Friday, October 25, 2019
art books theatre film fashion music food gardening puzzles history
Weekend
FRIGHT FLICKS Page 18
Get in formation A new wave of bold military fashion page14 & 15
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
music
Friday, October 25, 2019
Love & Hip Hop's Spice headlines Nassau's Hennessy Artistry By JEFFARAH GIBSON
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DANCEHALL and reality TV star Spice
ancehall artist Spice will be the first female vocalist in many years to headline the annual Hennessy Artistry concert. The “Love n’ Hip Hop: Atlanta” star is the replacement for English rapper Stefflon Don who was initially sought for the local event. Now, Spice, whose career has in recent years has been bolstered due to her stint on the popular VH1 reality show, will join other dancehall heavy hitters such as Alkaline and Dexta Daps on stage. This year’s concert will be held on November 2 at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. It will also feature Bahamian artists, including Julien Believe and Wendi, as well as a host of local DJs. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Hurricane Dorian relief efforts. Mia Marshall, brand representative at Commonwealth Brewery, said its been a long time since Hennessy Artistry had a female headliner. “We have barely had a female artists in Artistry in times past,” she said. “Last year was Sizzla, Charly Blaxx, and the year before that we featured Tory Lanez and Movado. In the spirit of evolving the brand and trying new things we like to add a little bit of sexy in the air, for the men at least.” And Spice is also very popular with women, and many came to know her through “Love and Hip Hop”. The slate of performers has been continuously changing and organisers had to be very quick with
| Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net their contingency plans in order to offer a solid line-up of artists for this year’s instalment of Hennessy Artistry Ms Marshall said they had initially reached out to rapper, singer and songwriter Stefflon Don who rose to fame after her 2017 single “Hurtin’ Me” featuring French Montana charted. However, she was unable to commit to the show. “She is no longer a part of the show. She was great. She was part of our initial line-up and we do have some patrons that are disappointed because of the change. But we have a great number of people who are excited that Spice has been added to the line-up. Alkaline, who I think for us is a really strong artist in this market, he is going to have the biggest lineup in terms of songs. He will have attendees singing for days,” she said. “Our roster of artists kept changing over the course of months, but to be honest, we are happy with it. It gave us an opportunity to bounce back and still have a really good show and add an artist that people will definitely be looking forward to seeing.” And when it came to booking Spice for the show, she said, everything happened “all in one day”. “It was very swift and she has DEXTA been a dream to
DAPS
work with since the very beginning,” said Ms Marshall. When it comes to the other big performers, she said there is a good chance Alkaline will close out the show. “I think it will be a strong battle between Alkaline and Dexta Daps. We know Dexta Daps will bring the energy and we also know that Alkaline is really a fan favourite.”
ALKALINE
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Friday, October 25, 2019
Inside Weekend
My perfect Bahamian weekend Annie Munroe Attorney Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?
Interview 4 - 5 Instead of hoping for a career in soca or dancehall like many of his peers, Drew Fresh hopes to be the Bahamas’ Justin Bieber Food 7 Smoothie café helps you stay healthy on the go Theatre 8 - 9 Bahamian playwright hopes to give audiences a slice of ‘Haven’ in these troubled times Gardening 10 Jack Hardy reveals the secret ingredients in beloved dishes Entertainment 11 - 12 Second Central Bank Culture Festival supports the Orange Economy, plus things go ‘boo’ at the zoo over at Ardastra this weekend Community 13 Miss Bahamas Universe responds to criticism of her ‘Dorian Project’ photoshoot Fashion 14 - 15 A new wave of military style designs offer a bold and sexy take on street style Art 17 Big Picture Paint puts the focus on the healing power of art Halloween 18 Your guide to the best frightfully fun flicks Calendar 19 Things to do around town this weekend Literary Lives 20 - 23 Before Rodgers and Hammerstein, there was Rodgers and Hart Books 24 New releases hitting shelves this week
Puzzles 26
Animals 27 Kim Aranha on the shameful treatment of a dog Cover | JuneKWoods
“Saturday breakfast of course. It’s the first day of the weekend; it’s like you broke out of jail. I love the mornings. I like to start the day with a run and then come back and eat. It’s the best time to eat a meal.”
Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail? “That’s a hard choice. It’s between wine and Kalik. A nice red wine if I am eating grilled food and a Kalik if I am eating conch salad.”
Q: Beach or sofa?
“The beach. I like to be outdoors. I love the island life and I love the water; it soothes the body and the mind.”
Q: What could you not do without?
“Cute shoes, because shoes make the outfit, they are the first thing people see when you walk into a room.”
Q: Weekend away: where would you go? “So many places, but right now at the top of my list is New Orleans – for the music, the food and the history.”
This weekend in history
Linda, California. (Baby Fae lived 21 days with the animal heart.) Today’s birthdays: Actress Jaclyn Smith is 74. TV host Pat Sajak is 73. Hillary Rodham Clinton is 72. Musician Bootsy Collins is 68. Actor Dylan McDermott is 58. Actor Cary Elwes is 57. Country singer Keith Urban is 52. Writerproducer Seth MacFarlane is 46.
October 25 • In 1760, Britain’s King George III succeeded his late grandfather, George II. • In 1964, The Rolling Stones made the first of six appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” • In 2001, a day after the House signed on, the Senate sent President Bush the U-S-A Patriot Act, a package of anti-terror measures giving police sweeping new powers to search people’s homes and business records secretly and to eavesdrop on telephone and computer conversations. Today’s birthdays: Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Knight is 79. Pop singer Helen Reddy is 78. Actor Craig Robinson is 48. Pop singer Katy Perry is 35.
October 26
• In 1881, the “Gunfight at the OK
October 27
Corral” took place in Tombstone, Arizona, as Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and “Doc” Holliday confronted Ike Clanton’s gang. Three members of Clanton’s gang were killed; Earp’s brothers and Holliday were wounded. • In 1965, the Beatles received MBE medals as Members of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. • In 1984, “Baby Fae,” a newborn with a severe heart defect, was given the heart of a baboon in an experimental transplant in Loma
• In 1858, the 26th president of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, was born in New York City. • In 1954, US Air Force Colonel Benjamin O Davis Jr was promoted to brigadier general, the first black officer to achieve that rank in the USAF. Also on this day, Walt Disney’s first television programme, titled “Disneyland” after the yet-to-be completed theme park, premiered on ABC. Today’s birthdays: Actor-comedian John Cleese is 80. Violinist Vanessa-Mae is 41. Actresssinger Kelly Osbourne is 35. – The Associated Press
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
interview
A
ndrew Laroda is determined to think outside the box when it comes to following his dream to become a big pop star just like his idol Justin Bieber. The young singer is set to release a new mixed tape full of original material he hopes will take the country, and hopefully the world, by storm. Andrew goes by the stage name Drew Fresh, a nickname that comes from family and friends. “It’s of course based on my name, Andrew, so my family called me Drew, and then in school my second nickname was ‘Fresh Boy’, but in a good way,” he told Tribune Weekend. And music has always been a big part of his life. “I attended Jordan Prince William School and I got into music through my brother who had a group and he asked me to a part of it. We were rappers and that was when I realised that I had a gift for performing and for making music,” the 22-year-old said. “While I love growing up we listened to a lot of other music like from the greats Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston.” And while Drew has an appreciation for various genres, over the years his signature sound evolved into pop music. “I wanted to do something different. A lot of people in the Bahamas and the region do dancehall and soca and rap and reggae, but I wanted to think outside the box and do something where I could express myself and provide inspiration,” he said. “I really like Justin Bieber. I just like his style, his music and the way he does things; his style just speaks to me. He expresses himself in a different way,” Drew said of the superstar Canadian singer and songwriter.
“Don’t stop being original and don’t stop making the music that you love, to make be the best artist that you can be. There will be people who will try to stop your hustle, but just keep doing what you doing.”
Drew Fresh
In a sea of soca and dancehall artists, this young singer/songwriter wants to stand out with a true pop sound. He tells Cara Hunt about his upcoming mixed tape and how performing makes him feel like he can take on the world.
