For many people, the words carnival and soca are synonymous with fetes and large concerts that culminate with a huge street party full of revelry and mas. However, John Afoon, co-ordinator and creator of Live at the Hyatt believes in giving the people of T&T a more intimate and theatrical experience of carnival that brings people closer to the history of the greatest show on earth.
“We decided not to do another all-inclusive fete. We wanted to do a show where we could present a fantastic theatrical performance that told a story in a different way,” Afoon told the T&T Guardian during an interview at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain, on Tuesday.
Live at the Hyatt—Children of the Drum started its ten-day run on Wednesday to a sold out audience. For the ten nights of the show’s run, six soca artistes will perform on stage.
The story is told via a musical presentation, with dance, complimented by performances from the original cast: Bunji & Fay-Ann, David Rudder, Destra, Blaxx, KI and Kees, joined by Olatunji, Farmer Nappy and Raymond Ramnarine. Children of the Drums is an artistic soca exploration of the history of the people of T&T.
Afoon said the many different ethnicities that make up the people of T&T are symbolised by the drum, and there is no better expression of the country’s culture than the steel drum.
“This year it is called Children of the Drum. It looks at T&T and all those who make up its ethnic composition. In our history there were the indigenous people, East Indians, Africans, Chinese, Syrians and every one of them had a drum. But we really ended up with one — the steel drum,” Afoon said.
“Children of the Drum,” Afoon said, will have an educational and historical component. Nigel Rojas, lead singer for Orange Sky, will be a guest performer, and tell a story through a musical interlude. Reviving and reinventing the oral tradition, Rojas will tell the story of the steel drum and the significance it had in the country’s history.
Afoon hails the production quality as first class and comparable to that of stage productions seen in Las Vegas and Broadway. Lighting, visual effects and array of dramatic props will add to the production quality of the show, Afoon promises.
“With the right technology in it, the production part of the show is fantastic. It was like taking a show and putting it in a controlled environment. So putting together a show with all these elements where the artistes could really sing. The audience is up close and personal with the artistes. It is very intimate,” he said
Afoon said Children of the Drums is a family production that anyone can see. He said unlike fetes and concerts where people are congested in one spot while watching a performance, everyone in the audience is comfortably seated and able to enjoy the whole show.
“When you go out to a fete, you can’t take your children there, and you cannot take your elderly parents there. This show you can sit down and see. The performers are up close with the audience. Everyone sees the whole show. At no point in time is there a bad seat in the show,” Afoon said.
Hyatt is offering different packages that include dinner and a show, a room and a show, or dinner, a show and a room.
“With Hyatt, you have the option of having dinner before or after the show. You can go to the café, stay the night, have breakfast in the morning. As well, you are assured safety and parking at the Hyatt,” Afoon said.
Children of the Drum is dedicated to the late Geoffrey Holder who passed away last October. The show started on Wednesday and runs until February 21.
On February 22 there will be a special tribute to Black Stalin with a classic concert.
This tribute is in collaboration with the University of the West Indies. All proceeds will go towards Black Stalin’s medical care.
MORE INFO
• Tickets cost $500 and can be purchased at the box office in the Hyatt.
• Phone: 1-868-702-8783 or email: eventmanagersltd@gmail.com
• Hyatt packages can be purchased directly from the Hyatt.
• For more info visit: www.liveatthehyatt.com
