National Carnival Commission (NCC) CEO Clarence Moe says tonight's Dimanche Gras production will feature all the genres of Carnival and the creme de la creme among local artistes to give it the "wow factor."
The C2K13 theme is I Am Carnival.
At the launch of Carnival on December 12, Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, and chairman of the NCC Allison Demas revealed that the Dimanche Gras format would change. A salient feature of C2k13 Dimanche Gras is the removal of the finals of the National Calypso Monarch and kings and queen competitions to carnival Friday.
Another change is that while celebrated artistes are featured, Dimanche Gras will not necessarily include C2k13 winners. Moe said the show costs about $3 million "and that includes more emphasis on things like infrastructure and lights, the technical aspect and the number of artistes you would want to use in a production of that nature.
"Then you have engineering costs if you want to create a spectacle. We have had to look at dimensions in terms of height, depth and width."
In an effort to fine-tune the technical aspects, Moe said, there was a meeting on Thursday to ensure everything was in place. Another was to take place yesterday after Panorama from "the late hours into dawn." Shelving the technicalities, Moe focused on the content.
"We have meticulously tried to cover all aspects of T&T culture as it relates to Carnival. If you could look at mas at having its own history, we have tried to create that, using the best. There are some of the best steelbands and best calypsonians, both old and young, participating in an unfolding of imagery that wants to keep the audience entranced."
Moe is eagerly awaiting a post-mortem on the Dimanche Gras.
"We are cognisant it is a pilot project. We have removed the calypso monarch and included Big Friday. The steelband is traditional. We understand we would have to learn how to improve on it. We are asking people to observe the essence of it. Whether it would continue to be workable and if it would bring out the 'wow' factor."
Moe said, "There will be kings and queens who have made presentations at the finals. But it must fit into the production. We don't want to repeat Champs of Steel Plus, where all the winners come together. There will be kings and queens of C2K13, but they may not be winners of any categories. The show will feature the best."
Citing an example, Moe said a particular segment of the production might require former chutney soca monarch Rikki Jai's voice.
"Rikki Jai may not be a winner this year. But we would use his voice because it would fit neatly into the production. We may take four or five of the best in each category."
He was optimistic about Dimanche Gras being a crowd-pleaser.
"We will have kings and queens of the bands past and present and many more. We are trying to replace 'boring' with a spectacle. We won't know the results, but we want to make sure the show will be crisp, neat, nice, informative and entertaining," said Moe.
In the NCC's media bulletin, Demas said she was very excited about the new format and that the event was not to be missed.
Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas, meanwhile, said the producers of the event had left no stone unturned.
Lewis: The start of an evolution
The Dimanche Gras show is being produced by the creative team of Unlimited Functions, led by Derrick Lewis of Island People mas.
Lewis noted there would be a pre-show beginning at sunset and continuing until 8 pm, followed by an "absolutely fabulous and dramatic opening" of the event. Dance, calypso, mas, pan, theatre, poetic renditions and a "beautiful, new-age, multimedia production" will kick-start the production. Lewis said the show will be two-and-a-half to three hours of intense, engaging and educational entertainment.
It's his first time producing the Dimanche Gras show and the experience is more than pleasing to Lewis.
Contacted on Friday, he said it was an exciting feeling. "This is a three-and-a-half week production. It is exciting and great and I love this experience."
Lewis' creative team includes director Davlin Thomas, Maurice Chevalier, Heather Henderson-Gordon (dance and choreography), Penny Gomez, Lennox Toussaint, Sean Paddy and Colin Greaves. He promised a great evening filled with entertainment which will enfold all the elements and spirit of Carnival.
"Just like the theme, I am Carnival, we want people to see themselves as Carnival. It's the final show and will include great pan, great calypso, theatre, beautiful surround sounds, comedy...all the elements of Carnival. You can't get away from those things."
Among those billed to perform are Bunji Garlin (Ian Alvarez) and his wife Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez, as well as veterans including Sparrow (Slinger Francisco), SuperBlue, Black Stalin, David Rudder, Rikki Jai, Drupatee, 3Canal and leading steel orchestras. Sparrow said, "I am part of a cast, I am not starring in anything.
"I will be there just to work out with others. They haven't told me exactly what they want me to do. But it's possible I could be doing something with Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste)."
According to Lewis, "It's all the things you want.
"This is the beginning of the evolution."
He said the show was about expansion, growth and dynamism.