Tay Lay Lay with Kitch brings theatre camp to end

Tay Lay Lay with Kitch brings theatre camp to end
Trinidad Guardian, Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
http://guardian.co.tt/features/life/2010/08/17/tay-lay-lay-kitch-brings-theatre-camp-end

The cast donned the Grand Master’s trademark tie and top hat. They journeyed from his childhood in Arima in 1922, to his departure a decade ago. Through dance, drama, design, song and steel pan, members of one generation celebrated a genius from another in an evening brimming with music, movement and memories.

Putting theory into practice

Queen’s Hall’s Theatre Camp culminated on August 6 with Tay Lay Lay with Kitch, a full-scale concert starring the 80 children who participated in the annual event’s 2010 edition. The hour-and-a-half-long production showcased the skills and cultural legacy to which the children had been exposed over a three-week period. Having focused on the contributions of assorted cultural icons—from Boogsie Sharpe to Bob Marley—in years past, this time around the camp honoured the life and work of Aldwyn Roberts, The Lord Kitchener.

Artistic director, Noble Douglas, welcomed the audience to the final event, as she had done for almost a quarter century. A colourful backdrop featured Kitch’s unmistakable silhouette as motif. A showcase of both talent and tuition, the 2010 camp featured workshops in steel pan by Dougie Reddon, drama by Samantha Pierre, design by Lari Richardson, dance by Kwasi Romero, voice by Janine Romano, and yoga by Lorraine O’Connor. The camp uses a workshop approach in which leading professionals in the performing arts offer hands-on tuition in their disciplines to small groups.

A stroll down memory lane

The show kicked off with an extempo-styled biography of the late calypsonian: “Lord Kitchener’s statue is at Roxy/The man used to dress real foxy,” the stage-full of children sang. Then there were renditions of Kitch classics, among them Sugar Bum Bum and Bee’s Melody. Junior members of the cast took their places behind the steel instruments loaned by Phase II Pan Groove, and supported by their rhythm section and directed by Reddon, they rendered a sweet, simple version of Roberts’ Tay Lay Lay.

Thrilling dance numbers by members of the junior and senior groups respectively, moved seamlessly from the sounds and steps of modern pop music to the melody and moves of Kitch tunes without losing energy. The senior steelpan group offered more complex arrangements of an assortment of picks from the Grand Master’s catalogue. The storyline culminated with Kitch being welcomed to heaven by a bevy of calypso greats. Following the production, the children honoured their tutors, counsellors and camp director, Charlene Harris, with applause and a final song.

More Info

The Queen’s Hall’s Theatre Camp has been staged without interval since its inception in 1986, and continues to be the flag-bearer of the hall’s community outreach programme. Conceived 24 years ago by the patrons of Queen’s Hall as a tool to develop greater cultural awareness and skill among young people, the camp has evolved into an in-demand, solid arts programme. Its culminating concert has traditionally offered students an opportunity to showcase their artistic discovery.