Patrons attending the opening programme of The Normandie's 2011 Under The Trees Carnival had to repeatedly seek shelter from persistent rain that at times threatened to scuttle last Wednesday's event.
Themed "Extempo2 Best", the playbill featured a showcase of extempo artistry from veterans of the genre, like Black Sage (Phillip Murray), Lady Africa (Leslie Ann Bristow), Lingo (Joseph Vatour La Placierie), Abebele (Neil Baptiste) and Sheldon John.
Show producer and intended headline act, Lord Superior (Andrew Marcano), led the accompanying musical aggregation, Reflections, but was unable to lend his voice to proceedings as he was battling the flu and suffering from a sore throat. Attendees, however, were compensated for the inconveniences they had to endure from the annoyingly persistent inclement weather by the impromptu participation of Arts and Multiculturalism Minister Winston Peters (Gypsy), who was there specifically to declare the Under The Trees season open but stayed the course and in the process gave the patient audience an insight into his considerable extempo skills.
The reigning Extempo Monarch displayed his verbal acuity by regularly getting the better of his opponents in the good-natured linguistic "wars" fought on stage. That, nevertheless, did not lessen the ability of the cast, as members consistently had the audience cheering in admiration of their quickwitted responses to varied topics that required "on-the-spot composing and rhyming." Opening act on the programme was reigning National Junior Calypso Monarch Aaron Duncan doing his title-winning selection, "Doh Waste It."
The lad, as he has been doing in his many appearances since winning the title, had the audience amazed at his confident onstage personality and ability to properly render lyrics that seemed far beyond his seven years of age. Owner/manager of The Normandie, Fred Chin Lee, said he appreciated the patience by patrons. He said: "They showed loyalty to Under The Trees and what we are trying to do here by telling the stories of the calypso art form.
"In addition their decision to remain in this open-air venue despite the unexpected turn in the weather says a lot about the respect they hold for performing artistes." The Under The Trees programme continues next Wednesday when Kaiso Karavan, the calypso tent operated by the East Zone of Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (Tuco), touches down for a showcase of new and old songs by cast members inclusive of The Original DeFosto Himself, Johnny King, Karega Mandela, Singing Francine, Power and others.