Bieber has won numerous awards throughout his career, including an American Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2010 and 2012, a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the song “Where Are Ü Now”, and a Latin Grammy Award. He has been listed three times by Forbes magazine among the top ten most powerful celebrities in the world, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2016, Bieber became the first artist to surpass 10 billion total video views on Vevo. “I really like his song ‘Company’,” said Andrew. “It’s about a girl asking a guy to stay with her and it just has this great vibe.” Like Justin, Drew also writes his own songs. “Songwriting is a good way to express myself through my music. I would say my lyrics are inspiring and inspirational and I hope that everyone can relate to them,” he said. “My song ‘Dance’, I got the inspiration from Justin. It’s about having fun and letting go on the dance floor. Another song I wrote is ‘Heartbeat’. This song is really about a break-up when you want the
Friday, October 25, 2019
person you lost to come back and the lyrics are ‘can you make my heart beat again’. Even though it is a song about relationships, the lyrics can really be about anything that you feel you are missing in your life and it has a dance hall vibe to it.” Some of Drew’s other songs include a track called “Satisfy”. “It is about holding on to your dreams and believing that you can do anything that you want without anything standing in your way,” he said. Meanwhile, “All My Life” sounds like his own personal anthem. “It is a song about the things that you want and how you want your life to be and that’s how my writing is; it is about all my life,” he said. Other influences in his music include Swae Lee, an American rapper, singer and composer and one half of the hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, with his brother Slim Jxmmi. He also enjoys
“A lot of people in the Bahamas and the region do dancehall and soca and rap and reggae, but I wanted to think outside the box and do something where I could express myself and provide inspiration.”
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the British hitmaker Dua Lipa’s music. Like Justin Bieber, he said these artists have a unique vibe to them. While he is excited about his new mix tape and his upcoming Christmas music, Drew said his real goal is to perform his music all over the world. “I see me taking my music globally, especially Europe,” he said. “And I would like to partner with some of the big names in music and hopefully sign with a big record label.” “I like writing songs. Honestly, it takes me less than a week to get my feelings down, but I love when I get the chance to perform. I feel like I like I am on the top of the world,” he said. His advice for other young aspiring musicians at the beginning of their careers is: “Don’t stop being original and don’t stop making the music that you love, to make be the best artist that you can be. There will be people who will try to stop your hustle, but just keep doing what you doing.” Drew’s music can be found on iTunes, YouTube, Spotify and other online music platforms.
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Friday, October 25, 2019
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Friday, October 25, 2019
food
Staying healthy on the go By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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ith a history of cancer in her family and a long-standing love for healthy foods, former banker Dawn Sands has decided to go all natural – in life and in business. After 12 years as an offshore banking executive, she decided to leave the field and go in an entirely new direction by opening her own smoothie café. The establishment, located at 139 West Bay Street, is named after a concept her family came up with – “nutrition ready to go”, hence the NRG café. Through NRG, Dawn and her team spread the message of healthy living. They serve smoothies in all flavours, natural juices, soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and quinoa hot plates. Also available are vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and white meat options. Open for breakfast as early as 7.30am, the morning’s menu includes items such as omelettes, avocado toast, almond butter toast and oatmeal banana pancakes. “We serve Mel’s Conch Chowder on a daily basis which is a recipe passed down from my grandmother, Cora Brown, from Bimini. At the moment we offer specials every other week. We also source quite a bit of our products including greens, vegetables and eggs from local farmers such as Lucayan Farms, Field to Folk and The Hen House,” said Dawn. With NRG, Dawn said they want to provide a place where people can enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere and indulge in healthy but tasty and quality food to improve overall energy levels, health and wellness. “Honestly, every time I have the opportunity to engage with my clients it’s memorable. If I had to choose one it would be a client name Joette who usually visits for breakfast. She made me
a laminated script from the Bible that contained words of encouragement for a female entrepreneur. I have it mounted in my office and from time to time I read it. We also have a very close relationship with our tourist guests, even when they leave the country, through social media,” she said. For Dawn, eating healthy is of vital importance. “Like so many people, my family has a history of cancer. My mother being a cancer survivor is my greatest inspiration. I have always been drawn to the
healthier side of a menu and it was truly disheartening to visit many restaurants that would have only salads as a healthy option and then the salad would be very expensive,” she said. Being her own boss has given Dawn complete freedom; the freedom to be as creative as possible with her business ideas without any challenges or consultation. “In May of 2018 I made the decision to resign from the offshore banking sector where I worked for 12 years in capacity of vice president of operations. My educational background is in
finance and securities, and I must admit my love for security trading and operations will always exist,” she said. “My decision to start NRG was motivated by the entrepreneurial blood that runs through my veins. I just had to take a chance. My biggest influences are my parents. My father, Captain Don Brown, was a pilot by profession and my mother also worked for the airline industry. My father, like myself, became frustrated with his job. After resigning he built the MelDon Plaza in which he and my mother, Melverne Brown, operated for about 30 years.”
08 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
theatre
Playwright hopes to give audiences a slice of 'Haven' By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
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ITH the aim of providing quality content that inspires people, playwright Shavanti Smith is bringing her third independent stage show to Dundas Centre For Performing Arts next month. She told Tribune Weekend her goal for the new “Haven” production is to also provide people with a few hours of escape from all that is going on in the country right now following Hurricane Dorian. “I thought the time had come to balance the scales a bit and provide positive content, inspiring stories and relatable stories that make us believe. Our island is so small and tight-knit that everyone knows everyone. If one person decides to inspire the next it will become a ripple effect just like laughter, which I honestly believe is good for the soul,” she said. “Haven” will be showcased on Friday, November 29, and Saturday, November 30, at 7.30pm on both nights. Shavanti describes the play as a faith-based production that highlights everyday struggles. The story takes place in a barbershop owned by Benjamin “Ben” Haven and his wife, Michelle “Shelly” Haven. Ben is the patriarch, head barber, and Shelly is the only hairdresser in the salon. Clients visit the establishment to enhance their outer appearance, but end up feeling
PLAYWRIGHT SHAVANTI Smith
renewed by the heart-to-heart discussions they have with the owners and fellow customers. Audi, the team’s fierce nail technician, and Timothy “T”, the handsome second chair barber, work their magic. Pearline Brown is the nosy elderly janitress, and with the every faithful, and unique, patrons join in the laughter, the conversation, and the drama. “Initially the name and idea of the play was given to me by the Holy Spirit in 2014. When this happens I write it down immediately and begin to visualise how it would look on stage; the characters and their interaction and the overall message. I looked up the meaning of haven and it was defined as a safe place. I used this as a springboard to create and define the overall message,” the playwright explained. Shavanti recalled how every Christmas her family attended a “Dynamite Daisy” production because they just knew she was going to make them laugh until they cried. Each year, she looked forward to Miss Daisy (Terez Nixon) inspiring her and teaching her a message of faith, all while being authentically Bahamian. Shavanti hopes to instil this feeling in others with her work. “When you give birth to something that was conceived in your thoughts and spirit you want to release it and share it with the world. Its urgency, the level of quality, its uniqueness gives you a sense of pride when it comes to light. When you work with a team that is just as passionate about your product, who are committed and enjoy themselves during practice, you know you have something unique. The authenticity of the laughter in practice, even though the cast already know what’s about to come, let’s you know that you have a great product,” she said. The “Haven” cast includes Tyrone “TJ” Burrows, Jr as Benjamin Haven and Rudina Miller as Michelle Haven. It was co-written by Georgette Smith and features many familiar faces, as well as some new actors, including Kirshon Smith, Shakara Green, Aniskha Johnson, Jamero Pinder, Niaya Moss, Jametria Pinder, Anthonique Bowe, Englebert Pickering, and Aaron Munnings. Michelle Bassett serves as the head director, assisted by Shakara
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Friday, October 25, 2019
“Haven” director Michelle Bassett
“Haven” Music Director Charles Tucker
TYRONE BURROWS, Jr, plays head barber Ben Haven
RUDINA Miller as hairstylist Michelle Haven
“The authenticity of the laughter in practice, even though the cast already know what’s about to come, let’s you know that you have a great product.” ANISKHA Johnson plays the nosy janitress Pearline Brown
“Chia” Green. Charles Tucker and Niaya Moss are the directors of music and choreographer respectively. “We have some talented singers, like our ‘Barbershop Men’ who sing a capella during the intermission. They are Everette Evans, Ryan Culmer, Kirk Rolle and Englebert Pickering. The songs are written by an extremely talented songwriter, Jametria Pinder. Our latest addition to the team, Bahamian singer Emily Williams, will also be a featured guest singer and we are ecstatic to have such a talent on our team,” said Shavanti. “I learned a lot about working as a team within this year and not as
NIAYA Moss plays Balinda and serves as the production’s choreographer single unit, because I may be good at various things, there are others who are great at a specific thing, and once we tap into that the efficiency and the passion and the effort creates a better outcome than me micromanaging and stretching myself when I can work on other aspects of making sure the show is ready for the show dates and time. This year we focused more on the promotion and public relations of the product.” Shavanti said the preparations for this show made her respect all those before her who have mounted their own productions.
