Few members of the Queen’s Hall audience of March 23 would argue too heavily against the view that there was perhaps more double entendre and clever political satire in the dramatic reading of Theresa Awai’s Decision 2010 than encountered throughout this year’s calypso season.
Directed by Wendell Manwarren, with support from a team of accomplished dramatists, the reading challenged knowledge of the national political records spanning a period preceding this country’s history-making, administration changing polls of 2010.
Who, for example, recalls the 2001 Crowne Plaza Accord – mentioned en passant in the reading as the “Plaza Accord?” Also, who in fact was “Bill”? Hmm.
A less knowledgeable assemblage would have missed near half the absurdist references to past political shenanigans and not tidily cross-referenced them against more recent fare. In a sense, though, the timing was perfect.
The script also betrayed last-minute adjustments that drew polite chuckles to multiple “Chinese” references. The often-unintelligible chatter of the cast, while off centre-stage, was perhaps also meant to mirror ongoing political narratives in the media and other public platforms.
This was a rendition of Awai’s splendid work that could well have been served as a coherent and complete main course. It is quite conceivable that some tightening here and there will occur and the insertion of bits to aid the uninformed will find their way into a definitive version, but this is high quality playwriting.
It helped that cast members such as Kearn Samuel, playing Patos Manos, Arnold Goindhan as Mr Fox, and Deborah Boucaud-Mason playing the twin roles of Gwen and the Court Officer clearly adopted the script as their own.
Cindy F Daniel, as The Prophetess and Defence Attorney, laid firm claim to the role of The Prophetess—whose relationship with Patos Manos in the play appears to span several dimensions. Ditto outstanding player, Kurtis Gross, who flawlessly delivered the Griot’s lines alongside stage veteran Errol Blood Roberts (Mr Dookie) and relative newcomer, Kevon Brooks who played the Judge.
Narrator, Rachel Bascombe kept things flowing from act to act. Other members of the cast included veteran Eric Barry, playing the Security Guard and Ghost, journalist/playwright, Julien Neaves as the other Security Guard and Ghost and Trevon Jugmohan who was Bill.
Rather hilariously, the disclaimer on the evening’s programme read, “This play is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.” Don’t therefore expect any guest appearances from the Political Correctness Squad!
Through Decision 2010, Awai has brought us thick slices of political history served with hot, sweet, and bitter sauces fresh from an oven fuelled by intrigue, bacchanal, and about everything else the practice of politics routinely offers in T&T.
Who can wait for final production on the big stage?
