Janet Silvera, Staff Reporter

Stines, Lawrence and St. Juste

WESTERN BUREAU:

The choreography was outstanding, costumes dazzling and the performances conferred bragging rights upon the entire Caribbean.

Last Sunday?s ICC Cricket World Cup Jamaican-designed opening ceremony continues to evoke pride, butterflies in the stomach and goose pimples all over the body.

A creative team including Bert Rose, Monica Lawrence, L?Antoinette Stines, Carol Laws, Peter Ashbourne and Brian St. Juste was responsible for the vibrancy created on the spectacular grounds at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.

The First World, first class, crime de la creme production caused sleepless nights, constant changes and disagreements, but was nourished by the free flow of creative juices and a commitment that went far beyond the call of duty.

On Wednesday, some of the members of the team told The Sunday Gleaner of the extremely challenging process they went through in order to create the miraculous spectacle that was viewed by 2.4 billion people.

Proud of their laudable achievements, they all echoed the same sentiment, that ?given the opportunity we would do it all over again?.

Obliged to put the region?s best foot forward while under the microscope of the rest of the world, an event of that magnitude normally takes three years to put together, but was done in 10 months by a technical team led by Brian St. Juste, while the creative team of Lawrence, Stines, Laws and Ashbourne had two months and two weeks within which to create a miracle.

Nightmarish challenge

Logistically challenging, almost nightmarish, with the help of nearly 2,000 pulsating performers wearing 4,500 costumes, 64 core dancers, 144 drummers, 16 choreographers, a 200-voice choir and 50,000-watt lamps, 8,000-watt robotic lights, 250 two thousand-watt lights, seven generators and the blessings of the Almighty, the Jamaicans carried the baton for the nine other host countries.

When we first started we went through so many changes. We wanted a concept that didn't necessarily have a historical storyline, instead one that represented several ideas, highlighting a Caribbean collage,? Bert Rose explained.

As the changes were effected he said they had to include all the other islands similarity in culture, music, history and people.

Trinidad represented Carnival; St. Lucian costumes were plenty and Barbados had its music showcased. The combination resulted in a Caribbean energy that electrified the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium last Sunday, causing tears to flow from the eyes of some as the expectations of many, especially Jamaicans visiting from overseas, were surpassed.

Rose still ponders on Carol Laws effectiveness in managing the creative team. How she did it I don?t even know, he quipped. ?It was an experience, awfully tiring, but well worth it, he concluded.

For Monica Lawrence, whose responsibility was costume design and management, the late start in preparation was extremely challenging, but she drew people from just about everywhere on the island and pulled it off.

Her dream team came from entities such as the Garmex Heart Academy and Chapeaux, as well as people like Audrey Mantock. Denise Robinson designed the costumes,?Lawrence said.

Lawrence also teamed up with many of the island?s small manufacturers to get the job done. she said the biggest drama was the Carnival and Indian segment of the show, which was not in the budget. Not getting the promised support from one of the countries committed to the event, Lawrence said it was with only three weeks ago that they were told of the addition.

However, within a week she had it under wraps, her only problem being that the creative team had bought out every lamie, beads and sequins available in the island, so her next option was Trinidad.

?We had to play the role of higglers to get them home. When we were finished it was liking we had gone through a war, said Lawrence.

Worthwhile effort

According to Lawrence the effort was well worth it, as they worked on showing the richness and the animation of the Caribbean people through colour. It wasn't about Jamaica. It had to do with the commonalties of all the countries involved, se said.

She said that on Sunday when the performers walked out on the field, she saw emancipation.

With US$2 million, a much smaller budget than South Africa?s four years ago, Lawrence said what Jamaica had was the joie de vivre of the people.

L'Antoinette Stines said foremost in their minds was addressing what was constant to the Caribbean. ?What do we share? We share a history that goes back to pre-slavery, so we used the Abeng, which is also used at some cricket matches,? she said.

Together the team presented a well choreographed event which began on time at 5:15 p.m.

Caribbean Energy

Opening with an audience of 120-performers on the field, Stines said the idea was to have the camera?s eyes pick up the revelry.

The second section was called Caribbean Energy. ?We sat down for days coming up with this concept,? she noted.

A 200 voice choir, from the top choirs in the country worked with David Rudder in this segment.

Fire blowers, drummers, wing runners, Indian dancers, Bajan Shaggy bears and Dominican Sensay, Pitchy Patchy, plantation revelry and 2,000 yards of yellow cloth creating a sunshine effect completed an unforgettable spectacle.

St. Juste had responsibility for audio, lighting, set dressing and the overlay. Just doing the overlay was a six-month thing,? he said.

An event of this magnitude takes four to five days to set up, but St. Juste and his team had only 20 hours to make a difference and they did.

Despite the difficulties I was truly honoured to have been a part of the team and to have had the opportunity to do this for the country, he told The Sunday Gleaner.