Kaiso House opens at Skinner Park

KAISO HOUSE, the flagship tent operated by Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO), opens its 2004 season at Skinner Park, San Fernando, tomorrow at 8 pm. It will be the second occasion on which the tent will be opening in the South, having done so in 2002, in paying tribute to Black Stalin (Leroy Calliste). This year the tent will pay tribute to Brother Valentino (Emrold Phillip) for his continuing dedicated contribution to the art form over the years.

For the remainder of the season, the tent will be based at the Strand Cinema at the corner of Dundonald Street and Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain. It was last housed in the De Luxe Cinema on Keate Street. Headlining this year’s cast is Shadow (Winston Bailey) a former National Calypso Monarch and Road March Champion. Reigning National Calypso Monarch Singing Sandra (Sandra DesVignes) and Delamo (Franz Lambkin), another former Calypso Monarch, are also included, along with Protector, Bro Mudada, Valentino, Lord Nelson, Brother Resistance, Neil “Iwer” George, Brown Boy, Marvellous Marva, Calypso Kerr, Twiggy, Dr Zhivago, Shanaqua, Exposer, Bunny B, D Diamond, Kaiso Mac, Soft Touch, Sharlan Bailey, Iguana, Spicy, Caesar B, Anthony Johnson, and Mr Definite.

Musical accompaniment will be provided by Len Cummings and the Wailers featuring ace trumpeter Errol Ince and arranger/keyboardist Fitzmellow Thomas. A show host, however, is yet to be appointed. With the addition of “Iwer” to the cast, tent management has planned special shows for the public’s enjoyment that will feature selected cast members along with the “Iwer Crew.” As well, the Strand has been transformed into an original calypso “tent” with lots of bamboo and other indigenous material used extensively to create the effect. Kaiso House is scheduled to stage performances in Tobago, Sangre Grande and the Country Club in Maraval, during the course of the season.