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Pendragons Pithy
As a children's author I would have to say that the story of The
Emperor's New Clothes is the most appropriate metaphor alive in T&T today.
Remember the story when the Emperor was strutting in his birthday suit because
his pride wouldn't let him admit that he couldn't see the supposedly exquisite
robes his bogus tailors had created for him?
They prepped him early on with this
line, "Only those who are pure of heart and of noble mind can see them!" It was
only until a little child, shushed by his parents (of course), yelped, "LOOK!
THE KING IS NAKED!"
Last Saturday I attended this supposedly grand Magic Show with
my son and his Dad. I don't suppose I can fearlessly claim to be pure of heart,
of noble mind, or to have the unashamed innocence of a babe, but The truth is, I
just couldn't SEE it! - at every level.
Many "Nice People" were there and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Judging from the half-hearted and extremely 'polite' applause though, my bet is
many more shared at least some of my own feelings on the experience.
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Promoters of this event seemed to reflect the general culture
of greed among our business class. Through the syndication of media and
sponsors, mediocre events will unfortunately continue to experience enormous
financial rewards due to the advertising blitzes that they enjoy. I for one will
think more than twice before I sign up to be duped again. Give me a Best
Village, Play of the Month and Scouting for Talent for free on TV before this, PLEEEASE!
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Children and families are starved for appropriate local
entertainment that does not involve boom boxes, plastic bouncy toys, gyrating
pelvises and alcohol. Trudging through the desert for some decades now, and
coming upon a somewhat murky supply of water - what choice do we have? We give
it a try anyway! And what recourse is there once we drink from the cup? Oh I
know, why not write a letter to the editor of the very newspaper owned by the
key sponsors! (See why The Land of the Brave and Free protect and cultivate
their Independent media?!)
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Only one race (Afro-Trini) was noticeably absent from this
$100 per child, mediocre, less than two hour event. Interesting to be so acutely
aware of the distribution of wealth in this country through living experience,
rather than dry statistics and mere opinion. One person said, "If it was Machel
and Bunji " They'd " be here though!" I said, "Thank God someone supports the
creative experiments if not geniuses in our midst! Or what would all these same
people (myself included) have to call Culture?" (of which we are ALL so proud
and find it nice to be nice about when the foreigners come to gape at our
spectacular expressions of it!)
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The choice of venue neither supported the consumers nor the
performers:
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It appeared to be an opportunity to cram as many chairs in to
one big ole barn as possible. Enter: the sheep please! Now watch as they spin
our brain straw into gold....
Why not put everyone (small children at the matinee included) on
ordinary chairs as far away as possible from the stage without benefit of
auditorium style seating? Great idea! Oh but, what will we do when those at the
back complain? Charge those who want to sit closer up more money! Then you can
tell those bleating at the back they should have paid for "MORE". Besides
they'll figure that out themselves and with any luck may feel ashamed they
couldn't keep (up front) with the Jones's..... hmmm business genius at work!
And what if those in the front complain? Nah, they have so much
money they can go to Vegas to see real Magic if they want. People like that,
well hey, I just had lunch with them - they'll come for the heck of it. What
else is there to do in Trinidad? In fact, I'll be a hero for offering something,
anything so different! Besides making the most money by any means necessary wins
respect in T&T. They'll silently wish they thought of it first. In fact they
won't complain because they'll be taking "how to" (rip off T&T) notes.
The use of screens to project the stage show is just not LIVE
entertainment and may be suitable for party/ concerts but not for magic shows -
and I don't care where in the world they do this! Next time sell me a DVD (would
have been cheaper and more effective) or let the sponsors put it on TV and my
family and we can enjoy it in the comfort of our own cushy couches.
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The Pendragons themselves, 'Class' act that they are touted
to be, should have refused the set up. Their Magic was meagre in that context.
They probably thought, "This is how they do it in the Third World. They don't
have anything better. We'll work with it."
(Do they realise just how much truth (Mrs.Pendragon, please!)
one can actually SEE with those cameras?)
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And speaking of the Pendragons themselves, I don't care how
many U.S. Presidents they have performed for, the magic show I saw was OK at
best, sloppy, old fashioned and tired at points, and easy to 'catch' what was
going on. If any of us had paid $150 each to see that show from a Trini I doubt
we would have been as gullible and as polite.
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To think I could have taken that four hundred dollars it took
for my family to attend this event and enjoyed a glass of pink Moet & Chandon
and a half pound of shrimp at my favorite little French restaurant on Ariapita.
And yes, it's true some may have preferred the mediocre magic show to that. (But
NOT the salad I got at a prime new restaurant which for the same price was a
half a head of iceberg lettuce on my plate. Yes, half a head, as is! OK, they
took off the cling wrap and the Hi-Lo label)
All I can think when I have these rip off experiences is, I
could have opened a savings account for the next family vacation or for college,
or bought my son hey, a few books, hey! like my great children's books with read
along CD's now available at www.caribbeanchildren.com - an experience to last
him a life time - ha ha
(Pause for accusations of sour grapes. Go ahead! smiles.)
The most priceless experience I've had in recent times is
spending $30 each to lay out under the stars and learn about the night sky. I
even got to peep through someone's telescope and see the glowing rings around
Saturn - for no additional fee! Thanks to the CARINA (The Caribbean Institute of
Astronomy) ....
OR try your public library for satisfying value!
