3 minute read
A TRIBUTE FROM ANNI DOMINGO
TRIBUTE
Anni Domingo
Advertisement
Mona was a beloved colleague, mentor, advisor, teacher, friend, a wonderful godmother, a loving mother, and grandmother. She was a pioneer, who lit the way for many of us. An amazing actress who could be comic, passionate, fierce, powerful.
When Mona was in the cast you knew that it was going to be something special. Many have rightfully spoken about Mona’s amazing performances on numerous TV shows, but she was also a phenomenal stage actress. I first met Mona in 1972 after watching her awe-inspiring Lady Macbeth in Peter Coe’s Black Macbeth at the Roundhouse theatre. It is a performance I will never forget, for she opened my eyes to what an actress could do with Shakespeare. She spoke with fiery imagination. Her stone-faced exhaustion after the sleep-walk scene was mesmerising. And so, you can imagine my joy when twenty years later I found myself working with Mona in Macbeth with a predominately black cast, touring the USA.
There were many issues during that tour as we travelled from venue to venues usually hundreds of miles apart, in a small van but Mona made us laugh with her stories. She could be so funny; she had a great sense humour with an infectious laugh. But that did not mean that you could take liberties.
During that tour of Macbeth Mona taught me many things but one that has stayed with me and always will is ‘know your worth and allow no one to disrespect you’.
During the tour we were sometimes hosted by members of the community. I remember us arriving at a university town and the cast being assigned to members of various faculties.
Mona and I were to stay at a beautiful house, just outside the campus, with a lecturer from the English department. Imagine our surprise when we arrived after the show, and we were shown to our shared room with bunk beds, at the top of the house.
We looked at each other and Mona said, “Anni what do they think we are, children? I’m a big woman. I’m not sleeping in any bunk bed.”
“I’ll sleep on the top bunk Mona; we’ll sort it out in the morning.”
Later when we went downstairs, she was further angered when we found out that there were at least two other bedrooms, kept for their children, who were away at college.
Back upstairs Mona put the few things she had taken out, back into her case, saying, “In this big house with all those rooms they think we’re only fit for bunk beds in the attic. Well, I am not staying here, tonight or any night.”
So, in the middle of the night, we silently crept downstairs, left a note thanking them for their hospitality but we did not think that we could trouble them any further. We ordered a taxi, and went off to a hotel, sending the bill to the organisers.
“Don’t ever give anyone the space to disrespect you. We are not riff raff that they must hide away in the attic. Know your worth, you hear me.” Yes, no one could mess with her. Mona indeed knew her worth. A proud Jamaican, she had dignity, poise, full of grace, a beautiful soul. She was indeed Talawa. Mavis Chin, Mona Hammond, OBE, we love you, we thank you.
Anni Domingo
Dearest Mona, I owe you for helping to launch both mine and my daughter’s respective TV careers in writing/acting. Before I even met you, I was in awe of your reputation and professionalism; wary of that stern no-nonsense Jamaican matriarchy in your acting; but as you became a friend and revealed the private side of Mona, I fell in love with the warmth of your vulnerability.
I will always remember you in the 2000’s, dancing joyously at my family’s New Year’s Eve parties and how each time you gifted us with your overnight stays. You certainly did ‘walk good’ in life. I’m sure Heaven is quaking in your royal presence.