Photos/Racardo Thomas of Thinq Studios
JAMETRIA Pinder plays Tiffany
“I always get nervous. I’m a perfectionist and with this I’ve also learned to let go and leave room for God to enter and transform in only the way He does,” she said. However, she admits she also gets an adrenaline rush when she sees the talent of her cast and team on display. “Every time I put on a show I try to take notes on how can I improve the audience experience, how can I help the cast to develop the characters better. We would fill out a feedback form and discuss what was good and what was bad, what emotion was represented and what was lacking,” she said.
As for future plans, she said: “We would like to take ‘Haven’ on the road and we’ve been in discussions of taking this to Bimini in December. This would be possible if we received sponsorship. Because the stage play is at the end of November there will no longer be any additional pieces to release this year, but there is one currently in the works and being written,” said Shavanti. Tickets for the upcoming show are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, and $50 for VIP, all available for purchase at the Family Matters Supermarket, and ODAV and Co.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
gardening
The
secret
ingredients Last week we dealt with the most popular culinary herbs; this week Jack Hardy considers the full-flavoured herbs that are loved by some and disdained by others
S
age is a Mediterranean herb that grows to two or three feet and is a handsome addition to any herb garden. One would probably be enough for most families so it would be just as well to buy a single plant than a packet of seeds. Right from the outset I should mention that in most of its applications sage is used dry. Rubbed Dalmatian sage is lovely and provides the flavour you want. Sometimes fresh leaves are used in dishes but mostly for decoration as well as taste. Of the 11 herbs and spices that KFC employs to season its chicken, sage is the easiest to identify.
Sage is most often used along with onions and pork. Sage is a perennial and bears small purple flowers. Treated well, a sage plant will last through summer if sufficiently shaded and watered. If you are going to roast a butt of pork you can rub dried sage onto the surface of the meat and then place four or five branches of fresh sage in the middle of the roasting pan and place the meat on top. The scent of roasted fresh sage is pervasive. Think oregano and you will probably either think Greek or pizza. The Greeks like oregano and they like it strong. Just about all pizzas are flavoured with oregano. If you want to make a pizza but do not have any pizza sauce, you can add water to tomato paste in a small saucepan until the constituency is right for brushing. Add a pinch or two of oregano and warm the sauce. You will find this sauce better than just serviceable. Oregano is for robust meats and dishes. All herbs are stronger when dried so the use of oregano in fresh leaf form torn and tossed into salads or on top of ready-to-eat pizzas is a pleasant change. If you find oregano a little too much for you, try marjoram. It has the flavour of oregano but is much milder. Both oregano and marjoram
are easy to grow both in open ground or in pots. There is a totally unrelated plant called Cuban oregano (Plectranthus amboinicus) that has a wonderful oregano aroma. The juicy leaves can be minced finely and added to salsas to give them an authentic Central American taste. Cuban oregano is easy to catch from cuttings and is a handsome and vigorous plant. The French have a combination of minced herbs they call fines herbes, consisting of parsley, chives, chervil and tarragon. The dominant taste here is tarragon, a herb that comes in two forms: Russian and French. Of these the one that is far superior is French tarragon. There is a region of Spain named after tarragon but the herb is native to Georgia, not France or Spain. French tarragon is sterile and does not produce seeds. It is therefore raised from cuttings and is often difficult to obtain. It can be grown in the Bahamas during the cooler months but never survives summer. Béarnaise sauce is an exquisite French creation that uses tarragon as the main flavour. Vinegar is also seasoned with tarragon. Thereafter, the herb is very little used in the Americas, particularly the US. Very strange. Perhaps it is the scarcity and availability of French
SAGE is one of the 11 herbs and spices used by KFC to season its chicken. tarragon that makes its use so rare. That can be overcome by using an unrelated plant called Tagetes lucida, or Mexican tarragon, which thrives in warm weather. It is an annual in the mainland USA but a perennial south of the border and in the Bahamas. About 20 years ago I bought a packet Mexican tarragon seeds by mail order from a US seed house (I forget which one). The aroma of the crushed leaves was heady and strong. The plant grew vigorously and a single stem developed into an undergrown crown. Two or three times during the year the whole plant dies back and if you were not aware of the process you would T. lucida think it was time to throw it away. Instead, back comes the new growth and in a few weeks the diminutive yellow flowers are brightening up the herb garden. Another name for Tagetes is Mexican marigold. My tarragon proved so popular I was giving away pot after pot and sI should get more seeds. Then my troubles started. All the T. lucida seeds I subsequently purchased were far from satisfactory. I could not find seeds to equal the taste of the initial purchase. This made me take special care of what I already had. I grew my Mexican tarragon in three-gallon pots. When they were nicely filled
I removed the plants and cut the crown vertically into four using an old serrated bread knife. Each section of crown was re-potted into a new three-gallon pot and the dynasty continued. Until Dorian. It would be nice to return to my yard in Abaco and find a pot of Mexican tarragon surviving, but I somehow doubt that will be the case. Cilantro is both a herb and a spice. The leaves are used as a herb and the seeds as a spice, a good curry base. The English for some reason do not use the word cilantro, and coriander is used for both stages. No herb divides the lovers and haters as much as cilantro. Haters claim the leaves reek of sewing machine oil while the lovers insist on its authenticity for Mexican dishes. Cilantro is also known as Chinese parsley. Cilantro is short lived and needs to be grown successively, planting seeds every two weeks or so to ensure a constant supply. When the plants develop seeds you can cover them with small brown paper bags and ensure you collect all the tasty seed – for new crops and for your own curry mix. • For queries and comments e-mail jacktribune242@gmail.com
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Friday, October 25, 2019
entertainment
A push for the ‘Orange Economy’ at second Central Bank Cultural Festival By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
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ahamians, it seems, can never get their fill of festivals. Both new and long-running festivals attract thousands of people eager for a fun day out. One “newish” event of this kind is the Central Bank of the Bahamas Cultural Festival and it is returning for a second years this November. The new annual event will feature food, crafts and live music. The aim is to foster a greater appreciation of all forms of art and culture that enrich both the country and its “Orange Economy”, also known as the creative economy, which represents a group of linked activities through which ideas are transformed into cultural goods and services whose value is determined by intellectual property. These goods and services include advertising, architecture, film, fashion, visual and performing arts, plus many others. The one-day festival will be held on Saturday, November 9, from 12noon to 9pm at the Central Bank upper grounds parking lot. Duranda Minus, public relations chair for the Central Bank of the Bahamas’ Culture Committee, said this fair supports the Inter-American Development Bank’s Orange Economy initiative and raises awareness of it locally. “Although our cultural economy has long been a vibrant part of the fabric of the Bahamian experience, this initiative will assist the country reveal its financial value and contribution to the Bahamian economy,” said Ms Minus. She said the team was very pleased with the support and attendance of both Bahamians and visitors at last year’s inaugural event. “Last year the festival was held on Central Bank’s lower grounds and provided a very intimate feel and safe space for both vendors and patrons. We hosted about 39 vendors inclusive of food and drink vendors, self-service vehicles, artists and artisans who sold products ranging
HIGHLIGHTS from the inaugural festival last year. from socks to jewellery, ice-cream, handbags, candles, soaps, butters, and many others,” said Ms Minus. “Activities such as a wood-carving demonstration and live painting by Allan “Pachino” Wallace really intrigued the crowd. In that vein we are more than excited to host the festival again this year, as it promises to be bigger and better.” As the festival will be held on the upper parking lot this year as it has outgrown the lower lot. This will also provide space for additional vendors and an even larger space for patrons to enjoy themselves. “Historically, the Central Bank has always supported art and culture in the country and is further committed to assisting local cultural groups determine a dollar value for these goods and services with a view to quantify their contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). In this vein, the Culture
Committee of the Central Bank developed the idea to showcase and support Bahamian talents and entrepreneurs from all walks of life,” said Ms Minus. She and her team believe Bahamians are extremely creative and they decided to not solely focus on popular vendors and artists, but also new and upcoming ones. “I anticipate that the festival will grow every year and may even expand onto the streets, which may be blocked off. This year we will feature a broader spectrum of Bahamian vendors, artists and artisans. Special highlights this year will include performances by internationally renowned entertainer and artists. There will also be surprises and giveaways. So this event is not to be missed,” said Ms Minus. For her, being a part of this event, makes her extremely proud as a “Central Banker”.
