Those fortunate to have grown up during the heyday of the Mighty Sparrow could not be happier to get a close-up of his early life through the spotlight of the theatre presentation Ten To One: Tribute To Sparrow at the Frank Collymore Hall in the heart of The City on Sunday night.
The tribute, a staging of Canboulay Productions, was in celebration of calypso king of the world Slinger Francisco’s 90th birthday. It was part of CARIFESTA XV being held in Barbados.
The production was set in downtown Port of Spain where calypsonians limed at a popular food stall with discussions about the politics of the day, the financial plight of the calypsonians and a space for creative expression.
It also saw the initiation of Sparrow who was not “fresh out yuh nest yet and never sing before” yet wanted to announce himself without an audition. He was also asked facetiously “who give you that name Sparrow?”
Sparrow’s retorts: “I was born to sing calypso” as he sang Jean And Dinah, a harbinger of his first calypso title. Sparrow went to fight for better monetary returns for the calypsonians as he tussled lyrically with his fellow artistes, having to fight his bravado exclaiming “ten to one is murder” in a calypso.
Hats off to Canboulay Productions. They captured the audience’s attention with the opening wailing song Slave, one of Sparrow’s classics as the singers entered the stage from separate aisles of the hall.
That moment was poignant. Slave somewhat defined Trinidad’s transitioning the social, political and economic environment.
Ten To One, directed by Louis Mc Williams, reflected top-class ordered choreography, well-toned voices
of its chorus singers, on-point tribute artistes and interaction with the gallery through wit and lyrics. The personality of the show was also shaped by excellent musical accompaniment under musical director Marva Newton. (JS)
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