The show must go on

On Friday night, Hal Greaves passed away at the age of 55.

Then on Monday, Shirley “Beulah” King died at the age of 74.

Both were well-loved figures within the theatre world who took their craft far and wide, often in service of addressing social issues.

The tributes that have poured in for Greaves go some way in reflecting his focus on community.

Arthur Lewis of Ibis T&T Performers said Greaves had a direct input in reaching out to communities through the East Port-of- Spain Development Company Ltd. He was very concerned about youth development and youth rehabilitation. Director of Sanfest and retired principal, Walid Baksh, said Greaves spelled community service.

“He was bent on helping the underprivileged and those who have broken the law,” Baksh said.

Acting Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip added his voice to a chorus of tributes. Phillip described Greaves as a “selfless and committed crime-interrupter who enjoyed mentoring the youth and serving as a father figure to young people living in areas deemed at risk.” “Highly skilled in negotiating peace among feuding groups in rival communities, Mr Greaves was instrumental in assisting the police settle a myriad of disputes over the years,” said Phillip.

Greaves was also affiliated with the Hearts and Minds Programme of the Inter-Agency Task Force of the Police Service, which was established in 2005, to bridge the relationship gap between the police and residents of Laventille and East Port-of- Spain. But he was more well known as one half of the pair of Roy and Gloria.

The Roy and Gloria television capsules sought to unravel the most complicated social issues for the better understanding of the general public. Calypsonian David Rudder stated, “RIP activist Hal Greaves. You’re looking at a true Trinbagonian hero.” Playwright Tony Hall wrote, “Hal Greaves understood that life is a play and that we can write our own script.” King will always be remembered for her character of Beulah.

In fact, she became synonymous with the figure, whose charisma was due in no small measure to King’s inherent appeal.

King was born in 1942 in Point Fortin but spent most of her childhood days in Enterprise, Chaguanas. Being the eldest of seven siblings, she took on many responsibilities at home.

King was never able to attend secondary school. Instead, she remained in the primary school system after writing her School Leaving Exam. It was not until King turned 17 that she received her first official job as a teacher at the Cunupia Government School. She taught home economics.

In 1974, King was asked to be an organiser for a week of arts programme facilitated by the government. One night, when Freddie Kissoon was on stage, he asked for someone to volunteer to do a stand-up dialogue. King willingly stepped up to the plate and proved to be the hit of the night. It was right then and there that Kissoon in vited her to join the Strolling Players and the rest is history.

In 1988, King was awarded the Humming Bird Medal of Trinidad and Tobago for her contribution to art, and has also received a citation from the Borough of Brooklyn, New York, for acting.

Both deaths come months after the passing of Kissoon who died in August at the age of 85.

They also came as the Trinidad Theatre Workshop held its inaugural New Play Festival over the weekend. Perhaps that initiative is a sign that none of these icons will die. Their legacies will live.

And the show must go on.