UTech honours Edward Baugh, Leonie Forbes

Mel Cooke,  Gleaner Writer

In formally accepting his honour as a cultural icon at the University of Technology (UTech's) Sculpture Park on Tuesday evening, University of the West Indies Professor Emeritus Edward Baugh was brief.

After his citation was read and UTech's director of Arts and Culture Pat Ramsay presented the award, Baugh, a garland of flowers standing out against his dark jacket and grey tie, simply said, "The honour is mine."

He had more words at the end of the presentations, Grace McGhie accepting on behalf of Leonie Forbes.

Baugh, who was honoured for poetry, reminded all that "I was once an actor". And there were chuckles as he said "I feel I am acting right now. I am playing the role of cultural icon - a role that I never expected to play, but I have been cast by (head of the UTech cultural centre) Pat Ramsay."

Baugh rued not getting the chance to play lead to Forbes - once again, as some four decades ago she had withdrawn from a Shakespeare production slated for the Ward in which Baugh was paired with Forbes in lead.

"Even in her absence we can feel her presence. We can hear her," Baugh said of the lady he described as "the finest Jamaican actress of my lifetime".

He congratulated UTech on the concept of the daylong series of events culminating in the Cultural Showcase where the honours were bestowed, commenting on the high standard of the students' performances. And Baugh noted that the development of science and technology does not mean a rejection of the arts.

"Leonie and I are deeply conscious of this great honour. I will not pretty up our thanks with any other word but thanks," he closed.

high standard

Against a backdrop announcing From Middle Passage to Ghetto, members of the UTech student body involved in the performing arts, including dance, drama, singing, speech and music - steelpan and a band - maintained a high standard as they represented work by Baugh and Forbes at the showcase, hosted by Paula-Ann Porter.

Giving a recap of the day, Porter spoke about the opening workshop with Professor Verene Shepherd and a mid-afternoon literary festival with Drs Erna Brodber and Sonjah Stanley-Niaah.

Baugh's The Carpenter's Complaint was given dramatic treatment in a bar setting, while It Was the Singing was punctuated with the refrain of How Great Thou Art done in serious as well as comic forms, as the Gertie character from Baugh's poem spoke about her dead friend.

Actresses came on stage to depict the two friends splashing each other in the river in their youth, an excellent transition executed with the youngsters waving to each other and the mourner waving to her unseen departed friend.

touch of patois

There was another transition to the choir, as the thespians departed and the sole singer remaining joined by identically golden gown-clad choir members to do How Great Thou Art in full, with a touch of patois in the mix.

The steelpan ensemble delivered Natural Mystic and Rockfort Rock between tributes to the icons, an audiovisual retrospective on Forbes' long career then shown on the large screen. An excerpt from Trevor Rhone's Ol' Story Time, which Forbes has "irrevocably stamped" went over very well, as the son was hounded to near physical response by his supposedly 'holy mother'. A television comedy clip was also shown.

Ramsay called members of the organising team on stage to say thanks all around.

Tarrus Riley's Shaka Zulu Pickney was given chorale treatment and She's Royal was used at points throughout the evening, including as the closing number. And when Riley came on stage in red to take over from the choir's male lead to sing part of his enduring hit, many members of the audience leapt out of their seats, screaming.

The E-Park band, which includes Desi Jones and Peter Ashbourne, played in the post-award session.