“Knowing that I am employed with an institution that supports fellow Bahamians and having been involved in the planning and marketing of this inaugural event, interacting with the various vendors, I truly appreciate all of their hard work and have gained through their lens, a greater appreciation for Bahamian culture. We are also very happy to have partnered with several agencies, particularly the Ministry of Tourism which has greatly assisted us with the planning and promotion of our event,” said Ms Minus. For all those interested in attending this year, an entry fee of $3 will be charged for adults, and children under 12 years of age are free of charge. All proceeds are expected to be donated towards Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.
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Friday, October 25, 2019
entertainment
Things go 'boo' at the zoo
T
his Saturday, youngsters can enjoy a unique Halloween experience and animal encounters at Ardastra’s Boo at the Zoo, a highly anticipated event promising “spooktacular” adventure for the whole family. “We’ve added a spooky flare to celebrate the season, but parents don’t have to worry about anything being too
scary for the little ones. This is an event that’s not to be missed. We’re brewing up hours of fun,” said Bonnie Young, animal curator at Ardastra Gardens Zoo and Conservation Centre. Families can catch the spellbinding flamingos’ drill performance. There’s a costume parade and Halloweenthemed crafts and activities for kids. Everything is included in the price of admission. The annual event runs from 11am to 3pm this Saturday, October 26. The cost is $10 for those 13 and over, $5 for children four to 12 years old, and $5 per person for Ardastra members. Pint-sized ghosts, goblins, superheroes, pop stars, princesses and their families will get to explore the zoo. For the young and the young at heart, bewitching lorikeets will charm the apples out of palms. “There’s no tricks, only treats. We keep things on the lighter side of Halloween,” said Ms Young. “Families with small children get to enjoy the season in a safe environment.” Children will be encouraged to let their inner artists out with frightfully
“There’s no tricks, only treats...Families with small children get to enjoy the season in a safe environment.” fun crafts at tables erected under the pavilion. Forgot your candy bag? No problem. The first 300 children will receive a treat bag for their sugar stash. “It’s going to be Halloween fun for everyone,” said Ms Young. For those who scare up an appetite while running around, tasty treats will be on sale at the Parrot Pit Stop. The snack bar offers ghoulishly good eats such as hotdogs, hot patties, popcorn,
ice cream, cold beverages and a limited assortment of healthy snacks. Other vendors will offer face painting, cotton candy, chicken wings, conch fritters, teas and cookies. The New Duff cart will be on hand to satisfy those with a hankering for dessert. The money raised from Boo at the Zoo directly supports the zoo and its care for the animals.
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Friday, October 25, 2019
community
Miss Bahamas Universe responds to backlash to Dorian shoot
By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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ESPITE the mixed reactions she has received for a photoshoot set against a backdrop depicting Hurricane Dorian wreckage, Miss Bahamas Universe Tarea Sturrup maintains she only had “pure intentions” and wanted to offer “an artistic expression of strength after the struggle”. “A lot of people got that message immediately and I was really happy to see that. However, some persons took it in another way,” she told Tribune Weekend. “The Dorian Project” featured Tarea hoisting the Bahamian flag, standing in knee-deep flood water as models struggle to wade their
way through behind her. It was a collaborative effort between the beauty queen, her management team and local photographer Christine Demeritte of Icandy Photo Mansion. The photos were released on Tarea’s social media page earlier this week. While some followers commended Tarea’s vision for the shoot, others questioned the genuineness of her intent and whether or not what she dubbed an artistic expression was an insensitive gesture. “I definitely respect people’s opinion and my condolences goes out to all the people who may have lost family members. My heart goes out to all of the
survivors of the storm,” she said. “As a former Miss Grand Bahama, the storm was as real to me as anyone one else in the country who would have to watched helplessly as their family went through something traumatic.” Like many Bahamas, Tarea also has loved ones from the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama who lost everything in the monster storm last month. “I myself did as much as I could to connect people with Defence Force units, to connect people with rescuers who were helping out. I wasn’t looking for a reward or recognition,” she said.
PHOTO/Christine Demeritte/Icandy Photo Mansion “When I posted the photo I did not tag anyone in it or promote anything because I wanted the message to be very clear. My intentions were good and they were pure.” Tarea said she accepts that in spite her best intentions some people will not respond well to the photo project. “Art is controversial, so I expected that when I released it I would get mixed reviews. I am not the first person to release a project that wasn’t well received after the storm. I understand we are in a very sensitive place right now. But at the same time we still have to move on and we still have to survive.” She said “The Dorian Project” was inspired by the strong people of Abaco and Grand Bahama. “I know they experienced a lot of traumatic events, but I wanted it to focus on the hope and resiliency of those people, to bolster those people,” she said. “Now, with me being Miss Bahamas, I represent those
people and I wanted to let them know when I go off to the international pageant that is what I want to speak to. I want to speak out hope, for the future and the strength of the Bahamian people, of not getting knocked out when we get knocked down.” When she competes in the Miss Universe pageant later in the year, Tarea said she will highlight the disaster. “I have the opportunity to have a global platform through Miss Universe. I want the world to respect our fight, I want them to know how strong we are, and I want to translate that through my platform as a beauty queen. My platform is going to focus on voluntarism and what the country is currently facing,” she said. Tarea said she will also advocate for her original platform: dementia. “I also want to continue pursue all opportunities we have here for donation, sending care packages, investing, so we an continue to move forward and rebuild,” she added.
16 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
celebrity
Premieres
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
HIT
SPLIT
HIT
SPLIT
HIT
Helen Mirren ”Catherine the Great”
Regina King ”Watchmen”
Emma Stone ”Zombieland: Double Tap”
Gugu Mbatha-Raw ”Motherless Brooklyn”
Angelina Jolie ”Maleficent Mistress of Evil”
Karin says: “This is so different and that’s why I love it. We rarely see a two-toned ensemble like this on the red carpet. I love the colour combo and the green belt as a contrasting pop of colour. I also love the side-swept hair. Very casual, yet chic.” Cara says: “Really love the contrasting details of this outfit! The striped lining that peaks through the spilt and the coloured belt are just the cherries on top. Her hair is also looking really glam. This is a really sophisticated look.”
Karin says: “Satin always wrinkles so easily, but otherwise this is a fantastic look! I love the yellow on her. And I really like the illusion of it looking like the straps are about to fall all the way down. It’s a very elegant look.” Cara says: “My first thought is that I want to run a steamer over that gown. And while I like the colour, I do think that this gown is just not a good fit; it’s sooo baggy on her. If it better fitted and was not so wrinkled it may have been a hit.”
Karin says: “This just looks like she’s still in character. This time as the good queen. It’s a pure fairy tale dress, which of course is very fitting for the occasion. And I’m so glad she’s wearing something other than black....finally! She looks good.” Cara says: “Wow, Angie looks fantabulous! I am loving this outfit. It is perfect and very Maleficent-themed. The red lip perfectly compliments the silver colour scheme and makes for a very striking look overall.”
