Marcia Rowe, Gleaner Writer

Dancers depict life on the plantation in the West Indies in the 'Odyssey: The Journey' at the University of Technology Sculpture Park recently. - Marcia Rowe Photo

The pulsating rhythm of steel drums, flutes, the keyboard, percussion and Congo drums blended with outstanding diction and colourful costumes were the hallmark of a great production at University of Technology (UTech) Sculpture Park recently.

Steeped in rituals, the production, entitled 'Odyssey: The Journey', retells the story of slavery from the perspective of the ordinary slaves. As the history goes, the story begins in Africa, at a yam festival, and ends in the Caribbean with the message of Jimmy Cliff's song, You Can Get It If You Really Want.

The scenes were defined by energetic dancing, vocally strong singing, and clear narration. Narration was voiced from three points of view. From the point of view of the observer through Dorothy Cunningham, one of the directors, from the point of view of one of the slaves perched in a tree and from the point of view of the British in the form of two parliamentarians.

Creative

The actions occurred in three main areas of the park, the main elevated stage, a smaller stage to the right of the audience and the lawn between both stages, but the movement from one location to the other flowed freely. Each location was effective for the specific scene.

This was most evident in the dance scene performed on the lawn to depict life of the slaves on the plantation. And the most creative use of levels was having one of the slaves narrating the journey across the Atlantic sea, perched in a tree top as the sounds of raging water echoed around the park.

The crew displayed excellent team work. The choreographer, Abeldo Gonzalez, musical director Joy Brown and directors, Joan Belfon and Dorothy Cunningham worked in unison to create a well coordinated production. However, Belfon and Cunningham erred in the last scene when they placed the congregation behind the preacher. Also Brown's choice of singers for the closing number needs to be reviewed.

Technically, the production was sound. Costumes, designed by Denise Robinson and Monika Lawrence, were used to reinforce the journey of the Africans to the Caribbean.

The play began with the characters bedecked in colourful African prints, but, as the journey progresses, these were discarded for brown loose fitting garbs that were soon replaced by green plaid for the women and stained khaki looking clothes for the men and, ending in plain red and blue cotton for both men and women. The clarity with which the lines were heard was attributed to functional microphones being placed strategically around the acting areas.

The cast

The large cast, comprising students from all the groups of the performing arts (elective drama and dance, extra-curricular drama, the choir, UTech drummers, steel band and the instrumental band), gave a credible performance. Worthy of mention are Jamar Waklin and Martin Shade, the two British parliamentarians; Marguerige Lumsden's rendition of the gospel song Somebody's Calling My Name and Stephanie Bennett's remarkable performance of Weeping Willow a song from the television drama Roots. But the group of dancers who performed the bruckins dance seemed to have lost the energy displayed in earlier dances.