As Calypso History Month unfolds and the nation continues to honour the 90th birthday of Slinger “Mighty Sparrow” Francisco, Canboulay Productions (CP) will stage Ten To One III: The Rise of Mighty Sparrow from October 3–5 at the Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain.
Showtime is 7 pm on October 3 and 4, and 6 pm on October 5. The two-and-a-half-hour calypso drama, written by CP founder and arts educator Rawle Gibbons, includes a 15-minute intermission. It depicts Sparrow’s impact on the calypso industry during the 1950s and 1960s and features some of the era’s elite calypsos.
Slinger Francisco ORTT, CM, OBE — born July 9, 1935 — is acclaimed as one of the world’s greatest writers and performers. In this new production he will be portrayed by Roderick “Chuck” Gordon, with Krisson Joseph as Melody, Denzil Williams as Blakie/Kitchener, David Bereaux as Dr Paul, and Syntyche Bishop and Aaliya Johnson as Tants.
The production team includes Rawle-Ann Gibbons (production manager), Louis McWilliams (director), Marva Newton (musical director), Joanna Charles (choreographer) and Asha Stewart (stage manager).
Founded in 1991 with a vision to create a national theatre, CP debuted its first calypso drama, Sing De Chorus, that same year, followed by Ah Wanna Fall in 1992 and the first iteration of Ten To One in 1993. CP says it has remained true to its mission: to tell Caribbean stories with excellence, using calypso drama as a living experience that brings the past to life while educating younger generations and visitors about local history.
For those eager to understand the dynamism that earned Sparrow the title “Calypso King of the World,” or to relive earlier productions, Ten To One III promises gripping scenes including the famous Sparrow-Kitchener showdown and the “Gunslingers” sequence. Despite being wheelchair-bound, Sparrow’s legacy and continued relevance still inspire.
Tickets cost $300 and are available at islandetickets.com, The Blue Edition (Tunapuna), Frank’s Liquor Palace (Diego Martin) and Paper Based Bookshop (Port of Spain).
For reservations or further information, call (868) 343-7713.
