Author Lovelace's 'Wordz' to laugh with

Regardless of its manifestation, it usually begins with words. And words are no more beautifully presented than in songs, poetry and novel. However, it is the latter two that were the focus of Artistic Expressions Limited's third and final presentation of their calendar events. It was simply titled Wordz, a fitting conclusion and title, as the previous two events were an art exhibition and two consecutive evenings of dance dubbed 'Cultural Fusion'.

The Saturday evening show was shrouded in laughter generated from the words of the three featured presenters - Velma Pollard, Monica Minott and Earl Lovelace. With captivating reverence, they lifted from pages their craftily, creatively intertwined words. Words that brought not only nature to life but reconstruct locations and make colourful and tragic characters loveable.

Lovelace was by far the most successful of the three in capturing the imagination of the followers of words in attendance at the Wyndham hotel in New Kingston. Reading from his latest novel, Salt, and his soon to be launched novel It's Just a Movie, the Trinidadian had the audience in stitches. He graphically painted images of a politician, a cricketer, the cricketer's fans, foreign movie producers and a calypso singer.

He began his memorable reading by saying, "I was asked to read from Salt as well as from It's Just A Movie, which I will do." Then he continued, "I am very happy to be here, and I want to say thanks for inviting me back to Jamaica. I think it should be done a little more often." The latter part of his remarks had the audience erupting in laughter. They did not know that was just a precursor to what was to follow.

Well, some did, Jean Small was one of the exception. The Gleaner spoke to her at the end of the show. "Of course, I love Earl Lovelace, I would never miss him. He captures the Trinidadian voice so perfectly. I really, really enjoyed the creativity in his writing."

And she was indeed correct. Obviously enjoying reading his work, the established novelist read three extracts. Among them was the fascinating extract on 'Franklin's batting'. First, he explained that he had a friend and schoolmate whose name was Franklin and the story was in memory of him. Then he proceeded to read, "In Cascadoo when Franklin was playing" and with a voice that patterns the calypso rhythm he read of Franklin's display of a Caribbean cricketing style and the effect witnessing such spectacle on the pitch had on the fans hours after the match ended.

But the most hilarious reading by Lovelace came from an extract of what he called the 'Jester Movie'. The extract tells the story of a "fellow from America who went to Trinidad to make a movie". Among those who auditioned was "Kankala a well known composer and singer of calypso". The satire (written in the first person narrative) on the discrepancy of foreign movie producers also painted a colourful Kankala. With no lines to say, he believed that his dying character should not be a sudden and over with experience, but that his dying must be choreographed. This form of dying was to the dilemma of the director. He pointed out that the foreign actors did not die in that manner. And the quick witted Kankala replied, "but they are not the ones dying."

His influences

Later the author of novels such as Wine of Astonishment gave a brief insight into the source of his writing. "Well, I am always thinking about what is happening in the country [Trinidad and Tobago] and the world at large, and so I get my ideas from trying to understand the problems people face." He also admitted that calypso and other folk forms were very much part of his influence.

Lovelace's reading was preceded by readings from Pollard and Minott. However, the programme opened with a brief performance from a group of drummers, who returned in the second half of the show with a scintillating performance on dejembe drums. They were followed by welcome, as well as an introduction of the three readers by Paula-Anne Porter-Jones, the master of ceremonies.

Minott and Pollard are poets. In both cases, the poems they read were short and relevant and seemed to focus on their travels and experiences. Pollard read several from her collections. The titles were just as compelling as the subjects: Ego, Montserrat, Cut Language as well as Bird, from her book Philosophers. Among Minott's readings were a short one written after the earthquake in Haiti titled 'Silence in the Stone', 'Rockside' and her opening selection, 'Easter Sunday Morning', a tribute to Rex Nettleford.