I am learning there is such a thing as VALUE even in the context
of the subjective perception of our relative world! Those with sincere intent do
create and live from an inner place that is capable of discerning, and we rely
on a consumer base willing to do the same.
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Some may defend this event and say if it was not done this
way then they could not have afforded to stage it. I say (Hogwash, you can't
fool me) AND " Great! I for one could have done without it, and wished I had
that four hundred dollars now! ALSO I'd just like to know who I can send a Happy
Birthday (don't look now but you're naked) card to!?!
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T&T - it may be Nice to be Nice but being Nice to others at
the expense of shooting yourself in the foot is stupid and to grin and bear the
pain of it is just plain evil. Courtesy is good and tolerance divine. But the
practice of any one, (even good) value to such an extreme that we indulge
avoidance, denial, pretense, mediocrity and injustice, is one of the very many
ways we are all a part of this glob of evil and fearful confusion within which
we find ourselves living in today.
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I understand the interconnectedness of life and why we at
times temper with diplomacy our opinions. We live in a small society and need
business from each other. I get it. I also know that none of us is exempt and we
feel that if we 'stick it to the man', one day we may be on the receiving end.
Yes, all a dat in it! I get it too. And if ever I am so insensitive, negligent
of other's rights and down right greedy I can only trust and pray that Life
before long will send enough cues if no one around me has the courage to - SPEAK
UP!
(So, If ever you see me selling oranges around the savannah - oh
gaw,buy a dozen nuh! )
I for one was so praying to meet up a Gayelle camera crew on my
way out of this show!
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I would ask you to think about this acronym for the word F.E.A.R - false evidence appearing real - not unlike any other Magic show eh?
Let's make a disappearing act out of upholding these illusions which require us
to use our time, energy and financial resources to make others not only rich,
but look good at our expense.
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A taste of Kiddies Carnival
Saturday 25th February, '06
Kids in Trinidad are already so into Carnival. I can't help wondering if it's
the parents or if the children really, really want to dress up and sweat in all
that heat and dust and litter and noise! Some parents come with the tiniest of
babies into the melee and I worry about them getting sun stroke, going deaf or
picking up some bug. Also, I really don't like to see little children whining
down and 'jocking' waist either. You see parents coaching them and applauding as
though they are circus animals being trained to do tricks for entertainment.
Most of the kids, thank God, are unfolding at their own rate and truly enjoy
moving their bodies freely: a little hip there, some swaying and chippin' there
- and a whole lot of jumping! I noticed a few of the children really
understanding the theatre of how to "Play their Mas". They seemed to understand
their portrayal and express it in their movement. One boy in a turtle costume
moved his arms like flippers and swam across the stage. Some children dressed as
ole time Red Indians, really knew how to move their giant feathered head pieces
back and forth and stomp their feet. That was truly exciting to watch.
Taxi? |
So much traffic |
Phew! Good thing senoritas got a fan! |
Dragon Man
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Blahhh! Justin has been talking about building a Dragon Costume
so these are a special treat for him. |
Pretty Mas! |
Where are the other clowns? |
Peek-a-boo! |
Look Mum, no wheel! |
Adult mas has become mostly a Burlesque show but the Kiddie's Carnival really
continues to capture the essence of masquerading; dressing up and pretending for
a few hours that you are something or someone completely different. Today as I
complained about the heat and the stench and the disorganization (like any good
Trini), I remembered when I was about nine I got to play a pink pouii tree in
Richard Bartholomew's first band. We wore brown leotards for the trunk and
brandished branches of pouii petals fashioned from kite paper. We also wore a
cocoyea head piece towering with blossoms and glitter. I'm sure it was just as
hot and miserable back then, but you know what?? I don't remember! All I
remember is how wonderful I felt to be a pink pouii in full bloom!
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JUSTIN'S ART GALLERY
Kids' news
A great idea for a meaningful family gift at any time of year - I've recorded
these for posterity. My toddler Justin and I spent time together over the months
before Christmas painting and cutting and sticking and stenciling; really
creating art together. I truly let him choose colours and suggest techniques -
one day we used a lollipop stick as a paint brush and got an interesting
textured stroke that scrapped off a layer of paint.
stencils from an old body art kit |
tissue paper from past gifts over the years |
When we were making a collage with tissue paper he crumpled some up and
insisted in sticking it on as a 'lump'. I'm glad I didn't 'correct' him it's the
best part of the collage now -and adds interest, texture and detail. I framed
our favorites to give as special gifts to family this Christmas and wanted to
share with you before I wrapped them. It feels good to give something truly from
Joanne and Justin! aren't they beautiful!
our own painting then made into a montage and washed over with blue |
layers of free form paint textured with match sticks, yarn and
bindis and scribbled on with lollipop sticks (the end of paintbrush
will do - smile) |
All art created with poster paints and washable crayola / Elmers kids
paint! smiles and framed with love at a local gallery.
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NAIROBI (AFP)
A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves
on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a
giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility
in the port city of Mombassa , officials said. The
hippopotamus, nicknamed Owen and weighing about 300
kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into
the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore when
tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26,
before wildlife rangers rescued him.
"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has
adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the
tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother',"
ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge
Park , told AFP.
"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo
was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a
surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise
and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep
together," the ecologist added. "The hippo follows the
tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If
somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes
aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother,"
Kahumbu added.
"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very
tender age and by nature, hippos are social animals that
like to stay with their mothers for four years," he
explained.
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