Preserving Our Literary heritage – Expressions 2
GEM MADHOO-NASCIMENTO
GEM MADHOO-NASCIMENTO

‘Expression 2’ exploded and imploded on the stage of Theatre Guild Playhouse last Sunday, November 9, with flourish, silk and excitement. This new forum for poetry was well crafted and beautifully executed with all the pieces falling neatly into place from idea to act. The veteran producer, the selected poems, the seasoned performers, the consummate readers, the stage managing, the props, the costumes, the lights, the sounds, the technical supervision, the appreciative audience etc. all combined to ensure a high-quality, fluid and exciting show.

An extract from the printed programme will serve as a good guide as to the scope and range and promise of this new forum for poetry.

Coolie Mother by David Dabydeen performed by Scheherazade Khan
Coolie Son by David Dabydeen performed by Petamber Persaud
I come from the nigger yard by Martin Carter performed by Lloyd Marshal
After Carter by Ruel Johnson performed by Sean Thompson and Derek Gomes
Fragment of poem by Mahadai Das read by Vanda Radzik accompanied by Sonia Yarde
Three poems on violence against women:
Rise up written and performed by Sean Thompson
Sickle by Kai Davis performed Nuriyyih Gerrard
Murdered by Mahadai Das performed by Sonia Yarde

Three pieces on cricket:
Homecoming by Ian McDonald read by Kit Nascimento
Cricket written and performed by Jennifer Thomas
The master batsman by Paul Keens-Douglas performed by Ron Roberson

If I were a love poet by Rudy Francisco performed by Mark Luke Edwards
Who wrote this script written and performed by Randolph Critchlow and Sonia Yarde
Two extracts from Shakespeare’s ‘Merchant of Venice’ and ‘The Tempest’ performed by Dereck Gomes et al
Other pieces included ‘I am a Christian I am sorry’ by Chris Tse; ‘A poison tree’ by William Blake; ‘In Flanders Field’ by John Mcrae; ‘The Plan’ by Robert Fernandes [from his recent collection of poems, ‘The Voice and Vision of Robert J. Fernandes’] read by Damian Fernandes; and ‘Cure-Foh-Al’ written and performed by Petamber Persaud.
‘Expressions’ is a new poetry forum. This new platform for poetry aims to extend the landscape of Guyanese Literature and to heighten the appreciation of poetry. What started tentatively in May has now become a smooth mechanism of poetry excellence. And most of the credit must go to the producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, whose work could be better understood through the sentiments expressed in the poem, ‘The touch of master’s hand’ by Myra Brooks Welch. The poem tells the story of how an old battered violin on auction couldn’t raise three dollars but after a tune was played on it by a master, it went for three thousand dollars.
The producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, declared she was inspired to launch such an event after witnessing the resoundingly successful, ‘See More Poetry’, at the playhouse to mark the birth centenary of A. J. Seymour. That activity was staged by the National Library on Sunday January 12, 2014. A note from the producer on the printed programme reads hopefully ‘Expressions’ will become a regular feature on the Theatre calendar.
Based on the feedback of ‘Expressions 2’, there is no doubt this poetry forum will become a regular feature in the social calendar of Guyana.

(Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

What’s Happening
• The book, ‘From Ashes to Ferro-Concrete: A History of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 1914 -2014’ by Joanne Collins-Gonsalves, published by the Guyana Heritage Society will be launched on December 8, 2014, at 6.30 pm in the Church.
• Coming soon the autobiography of Sir Shridath, ‘Glimpses of a Global Life’
• Look out Sharon Maas’ new novel, ‘The Small Fortune of DorotheaQ’, and Ryhaan Shah’s third novel ‘A Death in the Family’.
• On Amazon is ‘Turtle Myrtle’ by Juliet Madhoo-Bipau

(By Petamber Persaud)

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