Helena Allum

Twenty-five years have gone. How you feel? This adaptation of a one-time popular Independence calypso sung by Funny came to mind at this year’s staging of Talk Tent. Not that there was need to ask the question of Paul Keens-Douglas on opening night. He exuded confidence and satisfaction that his life’s work had survived and flourished.

Talk Tent ‘08 was advertised as “Clean Quality Comedy, Humour, Storytelling, Social Commentary.” And that was what was delivered.

Pierrot Grenade Felix Edinborough’s spelling was unpredictable. Can you even guess how he would use the ingredients for making calaloo, including ochroes to spell “democracy?” If you’re in La Brea and you smell tar there must be some story there about “smelter.” And what about “philanthropist.” What can you fill and throw? 

With many returning nationals present at the show, the stories may have been new to them and had them….. well… breath-less. There is something in hearing a story over and over again, something in the rhythm and the delivery of the punch line. Very much like a young child looking at the same cartoon over and over again and being enthralled by it each time.

Some time ago the Pierrot introduced his “pierrettes”, young students of Mucurapo Girls’ RC School. Those young women are now fifth and sixth formers at secondary school and still performing the role of this traditional carnival character. There must be some hope here for the resurgence of these characters.

Samantha Pierre’s story telling, seemingly an entertaining children’s story was strong social commentary on our disrespect for the environment and echoed the message portrayed by Brian Mc Farlane’s Earth-Cries of Despair, Wings of Hope.  

On the surface Samantha told the story of how to keep a secret, of a dog granted the gift by Papa Bois of being able to communicate with humans and (as always in a story) promising not to reveal the secret but under pressure reneging on his word.

As a result the other animals polluted the river, and though Papa Bois was able to restore some of the beauty of the river, the bamboo continues to groan and creek. Meanwhile the dog can now only communicate with humans by shaking his tail. A beautiful story.

Another storyteller who combined humour and social commentary was Farida Chapman. Her story entitled None Better Than None had two drunken men, one African and one East Indian, arguing in a rum shop about who better than who.

Dressed in part African and part East Indian clothes she played the parts of both men. Quite apart from her content about who introduced what food or what music, was her spot on imitation of the voice, intonation and syntax usually associated with men of both ethnic groups and characteristic of rum-shop talk.

Juxtaposing the arguments of both men underscored the senselessness of ethnic prejudices. Her story was not unlike one of the vintage calypsoes performed by emcee David Bereaux about a lying competition between two men. Remember “…..if you tell a lie you going to hell as soon as you die.” Wonder what Teacher Mildred says about those who promote disharmony based on ethnicity.

Roy and Gloria have become household names based on their television skits promoting positive family values. At Talk Tent this time they sparred over how men and women mis-communicate with each other: how men don’t know how to take instructions, how men “hushing does make the relationship last long”.

While their dialogue is entertaining, I look forward to them varying the metre of their lines and going beyond the clichéd ideas about man- woman relationships.

Miguel Browne’s performance, centred around gambling, especially Play Whe. He did not seem to hit the mark on opening night.

Host Paul Keens-Douglas dedicated the show to his audience and paid tribute to Horace James, Stork St Hill and Commentor (Brian Honoré) all deceased who were once part of Talk Tent.

He performed a few of his more recent stories among them one on cricket - Occupy the Crease. In between he delivered some amusing ideas. He posited that “politics messing up Trinidad,” outlining that almost any colour we dress in is now associated with some party or some product.

He suggested that there are three degrees of stupidity in politics: people who should not contest elections, people who vote for those people and analysts who study why voters vote for those candidates. Sometimes stupidity is the simple answer to questions for which we look for big explanations.

Some 25 years ago Gene Lawrence was the singing emcee on the show. He was a special guest this time and with his guitar he traced the development of the steelband. His was a laid back, soothing performance, as was the talkalypso of Shortpants about his mantra – a house for Max. 

Congratulations to Talk Tent and Keensdee Productions. You have survived at a time when other tents have disappeared