The Brand New Lucky Diamond Horseshoe Club

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How many times have you lamented the support of mediocrity (or worse) in T&T?

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If we really want to change T&T then let's find, create, invest in and support the highest quality talent/ vision and inspiration in our midst!

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AND NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO START - with

The Brand New Lucky Diamond Horseshoe Club

Playing at Queen's Hall until Feb 24th

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A Calypso Musical written and directed by Tony Hall

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with lyrics and music by David Rudder;

starring our BEST local actors - Conrad Parris and Michael Cherrie with the double power of the two errols Errol Sitahal and Errol Roberts. And introducing the brilliantly cast "Sheila" - perfectly played on the night I attended by Quweina Roberts (daughter of the Late, Grandmaster of Calypso, Lord Kitchener)

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For the most of you going "Who??"

THAT IS EXACTLY MY POINT! You know Brad Pitt, Jamie Foxx and the average American blonde with zero talent (say Paris Hilton) don't ya??! Let's make it our business our hobby our passion to know our own!

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Well, I for one, as a contributing editor to SHE Caribbean magazine, vote for Tony Hall and David Rudder for our annual cover dedicated to the sexiest Caribbean men. Yes, the Soca Warriors may give us a more leg and better six packs but there is nothing sweeter than men whose beauty you can taste through the soulful integrity of their Work (capital letter deliberate).

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I was happy to catch a glimpse of Tony Hall on the way in, and delighted that Rudder himself rounded us up and out with a finale at play's end, but truth be told I was bam, smack in love with them both without ever laying eyes ( or hands) on them last night...and that's love!

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Sitahal's Singh was the most multi-faceted theatrical portrayal of an Indian Trini man I have yet seen on stage (and we haven't seen many). His rendition of God and Rum is not to be missed - What was that lyric? Something like "I numb so now I could feel..." And Conrad Parris as Delilah was delightful in drag, without disguising the complex layers of a gender bender - murderer making love to Sheila ( I can't call she a ole ho no more) with any foolish "acting like" a transvestite for cheap laughs.

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Oh so many thoughtful glittering nuggets calling me back - heart, mind and soul - wanting to see it again.

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Tony Hall did me this the first time he produced Jean and Dinah - what was the name of that upstairs space in POS opposite the Central Bank all those years ago?? I thanked him then and I want to thank him and David again now -Thank you for pouring out all this love, this creative genius, for shining your light. For the risks. For the discipline. For the courage. OK OK so I sound like a groupie - a poetic one I hope - smiles - but I am not afraid to gush in the afterglow of creative bliss.

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It was Valentine's Day night alright and perhaps it shows a little of my own weary cynicism settling in - I was expecting it to be good yes, but I did not expect to be moved and grooved, to be wowed and laughed out loud. And afterwards, provoked into thoughtful feelingof wanting to lust on the new horizons and creative possibilities the work presents; to celebrate it out loud and then take that feel good, feel proud pride home to bed and hold it close.

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So people, now is the time to show your true Tini colours! Lucky does for theatre today what the Soca Warriors did for football last November. SEE IT!

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And don't let me hear you fretting about the $125/ $150. tickets - you don't really need to drink that case a beer to fatten yuh belly, buy that new high heel to break yuh back or waste you own precious creative life at a third or fourth all inclusive fete this season. You could suffer one less sequin this carnival I sure! And yes, I too am an avid supporter of anything remotely entertaining coming out of Hollywood but I also want to start anew looking for it coming out of Belmont or San Fernando too. So if money is your real issue - catch the next two block busters on HBO next month nah?(sorry Movie Towne - ah love yuh too eh! ah don't know where I would be without you eh!)

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And you know what? You'll be doing YUHSELF a favor - not Tony, not David. They have rightfully earned your presence with the gift of this gem. I pray that their box office sales reflect this truth,and I trust that their satisfied souls rest gracefully in the knowledge of the excellence they have created.

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P.S. BUY a CD on the way in. You will want it on your way out and the box office will be closed - unless I can reach them todayand encourage them to do otherwise! Spread the word! Take a friend or four! CHANGE BY CHANGE - one change at a time.

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Blessings,

Joanne Johnson

www.suntv.info

www.caribbeanchildren.com