Looking forward to seeing my play in action tonight

Coming over to Trinidad today to see "The Perfect Place" performed at Trinidad Theatre Workshop. It will be the first time I am seeing the script come to life under the creative vision of director Timmia Hearn Feldman ... and in the hands of actresses Patti-Anne Ali and Genie Lemo. Looking forward to it.

Have you booked your tickets yet? The plays run this weekend and next weekend (last run) on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of both weeks. Venue: Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Jerningham Avenue, Belmont. Call 624-8502 or email trinidadtheatre@gmail.com for more info and to reserve tickets.
 

 

Interview with actress Patti-Anne Ali re "The Perfect Place"

(Photo of Patti-Anne Ali by Elspeth Duncan)

Interview with Patti-Anne Ali, who plays Margot in the play "The Perfect Place" - written by Elspeth Duncan, directed by Timmia Hearn Feldman. Now showing at Trinidad Theatre Workshop, Belmont.

Q. Who is Margot?
A. A rare pearl trying to find her way out of an oyster

Q. What have you learned (for your own life) from playing Margot? Has playing this role transformed 'Patti' the person in any way?
A. The actress has learned more about the intricacies of the craft and the woman has learned more about the complexities of being

Q. As a professional actress who has been acting for the past 20 years, what are the challenges of this role?
A. I've never played a character like this before - I've played a wide range of women struggling to find and/or free themselves in all manner of situations, but never one in this particular set of circumstances, and with this unique personality

Q. How have you experienced the evolution of the play since opening night?
A. It's interesting... the Director commented that this is the kind of play that actually gets harder as opposed to easier each time it is done. She's right. Most plays have a rhythm that you can settle into, once the run has begun, and you keep working to make it better, but there is an established rhythmic infrastructure that you can sense, even as the work continues. This play however, is so filled with subtle nuances and complexities, that each night, it feels different. It requires a full commitment to honesty from the two actors, to themselves, to the piece, the the moment - and that means, it takes a different shape each night. It is quite a challenge.

Q. How does the character Annabelle impact upon your portrayal of Margot—and does this impact change nightly?
A. The character Annabelle appears to be the polar opposite of Margot - young, adventurous, in charge of her life, but as the story progresses, we realise that Annabelle too, is trapped in her own oyster. Her impact on Margot is huge, as is hopefully, Margot's impact on Annabelle. They remind each other of what they have each lost and what it might be possible to regain. The young actress - Genie Lemo - portraying the role of Annabelle, does a great job of staying honest to Annabelle's complexities, to staying present to the moment and to her interactions with Margot.
For a young actress, she has displayed significant focus and considerable talent.

Q. What, in your opinion, is the overriding message of the play?
A. Carpe Diem.

Q. Any last words?
A. This has been a seminal piece for me as an actress. As an older actress with twenty years behind me, I am not interested in moving backwards. I want to keep challenging myself and this is exactly the kind of role that an older actress would welcome with open arms. Thank you Elspeth for writing such a thoughtful, moving piece and for not being afraid to step out of the box to do so.

This has also been my first time working with Timmia Hearn Feldman and it has been wonderful working with a Director who has the creative intelligence and depth of vision to make the most of a script and the sensitivity to still allow the piece to breathe.

 

****

 

When. Where. What time. Booking Tickets.
The plays run for the next two weekends: Th, F, Sat at 8:00pm and Sun at 6:00pm at Trinidad Theatre Workshop in Belmont. Call 6248502 or email trinidadtheatre@gmail.com to reserve tickets.  

Make friends with the Angels

 "Make friends with the angels, who though invisible, are always with you. Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs." 

(Saint Francis de Sales)

Find out more at Kundalini Yoga class tomorrow:
Friday 27 September 2013
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Kariwak, Crown Point, Tobago.

Beginner to advanced level students welcome in the same class. You will be guided. Do what you can and you will have the experience you are meant to have.

Sat nam.

 

Read the reviews. See our plays.

Please click on image to enlarge/see details

Feedback from two people who saw the plays:
THE PERFECT PLACE - Elspeth Duncan
SAME OL' MAS - Randy Ablack

"Last night was a great treat to see Patti in her latest play, one written by Elspeth and another updated political play. It was a refreshing break from the farces and comedies we see so often and I must say that Elspeth's piece was well executed . For the forty minutes we were taken up and learned so much about the main characters that when the end eventually came and though you may have already guessed the ending, you couldn't believe that forty minutes had passed. The actors were smooth in their characters and played well off of each other. I really have to admire E's writing.

As for the political treatise, those of us who were at Mrs Ali's book launch of The Egg Lady, we were treated to a small taste of The Same Ol Thing. Updated a bit to reflect the current political climate and all very relateable. Paul, your cousin Timmia, did a wonderful job."

(M. C-S-M.)

