THE WARM reception by friends and fans clearly moved Charles Hyatt on Monday evening at the launch of his new CD, The Perils of Charlie. The launch took place at the Secretariat of the Jamaica Association of Dramatic Artistes (JADA), 5 Oxford Road, New Kingston. The event also functioned as a part of the 'Monday at JADA' series.
During his reply to the gushing sentiments earlier expressed by Christopher Daley, Donald Anderson, Owen Ellis and Louis Marriott, Hyatt remarked that one usually has to be dead to know what people think of one. As such, he considers himself to be very lucky hearing it now. "To be alive and to hear what is being said of me makes me the happiest person I can think of," he told the packed room.
Hyatt went on to say that he had always recognised the day he had to tell his grandmother that his mother was dead as the day God touched him on the shoulder and pointed. He noted that if he had not got the message then he certainly gets it now. His point was that had his parents lived, his life would have taken a very different and perhaps, a less successful, course.
Steering clear of the comedy for which he is so well known, Hyatt moved the audience with his sobriety. "To just say thank you, just two words, is not enough," he said, "But mi nuh know nuh more."
AT A LOSS FOR WORDS
Noting that he was at a loss for words he went on to summarise his feelings in just one word, 'love'.
According to the man often affectionately called 'Charlie', the presence of the audience, his friends who had spoken and entertained earlier, JADA hosting the launch, and the creation of the CD itself, proved the saying 'a good friend is better than pocket money'. "Thank you for proving my point that I am a very lucky man," he said. At that, the room broke into applause and he received a standing ovation.
EXPRESSING SENTIMENTS
The evening had not all been a serious affair, though some of the island's most prominent comedians did show a more sombre side. Known for their the antics apart and together, Donald Anderson and Chris Daley were the first to express their sentiments. Keeping it serious at first, Daley noted that witnessing Hyatt releasing a CD at this time of his life gives himself and other young comedians and actors hope.
Daley argued that theatre is not celebrated enough and continued recordings are needed to make the form bigger and better. Anderson began his delivery with great candour and some humour. Addressing Hyatt directly he said, "When you taught me voice and speech at drama school a couldn't stand a bone in yuh body," which sent the audience into gales of laughter. He then went on in a more serious manner, pointing out that he and Hyatt had since grown to become great friends.
Owen Ellis decided to stay with the comic routine from the start, only veering from that path occasionally. His speech, however, was filled with respect for the great comic actor. "When I grow big I want to be like Charlie," he told the amused audience.
"Charlie is one of few men who can play a female role convincingly and no man don't like him off," Ellis said, making references to Hyatt's many incarnations as a dame in the national pantomime.
Ellis pointed out that he respected Hyatt not only for the latter's comic genius but also because Hyatt is willing to stand up for what he believes in. "When Charlie get serious dog nyam yuh supper," he said.
Louis Marriott, the President of JADA, whose job it was to officially launch the CD, pointed out that his reasons for respecting Hyatt were many. He stated that Hyatt was not only a great comic actor but also had a wonderful spontaneous wit. Speaking of Hyatt's personality Marriott stated that though Hyatt is "quick to anger" he is also "generous to a fault."
The Perils of Charlie contains storytelling, autobiographical information given through interviews and other Hyatt performances produced by Stage Records and is also available in stores or at the JADA Secretariat.