Karin says: “I love a good, bold aqua. And this is just stunning. So regal, as practically always. She always proves that women of a certain age don’t have to settle for muumuus or go in the completely different direction with age-inappropriate/ trying-to-keep-up-with-theyoungsters styles. There is a third way.” Cara says: “There’s a reason why Miss Mirren always plays royalty. She just looks regal no matter what she wears. I swear she probably looks awesome in a grubby T-shirt and sweatpants. This outfit is no exception. Flawless.”
Karin says: “This is all a bit much for me. The high cascading ponytail just doesn’t suit the look. The crossed halter makes her look neckless, and the cut-out triangle at belly height is never flattering, no matter how flat your stomach is.” Cara says: “I have to say that she nailed this look. Wow, she looks quite amazing! High-low dresses can sometimes be iffy, but this is perfect on her. And the hair is just fabulous in my opinion. I love it all.”
AP Photos
The Weekend Fashion Report
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Friday, October 25, 2019
art
A focus on the healing power of art By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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rt has long since been understood to be therapeutic, and the owner of the Big Picture Paint and Sip Studio hopes their newly renovated space will make it easier to carry out their community outreach in this respect. In 2020, the studio will continue its community outreach initiatives with groups like the Bahamas Humane Society, Lupus 242 and others. Recently, Big Picture teamed up with the AIDS Foundation of the Bahamas to host children from their Resource Centre at the studio. “It’s in moments like those that we are reminded of the impact that art has on children,” owner Gennyne Hepburn said “Next year our focus will be on giving back and showing the healing power of art. We are specifically looking at how our studio can be used as an outlet for children displaced by Hurricane Dorian. The sessions can be a form of art therapy.” Ms Hepburn worked closely with a local interior designer to expand her creative space at 8 South Buckner Square in Sandyport. In addition to an eclectic 8 x 14 foot wall mural in the lounge, renovations included adding an additional 384 square feet, nearly doubling the studio’s original capacity. Today, the art studio can comfortably accommodated approximately 40 guests for private functions and events. The space also includes a wine bar, with fun Art Deco and geometric designs along with transparent seating which connects the lounge with the original paint and sip area. The renovated space, Ms Hepburn said, is ideal for events from corporate holiday parties, poetry and spoken word
sessions to product launches or even book signings and creative pop-ups. Those interested can register to participate in daily paint and sip sessions at at studio. Couples can sign up in advance for a special event this month – a fun and interactive date night and sip party in studio to be held on October 29. To book an event or to see upcoming paint parties, visit www.bigpicltd.com, email info@bigpicltd.com or call 601-0144.
THE BIG Picture Paint and Sip Studio hopes to help people celebrate milestones in an artistic setting.
18 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
halloween
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ven if you are not participating in any Halloween events this weekend, you can still stage your very own fright night, and you don’t even have to leave your couch to do it. This weekend presents the perfect opportunity to get together with family and friends, bunker down on the sofa with snacks aplenty and watch some of the best Halloween flicks around – the new, the classics and the gory. “I think I have watched just about every scary movie there is. I just really love scary movies. I find them very entertaining and thrilling,” said horror film fan Trevor. “Even though I have watched it over and over, I think I’m going to watch one of the movies out of the Chucky series. It just never gets old. Meanwhile, Kayla has a her Halloween film list down to a science. And she plans to get her binge on with some thrilling selections this year. “I plan to watch everything I can. But I think one of those movies for me that I have to watch is ‘Hocus Pocus’. It is not the usual thriller, but what is binge-watching Halloween movies without adding ‘Hocus Pocus’ to the line-up?” she said. As for fellow film enthusiast Crystal, she is turning to her all-time favourite streaming service: Netflix. “It’s my weekend plan to watch Netlfix Halloween shows and movies starting tonight. I rarely have a chance to chill out and just watch TV. So I am definitely going to do so,” she said. To save you the trouble of scrolling through seemingly endless titles, we have created a list to our top Halloween flicks for you to enjoy:
Netflix originals
• “Rattlesnake” – In this psychological horror film, a single mother saves her young
Films for a frightfully good time By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net
daughter’s life with the help of a mysterious woman — but the woman then asks her to repay the deed by killing a stranger in exchange for her daughter’s life. • “In the Shadow of the Moon” – A cat and mouse game between a police officer and a serial killer who reemerges every nine years. The film stars Boyd Holbrook and Dexter’s Michael C Hall. • “In the Tall Grass” – Based on the novella by Stephen King and his son Joe Hill, this movie follows siblings Becky and Cal as they attempt to rescue a young boy lost in a field of grass — only
to find that the field is more sinister than it seems. • “Eli” – A young boy struggles with an unknown illness that requires him to live sealed off from the rest of the world. As his parents attempt to save their the young boy is haunted by experiences that make him wonder if something could be lurking in their home. • “The Last Kids on Earth” — This cartoon special is geared towards the whole family, and follows 13-year-old Jack Sullivan and a group of other middle schoolers who fight zombies and live in a tree house after the monster apocalypse.
Halloween classics
• Halloween (1978) – Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again. • “A nightmare on Elm Street” (1984 ) – In Wes Craven’s classic slasher film, several Midwestern teenagers fall prey to Freddy Krueger, a disfigured midnight mangler who preys on the teenagers in their dreams. • “Scream” (1996) – Written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, “Scream” is the perfect blend of ‘90s pop culture archness with slasher film tropes. The series has produced four sequels and a TV series. • “Child’s Play” (1988) – Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris, dying murderer Charles Lee Ray uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky. • “The Exorcist” (1973) – When young Regan starts
acting odd – levitating, speaking in tongues – her worried mother seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert to help with the difficult job.
Familyfriendly flicks
• “Hocus Pocus” – A disbelieving teenager named Max accidentally releases three evil witches on Halloween night in this classic Disney movie. • “Toy Story of Terror” – Buzz and Woody are back again. This time, the characters end up stranded at a roadside motel and as toys start to disappear, the crew has to band together to figure out what’s going on. • “The Nightmare Before Christmas” – The self-proclaimed King of Halloween decides to try something new: scaring children on Christmas.
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Friday, October 25, 2019
Venue: Club Crush, Atlantis Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the spookiest of them all? Navigate your way through the mini haunted house and enjoy prizes and giveaways at this teen Halloween party. Matching costumes/twinning is encouraged. There will be prizes for best costumes. Ages 13-17. For more information, call 363-2000 ext. 64785.
FRI 10/25
• Wine & Art Diamond Night Masquerade Time: 6pm - 10pm Venue: The Retreat, Village Road This is a special event for members of the Bahamas National Trust only. Tickets are $35. The event will feature live entertainment, an art exhibition, wine and food, an a silent auction. Proceeds will benefit Hurricane Dorian restoration efforts.
SAT 10/26
Featured
• Mirror Mirror Halloween Party Time: 8.30pm - 1am
The Tribune Established 1903
• Fresh Market’s Freshtival Time: 10am - 4pm Venue: Old Fort Bay and Harbour Bay locations Enjoy Bahamian artisans and products, family activities, samples of holiday favourites, caricature drawings and a Junkanoo rush-out. There will also be free cotton candy, face painting and popcorn.
|100 Jamz | Y98
What's going on this Being Bound To Swear To The Dogmas Of No Master
weekend
• Trick or Treat! Nassau Night Market Halloween Special Time: 2pm - 10pm Venue: Market Slope, next to the Straw Market For this week only, get candy from each vendor as you make your way through the street festival which highlights Bahamian culture and entrepreneurship through offering entertainment, flavorful foods and precious products. It is a familyfriendly event which seeks to enliven Downtown’s dead hours.
Featured
Editior’s Voice
29th Annual Wine & Art Festival Time: 12noon - 7pm (continues on Sunday) Venue: The Retreat, Village Road The BNT is inviting people to a “walk through the vineyard”. Sample over 50 wines, enjoy the new Champagne Lounge, engage with international experts and learn how to pair wines with food, try complimentary delicacies by local chefs, and take part in interactive art experiences. Tickets are $30 at the gate. Proceeds go to hurricane restoration.
Time: 6pm - 2pm Venue: Club Waterloo Waterloo is asking people to come dressed ‘devilishly sexy or frightfully fabulous’ for its ultimate fright night party. Happy hour is from 6pm to 10pm, and entry is free up to 10pm; after it’s a $20 cover charge.
