Written by Rawle Gibbons, ‘Ten to One’ follows Sparrow’s story in the 1950’s and 60’s, when he rose to dominance of the calypso world. As Dr Louis Regis states: “‘Ten to One’ introduces the modern age of competitiveness, exploitation and neglect. This period is dominated by the charismatic Sparrow, the rebel who defied the public definition of social outcast into which the calypsonian and other folk artistes had been typecast.” (‘A Calypso Trilogy’, Ian Randle Press, 1999). In fact, it is Sparrow who, almost single-handedly, launched the modern era of calypso, the benefits of which singers today still enjoy.
We celebrate Sparrow’s 90th birthday by staging this play for national, regional and international audiences as we stage this production in Trinidad and Barbados for CARIFESTA XV.
Reviews
As a very young musician, I used to hear this refrain, “ when playing tunes, your introduction and ending are critical, as your audience will more than likely remember those moments the most . And boy this cast certainly heard these comments, as I did many moons ago.
Pore raising opening. The acoustics of the Frank Collymore Hall seemed to deepen the lyrical context of the harmonies of the cast, entering from the isles to the refrain of “I’m a Slave”!! There’s NOTHING that can beat the Live musical experience.
It’s an experience, that I can’t put into words, watching others lap up something your DNA has produced. But really it’s in All Caribbean people’s DNA.
Last evening was proud moment to be a Trinidad and Tobago national, amidst all the chaos. But more importantly ( to me) is to recognize, that The Caribbean IS One strong community. Yes we’re different in some ways; we sound different, dance different; but we have so much more in Common than our differences!! We just have to take some time , and go one layer below the surface.
Again thanks to the CARIFESTA team for giving us thus opportunity to see ourselves.
One race (de Caribbean man)
From de same place (de Caribbean man)
Dat make de same trip (de Caribbean man)
On de same ship (de Caribbean man)
So we must push one common intention
Is for a better life in de region
For we woman, and we children
Dat must be de ambition of de Caribbean man
“Caribbean Unity” Dr Leroy Calliste (Black Stalin)
And boy, do we need this now more than ever. – THERON SHAW
So after waiting on the settling of the Middle East madness that was part of our long weekend, I’m still not closer on giving a well thought out review of TEN TO ONE, but here it goes:
As a creative, having been part of large theatre productions, I can safely say, if you’ve never been involved in one, you would not have the faintest of ideas as to the sheer magnitude of effort needed to pull off a 45 min production. Much less a 2 1/2 musical.
And I dare say, ( not to discredit any particular entity) , but I believe its way more challenging having to write, curate set design, lighting, text, dance etc of your own experience, than to purchase the rights to someone else’s experience and recreate that verbatim.
Such was the case of 10 -1. The challenge to really examine oneself, tell OUR STORY, using OUR MUSIC, OUR history, in a world where everything is a blur sometimes, and OUR history is made out to be too uncomfortable, or simply not that important.
So kudos to Rawle Gibbons and the WHOLE CAST for delivering this production….
I’m not good at words to elicit the thoughts and emotions that flowed through my being during certain aspects of this LAYERD production. I’ve ALWAYS admired and respected, and embraced the subtle ways Rawle manages to tell the history, and interject threads of the reality of our space, using very deep and significant aspects of this post colonial slave society…. Similar to Pantopia. As one of my mentors, now in the land of the Ancestors told me some years ago..” Mr. Shaw, nothing’s changed , NOTHING’s changed.”
Thank you to the cast and crew for allowing me to experience this production. – THERON SHAW