The countdown continues

This was followed by Whistling Charlie and the Monster, Winterset, Hamlet, Man Better Man, Drums and Colours and in fourth place Henri Christophe.

The countdown continues with Number three – The Doctor in Spite of Himself by Moliere, adapted by Osborne Ashby. There were a few performances of this play under the direction of Osborne who also acted two roles. Errol redirected it for an open air semi-arena production in Febeau Village. The Baptist minister and villagers enjoyed themselves tremendously and so did the players.

After my performance as “Val,” I remember telling a senior member of White Hall Players that this is what we should do more often – take theatre to the people. Right away, he outlined the problems to me – organising the venues, transportation, stage props, publicity, selling of tickets etc and above all it was not financially feasible. The idea never died in my mind and years later, in 1957 to be exact, “To take theatre to the people at a price to suit their pockets,” became the mission statement of the Strolling Players Theatre Company.

We move on now to the number two spot. This play was directed by Errol Hill. He told the cast that one Friday at UWI in Jamaica, his class read and discussed Riders to the Sea by the Irish playwright J M Synge. As soon as the class ended, a very excited young man came to him, praised the play to high heavens and mentioned that he, too, must write about men going to sea.

On the Monday morning, the young poet came with the play entitled Sea at Dauphin. It was first staged at the Government Teachers’ Training College, PoS in 1954 with Horace James, Errol Jones, Clinton Browne, Colin Laird, Elliot Bastien and yours truly as the very old man “Hounakin.” The young writer went on in later years to win the Nobel prize for Literature in 1992, with his poem “Omeros.” By now you would know I am speaking about Derek Anton Walcott.

Number One. Ping Pong – written and directed by Errol Hill. The first performance was at the Teachers’ College in 1953. For the celebration of the West Indian Federation in 1959, Errol played “Buttards.” Before a presentation at Roxy Theatre, a well-known historian spoke about how writers should bring to the fore the problems of life in their own country. Years later, this historian became the father of the nation – Dr Eric Williams.

At the end of the first production of Ping Pong, Errol bought books with his own money and presented them to members of the cast. He gave me, Three Plays by Anton Chehov and wrote in it . . . “To: Freddie for his good work as ‘Jigger’ and his sportsmanship also . . . Errol Hill, . . . 1953.

I also have a card from Errol . . . “Thanks for your 35th anniversary magazine. You have really achieved a fantastic success with the Strolling Players. Many congratulations. Errol and Grace 1993.”

Dr Errol Hill was an actor, poet, director and playwright par excellence. I can’t begin to tell you how much I have learnt from him. Whenever, we met he would call me, “Houna.” That’s the short for ‘Hounakin’ – from the Sea of Dauphin. I in turn would salute him saying, “Hail! The High Priest of Drama!”

With that, I thanked the audience kindly for listening and they responded with loud applause.

Wife: In church this morning, you didn’t see, the ridiculous short skirt Jones daughter was wearing?

Husband: Not really.

Wife: And old hard back Mrs Matthews and that low cut blouse she had on, posing as Anya. What you think?

Husband: Mary, I didn’t see her.

Wife: So, what you going to church for?