Paula Lindo – Our histories, stories, present, future.

“Provoke,” the graduation showcase of the 20th cycle of the Necessary Arts School, lived up to its name as it took a provocative look at issues currently confronting T&T.

The showcase, produced and directed by thespian Penelope Spencer, featured cycle graduates Amanda Robley, Lisa James, Jynnyn Edwards, Heather Dickson, Triston Wallace, Sarmad Yaseen and Nigel Bishops, as well as past students.
The pieces performed showed a nuanced understanding of the issues facing T&T and the attitudes of different persons in society towards these issues.
Pieces such as “Young Girl” and “Teenage Pregnancy” looked at the impact of teenage pregnancy on the young mothers, the stigma attached to the phenomenon and some of the trials the teenagers go through, including the hypocrisy of some members of society.
“Protest” took a look of the attitudes of people who choose not to participate in protests. One, light-skinned, rich, complained that the protesters were inconveniencing her dilettante lifestyle and they should find something else to do. Another, black, middle-class office worker, said it was interrupting her lunchtime, but she would protest if roti was banned. In the end, the audience was asked to ask themselves what they stood for, what they wanted to use their voices for and reminded that silence is the enemy.
“My Son” and “Plight of a Man” looked at pressures that men deal with daily. The first piece detailed some of the virtues a mother would want to see in her son, while the second examined some of the stereotypes, contradictions and gross representations associated with men and masculinity using comedy, satire and confrontations.
“Child’s Play” struck a blow to many in the audience, as it portrayed a 10-year-old girl being prepared to be wed to an older man. The reactions of the family and the servants as the child innocently asked about whether she would be able to go to school the next day were heartbreaking. In the end, the child actor told the audience she wanted to be a child, not a bride.
“What is Love,” a monologue accompanied by choreography, spoke about how love can be powerful and healing but can also be used as a means of control.
The crowning piece of the showcase was “Sisters choosing their Violence,” a stunning visual representation of the remarks made by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley about choosing your men wisely, which provoked much furor when made. The setting was that of an auction where women literally chose their men based on their profiles and outward appearances. The audience was treated to voice-overs of the men’s thoughts, which in almost all cases spoke about their issues with women and showed that they thought women were to be treated violently, but the women were not privy to these thoughts.
The women told the audience what happened to them after they made their choices. They spoke of being mentally, physically, emotionally and financially for years before leaving in some but not all cases, and one woman was killed by her lover in a startling moment onstage.
In the final piece “Take Your Position,” the actors challenged the audience to think about what they stood for, find their voices and stand for something.
The entire production was well put together visually, technically and artistically and was a fitting celebration of 20 cycles of graduating actors from the Necessary Arts School.