"What a pleasure to see two plays as authentic as these. Elspeth Duncan's "The Perfect Place" builds from a quiet start and we grow to know the Patti-Anne Ali's and Genie Lemo's characters and by the end we actually cared. Randy Ablack's "Same Ol' Mas" is a brave piece and each person who see's this play will see something a little different, as we discovered when we talked about it afterwards. Well done to the director Timmia E. Hearn Feldman." 

(J. A-N.)

When. Where. What time. Booking Tickets.
The plays run for the next two weekends: Th, F, Sat at 8:00pm and Sun at 6:00pm at Trinidad Theatre Workshop in Belmont. Call 6248502 or email trinidadtheatre@gmail.com to reserve tickets. 

Click here to go to the TTW's Facebook page for the productions.

The anonymously written play ... which turned out to be mine & is now showing.

Click on image to enlarge

Some years ago I attended a playwriting workshop where I wrote a script called "The Perfect Place". It subsequently went on to win an award, as one of four 'best new plays', selected by NDATT. Years passed and I forgot about this play. The computer I had at the time crashed and, having not backed up, I lost all my files (the one with the play included). More time passed ... until about two months ago—I got a call from Trinidad Theatre Workshop. Director Timmia Hearn Feldman was calling to find out if a play called "The Perfect Place" was mine.

"Yes, it is."

They had found the script while cleaning out their office. It had no name on it, but they managed to trace it back to me. They were very intrigued by it and wanted to produce it for their new theatre season starting in September ...

Click on image to enlarge and read their version of the 'mystery of the anonymously-written play'

So, The Perfect Place is now running at TTW with another play (also written in that workshop)—"Same Ol' Mas" by Randy Ablack. Last night was opening night, but I did not attend. I will fly over from Tobago to see it a few days into its run. I hope those of you who live in TT and are reading this will book your tickets soon and come. An evening I am sure you will be glad you were a part of.

Booking info, dates, play synopses and relevant info below:

Theatre Season 2013 / 2014 at Trinidad Theatre Workshop launches with:

DOUBLES: two new plays for the price of ONE.

Long-time Globe vibes: two features, with a break in between. Except here it's two NEW TRINIDADIAN ONE-ACTS, with a free drink in between.

The Perfect Place by Elspeth Duncan
A chance encounter between a waiter and customer develops and reveals secrets about each, and forces them to face the lies under which they have been living.

Same Ol' Mas by Randy Ablack
Four vagrants living in Woodford Square as long as anyone can remember, claim squatters right.... and get the deed to the Square. The Prime Minister and the other Ministers throw the country into crisis in order to get their Square back.

directed by Timmia Hearn Feldman

DATES:

September 19, 20, 21, 8pm
September 22, 6pm
September 26,27,28, 8pm
September 29, 6pm
October 3,4,5, 8pm
October 6, 6pm

Tickets: $150.00 and are available at Trinidad Theatre Workshop

Call 624-8502 or email: trinidadtheatre@gmail.com ... Tickets are going fast

Tobago one-day Painting Retreat with Omesh Cain

My first big and 'real' painting

Of all of the creative disciplines in existence, painting is the one that I never really felt I could "get". Other than basic dabbling, I never really got into it.

Recently I was introduced to visiting artist, Omesh Cain and his partner. I checked out Omesh's website (http://www.omeshcain.com/) and, while reading how he described 'Creativity' and 'Inspiration', something resonated and I felt: "I want to do a workshop with him."

He invited me to come to their home to paint, saying: "You will need to paint for the entire day"—and he would show me various techniques.

To cut a long story short, the painting shown here emerged in about 6 hours or less. I did not think about it or plan what it would be. The first few hours were spent applying layer after layer randomly and without thought to the canvas. At a certain point Omesh told me to look at the painted surface and see whatever was coming out of it. After a while I saw the eye of a horse ... and the rest flowed from there. It was like magic. It was all there already.

I am hooked.

Omesh will be giving a one-day workshop in Tobago in October. From experience, I assure you it is definitely worth attending. Details are below:

PAINTING RETREAT
Sunningdale 10, Mt. Irvine, Tobago
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday 5th October 2013
$800TT per person, including lunch and refreshments.

Bring your own acrylic paints.

60 x 80 cm board provided.

Minimum 3 persons.

$300 down payment required by Friday 27th September 2013

For more details, please contact Omesh at (868) 484-7527.

Thank You, Jasper. God Speed.

Jasper: Early 1998 - 3 September 2013

Dearest Jasper,

I've written so many blog posts about you ... but today's one will be short. No words can ever encapsulate who you truly were.

Wonderful Companion, Friend and Treasure Bringer. Thank You for all that you have been to me, my family and my friends who knew you in your time here with us.

I know your Soul is already enjoying its wonderful new adventure.

Love,

Elspeth

(Past blog posts including Jasper are here).