Featured
• Green Parrot’s Backgammon Tournament Time: 4pm - 10pm Venue: Green Parrot Bar & Grill, East Bay Street Due to the success of Green Parrot’s last backgammon tournament, the event is back for a second round. This time proceeds will benefit the Hurricane Relief efforts of Hope Town Fire & Rescue. Pre-register by calling 322-9248. Spectators welcome. • Waterloo Fright Night
Saturday & Sunday
• Seriously Brass! Concert Time: 6.30pm (and on Sunday at 5pm at St Paul’s Church Hall) Venue: The Current Baha Mar The Nassau Music Society presents brass musicians Josh Granger on the trumpet and Jim Kraft on the trombone, as well as Dion Cunningham on the piano. Before the concert at 7pm, enjoy some wine and art.
Featured
• The 80’s Vampire Ball Time: 8pm Venue: Old Fort Bay Club House Hosted by the YESI soccer club, this is the ball for big 80’s hair and lots of neon. All proceeds go to charity. Tickets are $195 in advance and $245 at the door, and include dinner and an open bar. VIP premium bottle service is available.
SUN/27
• Family Fun Day Halloween Costume Party & Cruise Time: 3pm - 5pm Vessel: Blackbeard’s Revenge, Pioneer’s Dock
Go aboard for a Halloween costume party for kids. There will be free face painting, games and surprises for all. Call 817-9002 or 826-1329 for more information. Tickets are $15 for kids, $25 for adults.
Featured
• Taste of China Cocktail Party Time: 6.30pm - 10.30pm Venue: Wok N Roll Chinese Restaurant & Bar The cocktail reception starts with a wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a five-course meal. Tickets are $65. Call 327-7805 or e-mail woknrollrestaurant@ yahoo.com. The restaurant will be closed to the general public during the event.
20 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
literary lives – lorenz hart Sir Christopher Ondaatje recalls the bewildered and unhappy life of the brilliant lyricist who teamed up with Richard Rodgers in the middle of the 20th century to create some of America’s most enduring and popular songs.
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'Bewitched, bothered and bewildered' on Broadway BEFORE RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN THERE WAS RODGERS AND HART
orenz Milton Hart was born in Harlem, New York City, the elder of two sons, to Jewish immigrant parents of German background. He was educated, with his brother, in private schools. Hart received his early education from Columbia Grammar School, and then attended the Columbia University School of Journalism for two years. When he was 24 years old he was introduced to Richard Rodgers, and the two teamed up to write songs for a number of amateur student productions. Hart initially translated German plays into English for the Shubert brothers – who were responsible for the establishment of the Broadway district in New York City, the hub of the theatre industry in the United States. In 1919 his and Rodgers’ song “Any Old Place With You” featured in the Broadway musical comedy “A Lonely Romeo”. The following year Rodgers and Hart had six songs in the musical comedy “Poor Little Ritz Girl”. They were then hired to write the score for the 1924 Theatre Guild production “The Garrick Gaieties”, which brought the young songwriting team much acclaim, and which included the still popular standard “Manhattan” – later performed by The Supremes, Blossom Dearie, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett. Summer journeys to Niagara and to other places Aggravate all our cares, we’ll save our fares I’ve a cozy little flat in what is known as old Manhattan We’ll settle down right here in town We’ll have Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island too It’s lovely going through the zoo
It’s very fancy on old Delancy Street, you know The subway charms us so, when balmy breezes blow to and fro And tell me what street compares with Mott Street in July? Sweet pushcarts gently gliding by The great big city’s a wondrous toy just made for a girl and boy We’ll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy We’ll go to Yonkers where true love conquers in the wilds And starve together, dear, in Childs We’ll go to Coney and eat Baloney on a roll Down Central Park we’ll stroll – soul to soul And “Blushing Rosie” is a terrific show they say We both may see it close some day This city’s glamour can never spoil The dreams of a boy and “goil” We’ll make Manhattan into an isle of joy. (”Garrick Gaieties”, 1925) Rodgers and Hart went on to write the music and lyrics for 26 Broadway musicals in an extraordinary partnership that lasted over 20 years. Among their best-known Broadway productions were: “Babes in Arms”, “The Boys from Syracuse”, “Pal Joey”, and “On Your Toes”. Frank Sinatra, Billie Holliday, Doris Day, Carly Simon, and Bobby Darin were other singers who sang their songs. “Falling in Love with Love” was one of their most popular from the 1938 Broadway show “The Boys from Syracuse” – loosely based on Shakespeare’s play “The Comedy of Errors”. Falling in love with love is falling for make-believe Falling in love with love is playing the fool Caring too much is such a juvenile fancy
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Friday, October 25, 2019
Learning to trust is just for children in school. I fell in love with love one night when the moon was full I was unwise with eyes unable to see I fell in love with love everlasting But love fell out with me. (”The Boys from Syracuse”, 1938) odgers and Hart also wrote the music and lyrics for several films including “Love Me Tonight” (1932); “The Phantom President” (1932); “Hallelujah”, “I’m a Bum” (1933), and “Mississippi” (1935). They were enormously successful during the Great Depression years. Hart entertained lavishly – although his drinking seemed often got the better of him. He lived with his widowed mother. Despite their success, the partnership with Rodgers was sometimes shaky. Rodgers developed into a hard-working dedicated professional while Hart was content to be the accommodating but brilliant amateur. He hated an organised work schedule and failed often to keep appointments and meet the gruelling pace needed for keeping deadlines. In time, Hart became increasingly addicted to alcohol and less reliable. He would disappear for weeks on drinking binges and remain out of contact. Nevertheless, Rodgers and Hart continued working together until the early 1940s and composed over a thousand songs together. Their final musical, “By Jupiter”, opened in 1942. Lorenz Hart had a brilliantly creative impromptu mind for lyrics. According to Thomas Hischak, the internationally recognised author and one of the foremost authorities on American musical theatre, Hart “had a remarkable talent for polysyllabic and internal rhymes.” He was a creative dramatist, sophisticated and witty. He was able to invent rhymes for the theatrical moment out
THE DYNAMIC songwriting duo of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
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THE PARTNERSHIP of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart spanned 24 years and produced over a thousand songs.
of thin air – often mocking himself and relaying a theme of sadness that was nevertheless touchingly entertaining. Stephen Holden of the New York Times comments that Hart was able to write playful and funny songs, with clever wordplay, but still containing vulnerability and loneliness. He was a compellingly lonely figure.
After one whole quart of brandy Like a daisy I awake With no Bromo-Seltzer handy I don’t even shake Men are not a new sensation; I’ve done pretty well, I think, But this half-pint imitation Put me on the blink I’m wild again
Beguiled again A simpering, whimpering child again Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I I couldn’t sleep And wouldn’t sleep Until I could sleep where I shouldn’t sleep Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I. (”Pal Joey”, 1940) Stephen Holden said of Hart: “Many of his lyrics were the confessional outgoings of a hopeless romantic who loathed his own body. By all accounts, Hart, who stood just under five feet tall and wreathed himself in cigar smoke, saw himself as an undesirable freak.” Secretly homosexual, he pursued a secretive and tormented erotic life of which only hints appear in his songs. On July 23, 1942, the Theatre Guild announced that Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II would start work on the musical version of the Lynn Riggs play “Green Grow the Lilacs”. The show was scheduled for March 31, 1943, but by then Hart had abandoned the team and the hit musical “Oklahoma!” opened to rave reviews under the new
partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Rodgers and Hart teamed up for a final time, in November 1943, to revive “A Connecticut Yankee” – a musical based on the Mark Twain novel. The six new songs were to be Hart’s last lyrics. I’ve married, and married, and often I’ve sighed “I’m never a bridesmaid, I’m always a bride” I never divorced them, I hadn’t the heart Yet remember these sweet words, “till death do us part”. I married many men, a ton of them Because I was untrue to none of them Because I bumped off everyone of them To keep my love alive. (”A Connecticut Yankee”, 1943) Hart disappeared on the night of and before the opening of “A Connecticut Yankee” and was found two days later shivering in a gutter outside a bar on Eighth Avenue – sick and suffering from exposure. He was taken to Doctors Hospital in New York, but died a few days later of pneumonia on November 22, 1943. *** The tragic story of Lorenz Hart has been told more recently by Gary Marmorstein in his biography “A Ship Without a Sail: The Life of Lorenz Hart” (2013). Marmorstein’s book is a deeply sympathetic biography and reveals chilling details of Richard Rodgers’ complicated and ugly fight over Hart’s will which probably deprived Hart’s younger brother, Teddy Hart, and his wife out of their rightful share of his estate. Rodgers successfully grabbed control of the copyrights to the valuable Rodgers and Hart songs – an unsavoury end to one of the most brilliant and
22 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
THE PLAYBILL for “The Boys from Syracuse” (1938) by Hart and Rodgers
A SOUVENIR booklet for Rodgers and Hart’s “The Garrick Gaieties” (1926)
rewarding partnerships in American musical history.
