Kavaughn Kalvin of Little London Primary School performing 'Save Us' in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission drama finals at the Little Theatre last Wednesday. - IAN ALLEN/STAFFPHOTOGRAPHER
A ONE-MAN, or more accurately a one-boy, show proved one of the highlights of the 2005 finals of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission's national finals in drama at the Little Theatre, Tom Redcam Avenue, last week.
The finals had been postponed due to Hurricane Dennis, and managed to squeeze its way through over two days, before Hurricane Emily made her weekend threats.
The drama finals took over the stage of the Little Theatre on Wednesday, July 13, and Thursday, July 14.
Kavaughn Kalvin of Little London Primary in Westmoreland, was among those performers on the first day of competition. He presented the one man show Save Us, one of six dramatic presentations which competed.
Actors are well aware that one man or woman shows are particularly difficult because there are no other characters to depend on to give cues, or even help cover mistakes.
So, it was particularly impressive that a nine-year-old was able to not only deliver a one man production, but to deliver it well. Kalvin delivered so well that he earned several awards including best actor in the junior category.
Save Us showed a young boy who is an orphan of AIDS. Between mourning the loss of his parents, the young boy promotes the idea of safe sex, with the unsettling edict (as it came from someone so young), "Sex is not all. Not doin it, it naw go kill yuh. But doin it, it wi kill yuh."
SEVERAL TRANSITIONS
The production took young Kalvin through several transitions. It begins with his mourning his mother as he says goodbye by her coffin. Later, he is transformed to the happy carefree boy he had been a few years before, happily reciting poetry and playing football. Later, his life of suffering as he becomes a street boy is shown.
The need for transitions thus increased the difficulty of the performance. Happily holding one of his trophies, Kalvin admitted that these were the hardest part of learning the production. His trainer/director Karen Knott explained that they had begun rehearsal of the David Macintosh created script in February and she took Kalvin through the performance one paragraph at a time.
Day one of the competition also saw Kalvin and his director earning the trophy for best one-man production.
On day two, when the overall awards were given out, Save Us again proved victorious. It earned three of the Ministry of Health awards for productions on HIV/AIDS.
The production was awarded for being the best production from the western region as well as the best production overall. Kalvin was also awarded the trophy for best actor in an HIV/AIDS production. The Best HIV/AIDS award also comes with $50,000 cash and a performing contract.
- T. B.
