If you've seen the Hollywood comedies Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle and Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo, then you'll know Dr Patel–Kumar's father. "Dr Patel" is Trinidad's son of the soil, award-winning actor, writer and director Errol Sitahal. Sitahal has made a name for himself through the arts since the early 80s. He said before he dies he wants to act the role of Sookdeo from Samuel Selvon's A Brighter Sun and Shakespeare's King Lear, one more time. Sitahal is now 70. Sookdeo's role was Sitahal's greatest personal accomplishment. He said it was "the warmest character" he played. He said when on stage there is a dynamic and immediate relationship with the audience and he misses that. "I am hopeful I can act the role soon," he said. His most recent award was best actor at the First Film Festival in New York in April for his role as Ragbir in Ian Harnarine's Doubles with Slight Pepper. The film also won the award for the Best Live Action Short Drama at the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television's 32nd Genie Awards on March 8 in Toronto. The Genie Awards honour and showcase outstanding achievements in Canadian cinema. The film also received the Jury Prize for Best Canadian Short Film and was named one of the Top Ten Canadian Films of 2011 at the Toronto International Film Festival. But despite his many achievements in film, Sitahal said his first love was stage. He said his last stage performance was Macbeth, "a long time ago." The veteran actor is known locally for his involvement with Banyan Productions and his presentations on the Gayelle programme with Tony Hall, Sprangalang and Niala Rambachan. He is working on a script for a new feature film titled Crabman and Sandbird with another Trindiadian, award-winning novelist Rabindranath Maharaj. Maharaj was honoured on May 25 by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha for his work as an author.
These days, Sitahal said he was enjoying country life in Riversdale, Piparo. He spoke with the Sunday Guardian in an interview last week.
Never thinks he is a star
Sitahal said when he was about 11, his brother took him to see the movie The Secret of Treasure Island at a local cinema. He had never been to a cinema before, he said, and the experience was overwhelming. He said, "That effect on an absolutely innocent mind does have an impact on you. "It pushed me into acting and that area of the arts." Sitahal grew up in the rural area of Piparo and is living there again after years of teaching and performing in Canada. He said he started off in the cocoa estate and has now returned there. Sitahal attended the prestigious Naparima College, where he was involved in school plays. He won an island scholarship in the 60s to attend Bristol University in the United Kingdom, where he graduated with honours in English and theatre. He was accepted at McGill University in Canada to read for a PhD in English, but after three years he dropped out. During that time he taught English while pursuing theatre. He returned to T&T and taught for ten years at Queen's Royal College while being involved in theatre, but Sitahal said he had to choose a career­-either as a teacher or an actor. Years later he gave up teaching and returned to Canada in search of a career in the arts. Despite his long involvement in a field he loves, and the achievements, Sitahal said he never saw himself as a star. He was nominated for a Best Actor Award in 1997, for his role in Tobagonian Nourbese Phillip's Coup and Calypso, acknowledging him as one of Toronto's best actors. Sitahal was one of the early artistic directors who created the first workshops for young black actors (Black Theatre Youth Players) in Canada. By 1995 he had found an agent. His film credits include Ramdass in Warner Bros' A Little Princess, Kumar's dad, Dr Patel in the first two Harold and Kumar movies, principal regulars in Canada's TV series 11 Cameras and How to be Indi.
Some of his work/roles:
• The Architect and the Emperor of Assyria by Fernando Arrabal
• The Dragon Can't Dance by Earl Lovelace (he played Pariag)
• Designed and directed The Devils by John Whiting
• Designed and directed Moon on a Rainbow Shawl by Errol John
• Directed the play Jahaaji
• Sanctuary, by Raoul Pantin: played Ramon.