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armorstein reports that both Rodgers and Hart were two bright Jewish boys from Manhattan who were stage-struck and had some success with semiprofessional theatrical shows. But they were different. Rodgers was an elegant sociable young man, and Hart - a free-wheeling extrovert from a rougher neighbourhood, who dressed and acted like a dandy. They met at Hart’s house and from the first moment there was little doubt that they were destined to be partners. “I left Hart’s house”, Rodgers said some years later, “having acquired in one afternoon a career, a partner, a best friend, and a source of permanent irritation.” They never looked back. But it was a long time
before they were recognised – churning out melodies for amateur venues until 1925, when The “Garrick Gaieties” produced their hit song “Manhattan”. During the next decade they were booked in shows in both New York and London featuring Maurice Chevalier, Jeanette MacDonald, Al Jolson and Bing Crosby. Life was easy, and the money rolled in. Classic songs included “My Heart Stood Still”, “Blue Moon”, “With a Song in My Heart”, “Thou Swell” and “Ten Cents a Dance”. After Billy Rose’s Jumbo (1935) everything changed. Rodgers and Hart came up themselves with concepts for their new musicals. The score in “Babes in Arms” (1937) might well have produced their greatest hits: “The Lady is a Tramp”, “My Funny Valentine” and “Where or When.” As Marmorstein records it, every Rodgers and Hart show was an event.
They were celebrated figures, featured on the cover of Time, and profiled in The New Yorker. “Pal Joey” was the most controversial and influential of all their productions. Gene Kelly starred as the manipulative small-time night club singer – which catapulted his career into the big-time and Hollywood. When it was revived 12 years later it was an even bigger hit than in 1940 – but by then Hart was dead. The “Pal Joey” songs still retain their magic: “I Could Write a Book”, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, and “Zip”. Their last hit, “A Connecticut Yankee” (1943), with Ray Bolger, contained the witty “To Keep My Love Alive.” Marmorstein outlines how Larry Hart described their work method: “We map out the plot. Then Dick may have a catchy tune. He picks it out on the piano – I listen and suddenly an idea for a lyric comes. This happens often. On the other hand, I may think of a couple of verses that will fit into the show. I will write them out and say them over to Dick. He sits down at the piano and improvises. I stick my oar in sometimes and before we know it, we
have the tune to hang the verses on. It’s like that – simple.” They quarrelled. Hart loathed changing any word once it was written down. Rodgers remembered: “Our fights over words were furious, blasphemous, and frequent, but even in their hottest moments we both knew we were arguing academically and not personally.” Their personalities were different. Initially Hart was the senior semiprofessional contributor. But as time went on Rodgers, who was meticulous about business and financial arrangements, became the controlling partner. He was fascinated with the elitism of the café society, while Hart was much more interested in the low-life of Harlem and the seamy side of bars. He was never very focused on money. If anything he envied Rodgers’ business acumen and efficiency – but he himself, as Marmorstein explains, “was uncontrollable, as chaotic in his work habits as his partner was disciplined.” It was easy for Rodgers to write music, just as it was easy for Hart to create his brilliant witty verses. It was Rodgers who bargained with contracts, royalties, salaries and theatre leases.
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Friday, October 25, 2019
AFTER the partnership with Hart ended after 24 years, Rodgers (left) teamed up with Oscar Hammerstein. The two went on to produce such hit musicals as “Oklahoma!”, “The King and I”, “Cinderella”, “Carousel”, “South Pacific”, and the “Sound of Music.”
Hart shied away from this responsibility, always arrived late – if at all – and sometimes caused embarrassing broken deadlines about which he was always remorseful. Yet the two men needed each other.
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t the end of their career together, Marmorstein relates, when the two were working on “Green Grow the Lilacs” (eventually “Oklahoma!”), Rodgers suggested that Hart admit himself into a sanatorium. “I’ll get myself admitted too”, Rodgers added. “We’ll be there together and work together.” Hart, however, stated quite clearly that he was not going to check himself into any sanatorium, and that he was off to Mexico. Rodgers then said, “If you walk out now, someone else will do the show with me.” “Anyone in mind?” Hart questioned. “Oscar will write the lyrics.” “There’s no better man for the job,” Hart replied. At this, Hart walked out of their meeting, and the
HART (right) with George Balanchine, one of the most influential ballet choreographers of the 20th century.
resulting show became the incredible hit “Oklahoma!”. The 24-year partnership was over – except for one brief collaboration on “A Connecticut Yankee” in 1943. There were women in Larry Hart’s life. Nanette Guilford – the opera singer. And the vivacious temperamental Vivienne Segal. Marmorstein observed that Hart was seriously in love with Segal, but that the love stopped short of sexual desire. Hart did propose to Vivienne Segal more than once. But she always turned him down. He chose instead to share his comfortable apartment with his aging mother who died only seven months before he did. Mother warned me my instincts to deny. Yet I fail. The male is frail. The heart is quicker than the eye! She said, “Love one time, Junior, Look at the Lunts!” I’ve fallen twice – with two at once. Passion’s plaything – that’s me, oh me, oh my! But at last I’m quite a beast The heart is quicker than the eye. (”On Your Toes”, 1936) This was quite an admission from the 41-year-old Larry Hart. He tended not to write about sex, whereas Cole Porter’s songs were all about sex. Hart’s songs were about love. After 1943 there was a new era of musical plays – an era dominated by the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein. Lorenz Hart’s life is a story worth telling, and Marmorstein’s biography tells it like it is – warts and all, sad and
lonely, full of self doubt, incredibly talented, but probably realising that the world was fast changing around him and that musical plays rather than musical comedies were taking over. Broadway’s turning into Coney, Champagne Charlie’s drinking gin, Old New York is new and phoney – Give it back to the Indians. (”Too Many Girls”, 1939) Hart believed that monotony was killing the musical. So he and Rodgers changed it – integrating libretto, lyrics and music, to evoke a Depression ridden world of desperate romanticism. Their satirical nostalgic songs appealed to the sophisticated Manhattan intelligentsia. Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, and Alexander Woollcott wrote about them and enhanced their popularity. When the Second World War arrived Hart found himself out-of-step with a public absorbed with traditional American values. The folksy rural Oklahoma didn’t really have any interest for the uptown Hart. He was an addicted literary showman who coordinated his lyrics rhythm, melody, mood, and plot to the action of the play. Sadly for him, music and theatre moved away from his idiomatic vernacular in the late 1940s to the bland 1950s. Sadly they don’t make lyricists like Lorenz Hart any more. NEXT WEEK: The spectacular achievements of John Buchan, the Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Lorenz Hart: A Poet on Broadway (1995) by Frederick Nolan; and A Ship Without a Sail: The Life of Lorenz Hart (2012) by Gary Marmorstein.
24 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
books
New releases hitting shelves this week • Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren (romance) Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak. During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good. Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice. • The Poison Garden by A J Banner (mystery/thriller) Elise Watters seems to have it all—a blissful marriage, a gorgeous Victorian home surrounded by lush gardens, and a dream job running her late mother’s herbal boutique. But on the eve of her first wedding anniversary, Elise makes a shocking discovery that turns her life upside down and casts doubt on everything she thought she knew—about her marriage, her friends, and even herself. As she treads into dangerous territory, Elise is forced to wonder: Is her whole future at stake? Or is paranoia getting the best of her?
