Ragoobarsingh starring Glen Davis, Nickie Crosby, Mairoon Ali & Richard Ragoobarsingh
Weekdays 8.30 p.m. Sunday matinee 5.30 p.m.
Admission $90 & $75

19th, 20th
Finals of Minor Categories – World Steel Band Music Festival 7.00 p.m. produced by Pan Trinbago.
Admission $100

22nd
Miss T&T 2005 directed by Brian MacFarlane & Alison Brown 7.00 p.m. Cocktails 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. A Gala Affair produced by Peter Elias
Admission $250

*24th – 28th
MANtalk by Earl Warner 8.30 p.m. produced by Mermade Theatre & MSJ Productions.
Admission Gala 24th $150 ; other nights $80 & $70

SEPTEMBER

3rd – 10th
Prime Minister’s Best Village Folk Competition – Semi Finals
Produced by the Ministry of Community Development & Culture

11th
30th Anniversary Gala Concert. 6.00 p.m.
Signal Hill Alumnae Guest Artists include Lydian Singers, Marionettes Chorale.
Admission $100 & $75

12th – 15th
Prime Minister’s Best Village Folk Competition – Semi Finals
Produced by the Ministry of Community Development & Culture

21st
Who Am I?
Gospel Concert & Live Recording 6.30 p.m. produced by Sherwin Gardener.
Admission $100 & $75

22nd
Variety Concert
Spektacular Productions

25th
TSTT Talent Competition 6.00 p.m.

26th
St Augustine Chamber Orchestra conductor Kenneth Listhrop

27th – 30th
Theatre Month coordinator Trevor Jadoonath
produced by NDATT

Discounted Shows

MANtalk 24th – 28th August.
Patrons of Queen’s Hall enjoy a 10% discount at all performances.

News&Views

The Family Day Hamper
Traditionally the Raffle for the impres­sive family Day Hamper is drawn at the Quarterly Meeting of the Directors of the Patrons. This year we are pleased to announce that the winner of the Raffle is none other than our graphic designer, Dexter Lewis. Congrats and keep up the good work.

Not a ticket booth, a security booth
Spotlight has doubled checked with Heather Henderson-Gordon, the Manager of Queen’s Hall and hastens to assure Newsday reporter Anne Hilton that the building at the front of Queen’s Hall is not a Box Office but a Security Booth. She need not worry about patrons risking life and limb to purchase tickets, this activity still continues in the lobby of the Hall until the new Box Office, suitably and safely sited, is constructed.

Thank You
Many organizations, businesses and indi­viduals assist Patrons projects in various ways. This issue of Spotlight would like to say a special thank you to Ace Printery who print our Bar B Que tickets at no cost, and to Phase 11 Pan Groove and Director June Nathaniel and her Key Academy of Music who make their steel pans available to the camp year after year.

Welcome New Members