A TEMPEST: An Adaptation of Continuing Pertinence

A new waypost has been added to the developing landscape of Theatre Arts in Dominica. Alwyn Bully, prolific curator and promoter of culture and the arts, has teamed up with a stellar cast to bring Aime Cesaire’s A TEMPEST to local audiences. The Play, written in 1969, is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic THE TEMPEST-which opens with the legendary tempestuous storm and deals with such themes as The Supernatural, betrayal, man vs. nature and alienation.  According to Bully, Cesaire’s rendition “is one of the finest representations of his thinking and approach to Colonialism and Human rights.”

Aime Cesaire, renowned poet and activist of the neighboring island of Martinique, was one of the founders of the negritude movement which swept the world in the 1940’s and 50’s. In tandem with the poet’s African-centered perspective, the play is a tool which examines the pervasive relationship between the Coloniser and the Colonised. According to a character in the play, Caliban, Black people have been “given a false image of themselves which they believed and passed on to their own children.” The depth of this topic is given comic relief by Cesaire’s treatment as Cesaire, says Bully, “handles all of this with a light heartedness”. Yet, the message is potent and does not go unheeded.

Dr Lennox Honychurch welcomes this fresh but poignant perspective on stage and is heartened by the play’s weighty premise. He proposes that this is the type of fare that is needed on the roster of local theater offerings. Prolific Dominican playright and director, Steve Hyacinth, credits the actors for a “convincing performance … of a vivid story line” of what he considers to be a ‘satirical’ piece by Cesaire.  Jay Grimner, one of the actors in the play has nothing but words of praise and gratitude for Bully and his intensive involvement and nurturing of the actors and development of the production. Tellingly, the response from the viewing public has been a positive one. A thought that, no doubt, those who were present for the production would echo. What makes the play a true feat of accomplishment is the thought and care that went into the presentation of the well-respected piece.  The venue for the June 14-16 staging of the event, was carefully chosen to showcase the intimacy that Bully wanted to capture.  For this reason, The Alliance Francaise seemed a better fit than the more conventional Arawak House of Culture.

Bully’s great respect for Martinique’s native son is clear in the selection and execution of the classic adaptation.  According to him, this play and its intricate themes, revived in commemoration of the 100^th anniversary of Aime Cesaire’s birth, remains relevant right up till today and will arguably be so into the future. In fact as Dr Bully Surmises: “One could easily say that Barack Obama is president of the United States today because of the philosophy and work of Aime Cesaire in the 1940’s and 1950’s when he, along with his friend and colleague Leopold of Senegal forced the world to wake up to the beauty, history, culture, intelligence, creativity and achievements of African people and their descendants all over the globe.”

The cast of characters which is listed below, included some seasoned performers as well as some young blood : Jay Grimner, Haxey Emmanuel Salamant, Lester Guye, Justina Worrel, Lincoln Cassell, Sonia Riviere, Cornell Linton, Delia Cuffy-Weekes, Curtis Clarendon, Clive Atwell, Adella David, Anne Bruno, Christian Gernet, Gloria Augustus, Annette Toussaint, Merissa Gabory, Izra George, Steve Williams, Dane Saint Hilaire, Leona John and Asworth “Brong” Simon.