"It was like being entertained by two matadors" - Airbourne

Antiguan theatre audiences are once again able to satiate their appetite for live theatrical performance, thanks to the University of West Indies' Open Campus presentation of Nobel Prize winner Derek's Walcott's 'Pantomime'.

Performed at dusk in the open air, this, hilarious, thought-provoking and racially charged play is a revision of the story of Robinson Crusoe / Man Friday. The roles of master and servant are reversed in this post-colonial work.

When the Dramaworks team first performed Pantomime in March 2009, Walcott, who was in attendance, stated, “This is one of the best I have seen because of its intellectual clarity. It’s a very spiritual piece when I look at it done here.”

The play revolves around two protagonists, Henry Trewe, an Englishman and retired Actor/Music Hall performer and the owner of Castaways and Jackson Phillip, A Trinidadian and retired Calypsonian.

In the play, Harry gets the idea to put on Dinner Theatre, a pantomime production of the classic tale, Robinson Crusoe, to attract tourists and build up the dwindling business of the guest house.

It is from this point that the underlying themes of Walcott’s noted work takes off as through classic and Creole acting Walcott uses his two characters to demonstrate colonial and post-colonial role-playing, while satirically examining imperialism, the effects of colonization and the convention of the master/salve relationship.

The production intentionally celebrates Pantomime’s 30th Anniversary while paying tribute to a true Caribbean literary master.

"The play recognises the need for people to embrace their differences yet celebrate their togetherness. It is an expose in the age-old question of how to reach a compromise between "us" and "them"."

'Pantomime' is a production of Penelope Hynam, is directed by UWI Cave Hill Professor Rob Leyshon. Professor Leyshon is a lecturer at UWI Cave Hill and under the kind patronage of Professor Sir Hilary Beckles.

St. Lucian born Derek Walcott has had more than 20 plays published. His poetry writing career has exceeded playwriting for Walcott, both of which have spanned six decades.

‘Pantomime’ starts at 8pm, at the University of West Indie (on Factory Road). Call 462-1355 or 562-3036 for more details.

PARENTAL ADVISORY: "Pantomime" contains explicit language.

Read the review of Pantomime, written by Aarati Jagdeo