ON SATURDAY, November 27, theatre lost another of her sons. George Silvera died while on tour with David Heron's Redemption. In speaking with those who worked with him and called him friend, it is clear that his passing has left a gap in the fraternity.
In tribute to his memory the cast and crew of Patrick Brown's The Last Stand will be staging a final performance from which the proceeds will go to Silvera's family. The performance will take place at the Centrestage theatre in New Kingston next Thursday at 8:00 p.m.
Though only 46 years old, Silvera had worked in technical theatre for over 30 years, working in set construction and light design. Playwright Trevor Rhone explained that Silvera began working at The Barn theatre since he was a boy of about 10 years. Silvera had lived a few minutes away from The Barn theatre, and so would come around the theatre when a show was taking place.
He would later move from simply watching what was happening in the theatre to become a part of the technical team. He began his work in theatre as a prompter, but would later
move to stage management and lighting.
EMOTION
Karen Harriott was in New York on tour with Silvera when he died. In remembering 'Georgie' she was overcome with emotion that a man she viewed as a colleague and a brother had died. Seemingly still in shock she repeated time and again, "Georgie dead. Georgie dead."
Silvera died following the last performance in the play's tour of the United States, where it had played in New York, New Jersey, Boston and Virgina. That final performance had been in Virginia. Harriott explained that though Silvera had complained of chest pains before their final performance in Virginia, he had said he was fine. However, shortly after he was dropped off in Queens she was informed of his death.
"Mi sleep pon him shoulders less than two hours before he died," she mourned. However, Harriott is consoled with the memory of the man that George Silvera was, and that he died doing what he loved to do. She noted that their final conversation included talk of death, Silvera's father and his children. During that conversation, Silvera had stated philosophically, "If you live good with people, in the end somebody will be there for you."
It seems quite clear that 'Georgie' had lived good with those around him. Glen Campbell, one of the actors in The Last Stand, also saw Silvera as more than a colleague. "George is pretty much like family to us," Campbell declared. He pointed out that Silvera had worked on most of the productions that Jambiz Productions, the producers of The Last Stand, took on the road. Indeed, he explained that as it was time to take the production on the road, they had been timing Silvera's return to the island to engage him for the tour.
ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE
The Last Stand opened last July and was scheduled to have its last performance at the Centrestage theatre last Tuesday. However, it was decided to do an additional performance on Thursday for which no one would be paid and from which all the proceeds would go to Silvera's family.
Campbell explained that the nature of the production, a comedy with many sexual references, is irrelevant to the tribute. "George was a theatre person; we are all theatre practitioners and we are dedicating our craft to him," he said.
Silvera died leaving a daughter, Peta-Gaye, and son Demar. As a member of the technical crew, his is not a face that would have been known by the public. Silvera worked on productions such as Champagne and Sky Juice, Happy Birthday, Cheaters, Coming in From the Cold, What the Hell is Happening to us Dear and Bellas Gate Boy.
More importantly, as distraught members of his family and the theatre fraternity can attest, he has left his mark on the lives he touched.
