Grand Gala: Hiccups hurt great performance

Held at the National Stadium last Friday, 'Grand Gala', Jamaica's premier 48th Anniversary Independence Celebrations: a walk down memory lane was much anticipated as a showcase of music, dances, speeches, talent, and a collage of colours created by the various costumes and 48 years of creativity. But, alas, that was not the case.

Promptly at five o' clock, the scheduled starting time, the more than half-filled stadium was invited to stand for Jamaica's National Anthem. The MCs, Kalando Wilmoth and Sanique Vacciani-Wilmoth took over with a promise to guide the audience throughout the proceedings. And an understanding between the emcees and audience was arrived at for a call and response of "Irie".

The first act, Give Thanks, in celebration of the nation's security forces was awesome.

Led by the combined band of the Jamaica Defence Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force playing Island in the Sun and Sammy Dead Oh, the act progressively gathered momentum and climaxed with a scintillating performance from Corporal McFarlane on his motorbike. A demonstration from the Jamaica Fire Brigade was just as impressive.

Mass choir

A mass choir, wearing robes of green and gold against the backdrop of a black stage placed in the centre of the field, performed songs such as Jamaica Land of Beauty and Praise Ye The Lord.

Soloist Noreta Lewis and a group of dancers from Tivoli and St Anne's High sang and danced their way into the hearts of the then almost filled stadium.

But the expected background information to link the dances to the celebration did not come. At this juncture, the guides' roles became merely announcers of the items.

And when the members of the Chinese Benevolent Association encountered challenges, there was a noticeable increase in movement by the audience from one place to another.

Other causalities of the busy spectator traffic was the Tribute to A Pioneer (Joyce Campbell). The little narration provided did not give credence to her life and work.

Our African Heritage, a dance depicting the Pitchy-Patchy and the Stilt dancer characters from the Jonkanoo band; and The Wings of Love, a beautifully costumed dance to soothing music, also suffered a similar fate. Instead, they became another dance with great costumes and wonderful choreography.

When Miss Kitty took over as MC for concert time, an act featuring several artistes like Ann Marie Laing (the 2010 Gospel winner), Kharuso (the 2010 Popular Song winner), Abijah, Ding Dong, Krissy and Roy Rayon there was an atmosphere of renewal.

But a near disaster due to the invasion of the stage by the costumed groups, who were seated on the cycle track, when Richie Loop began his ever popular In My Cup again changed the atmosphere.

Matthew Green was one of those involved. He described what happened.

"When I hear the music a vibes get me; on the stage a feel it sinking. But on reflection it was a wrong move," he said.

In correcting the near disaster, there was a necessary delay. When the programme resumed to more artistes shouting in an effort to get the audience back in the show, only the arrival of the bikers could enduce screams of delight. But that, too, was short lived as the Crazy Motor Bikers Association only revved in and out of the stadium.

Therefore, it was not surprising that the audience had mixed reactions to "Grand Gala".

Constable Anthony Rose thought the show did not live up to expectation; Glen Brown saw inconsistency in organisation, some dances were not fully executed; but for Chris Constantine who arrived two hours before the start, "the show was well organised, the security did a good job, the entertainment was family friendly and I enjoyed it."

- M.R.