If she is to believe what she sees, Elise has every reason to fear for her life. • There You Are by Mathea Morais (literary fiction) Octavian Munroe is haunted by the life and death of his older brother in one of the most racially segregated cities in the country. Mina Rose has never quite fit in and wishes she was anything but white. Once lovers, now estranged, they both left St. Louis for fresh starts in the wake of grief and heartbreak. In the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death and the awakening of the Black Lives Matter movement, Octavian and Mina travel homeward. The record shop where they fell in love as teenagers in the 1990s is closing for good, sparking a desire for closure of their own. This raw, powerful story of love and loss reckons with how where you come from shapes even the most fleeting collisions between friends, neighbors, and strangers. • Supernova Era by Cixin Liu (science-fiction) In those days, Earth was a planet in space. In those days, Beijing was a city on Earth. On this night, history as known to humanity came to an end. Eight light years away, a star has died, creating a supernova event that showers Earth in deadly levels of radiation. Within a year, everyone over the age of 13 will die. And so the countdown begins. Parents apprentice their children and try to pass on the knowledge needed to keep the world running. But when the world is theirs, the last generation may not want to continue the legacy left to them. And in shaping the future however they want, will the children usher in an era of bright beginnings or final mistakes?
The Tribune | Weekend | 25
Friday, October 25, 2019
history
Boston Blackie Two-time heavyweight champion of the Bahamas BOSTON Blackie (left) defeats Bert Perry and regains the championship title (Photo from the book “The Fight Goes One”)
Forgotten facts | Paul C Aranha
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ot often do I write about people, particularly about people who may still be alive, but I was inspired by Michael Brook’s recent letter to the editor of The Tribune about a man named Leonard Miller, better known as Boston Blackie. In the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, Boston was one of our leading athletes, twotime heavyweight boxing champion of the Bahamas for over 10 years, and one of our better cyclists. He may have been our cycling champion, too, but I’m not sure. In his 1975 book, “The Fight Goes,” the late Bert Perry, himself a two-time holder of the Bahamian heavyweight boxing title, lists his encounters in the ring with Boston Blackie: • 1968, March 2 – Lost 8th round TKO to Boston Blackie • 1968, May 19 – Won 13th round Bahamian Heavyweight Title over Boston Blackie
• 1969, October 11 – Lost 15th round Bahamian Heavyweight Title to Boston Blackie • 1970, November 7 – Won 9th round TKO over Boston Blackie • 1975, May 24 – Won 9th round TKO over Boston Blackie (non-title) In those days a boxing match drew huge crowds and Boston’s bouts always filled places like the Zanzibar, primarily an Over-The-Till night club, and the Nassau Stadium. But Boston was also a world traveller, representing the Bahamas in both of his sports. In later life he became a coach and trainer with Bahamian Olympic teams. Over the last several months I have asked several ‘senior’ athletes about Boston. They remember him well, but can tell me nothing about him now.
I met Boston at Archer’s Esso Servicentre, a gas station that used to be on the northeast corner of Blue Hill and Wulff Roads, where we would discuss boxing. Unlike Michael Brooks, my boxing idol is Joe Louis and I think that, had it been possible, Boston would have been willing to take on the ‘Brown Bomber’. The station was run by my friend and former colleague at Esso, Donald Archer, who was a close friend of Boston’s. In those days, when punctured tubeless tyres had to be removed from the wheel and hot-patched from the inside, some service stations had a small but powerful, tyre-changing machine called the Coates Iron
Tireman that Esso recommended to all their dealers. As an Esso salesman, selling Coates was a part of my job and I had to know how to use it. It was not difficult work, but it required skill and practice, and Boston had both. One day I heard Boston bragging that he was the fastest tyre-changer on the island, claiming he could take a wheel off a car, take the tyre off the wheel, repair the leak in the tyre and bolt the wheel back onto the car faster than anybody else. So I challenged him. He and I set to work by putting my car up on the hydraulic lift, and we attacked its two rear wheels. By the time I was ready to begin using the Coates machine, Boston’s wheel was already back on my car. He was FAST, not just at boxing and cycling. Michael Brooks was right in saying “win, lose or draw, Boston maintained his heart of a champion in those endeavours”.
In response to Brook’s letter, Donald Archer’s sister-in-law wrote: “I agree with you 100%. Boston was trained to box by my good friend Cordie Bastian and by my brother-in-law, Donald Archer, of Archer gas stations, who bought him his first bicycle.” Brook suggests that Boston is worthy of being honoured in some way, adding that: “This can be considered my token effort to pay tribute to a great Bahamian. The example of Boston should shine, as an inspiration to all; young and old -- about the spirit to fight, for whatever is special or important to you. The sacrifice, dedication, sweat, hard work and endurance, in giving one’s best efforts, regardless of the rewards, is a spirit we can use a lot more of, these days.” In this I agree with Brook. • For questions and comments, e-mail islandairman@gmail.com
26 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019
The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, October 25, 2019
animals
Such a shame Animal matters | KIM ARANHA
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his week brought me literally to tears. I am usually a pretty strong person, but there are times when the compassion is such that I can actually feel the pain and suffering that another is experiencing. That was how it was for me at the beginning of this week. I was leaving the shelter after a long day that had gone pretty well. The waiting room was empty and there were few cars in the lot. As I said goodbye to our receptionist Sheneka Cartwright I noticed a man at the counter, he was holding a leash loosely. I had to look twice at what was at the end of that leash. There was a small, sort of white, little dog with some fur but not much and lots black dots, which were not dots but copious amounts of ticks. This little dog was emaciated. He wasn’t just thin, he was totally malnourished. It was a tragic sight. I walked over and he started wagging his funny tail. “Is this your dog?” I asked the man. “Yes,” he said, “we have had a baby now and I don’t have time to care for him any more.” I was speechless. This dog had not been cared for in weeks, months even. The man on the other hand, was very well covered. “You are surrendering this dog?” I asked him,” Yes,” he said. “He is starving”, “No,” he assured me, “he had a good meal this morning.” Are you kidding me? He was skin and bone. I was about to leave when I realised that the little dog was putting his paws up on the mans leg and was licking him. How is it possible that dogs can be so sweet and forgiving? They constantly try and please the person who does not deserve to clean up after them, let alone receive their love. I reached down to the little dog and his tail was wagging very fast. Sheneka was completing the paperwork and in a few moments that little fella would be in safe arms where he could eat, drink and rest. I could not resist one more comment to the man at the end of the leash. “I hope you will take better care of your baby than you have of this dog,” I said to him. He looked at me, “Of course, that is not an option, is it?” he replied.
I gestured to his dog, “This shouldn’t have been an option either, should it?” I asked. His face broke out into a big smile and he assured me, “No, man, he’s all right.” My heart froze as I realised he just didn’t get it. He was 100 percent devoid of compassion or empathy for this little dog, wagging his tail, trying to get the man’s attention. Before everybody jumps on me and says we should press charges in these situations, allow me to explain: If I were to do that people like that man would no longer bring dogs to us, They would resort to the old favourite of leaving them in the bush with no water or food to starve and die of dehydration. No, sadly we have to be satisfied that these dogs are brought to us, hungry, sick, neglected. We have to take these poor souls and not just feed and nourish
their bodies, but their souls, teach them that it is safe to love again and that the next owners will not sit back and eat a large pot of food and only let the crumbs fall to the floor. He was trying so hard to be what that man could love, but because he was a sweet and trusting little dog, he did not realise that his owner was incapable of feeling love and compassion towards any dog. All I ask is that people have the decency to treat their dogs with respect and consideration. Dogs are companion animals, denying them love it depriving them from something they crave. Starvation is never acceptable and certainly not when your silhouette denotes that you have more than sufficient food for yourself. To those of you who have shed a tear: He is doing well, and eating. He still wags and the ticks are gone. He needs a loving and caring forever home. Or at least a loving foster. He needs to get stronger and you could be the very person to help him through these first few weeks. We welcome donations in his name to help him and others like him. To his previous owner: Please take care of that baby of yours! I am terribly fearful for that child. Do I sound angry? Good.
THIS little dog was delivered to the Bahamas Humane Society malnourished and covered in ticks.
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, October 25, 2019