AFTER SIX nights of student performances, Tallawah 2001 has come to an end. On Saturday night, 15 awards and 10 high commendations were given out and Sunday saw the performances for 'The Best of Tallawah'.
Sunday night produced many enjoyable performances. Additionally, no one was awarded for Best Make Up, Best Storyteller (male and female), Best Poetry Performance (female), and the Off the Page award. Of course, not everyone who was awarded or commended performed, as there were only eight performances. Additionally, some members of the audience queried the choice for some awards.
'MARCUS TO MARLEY'
The first performance on Sunday night was Excelsior Community College's play Marcus to Marley. This production received one award and two high commendations.
Orville Hall was given the Best Supporting Actor, while the entire cast was highly commended as well as the play's costuming. The cast seemed to be floating on the euphoria of the awards as they gave an even more impressive performance than the original. As usual, Hall tended to overshadow his fellow cast members as he was the most entertaining. When he began to quote Capleton, several audience members actually got to their feet as they laughed and applauded.
Kymore Jeffrey, who was given a high commendation for her performance of 'A Pig's Tale', was the second performer for the night. She was followed by Sophia Pasley, who also received a high commendation for her monologue 'Church Chuckles'. Pasley's performance was even more entertaining than her first. Pasley had the crowd going from the moment she stepped onto the stage. In fact, she had the audience clapping, singing and shouting amen as she entered singing the chorus 'What a Wonderful God'. As Pasley got into her routine, several persons felt the need to get out of their seats to cheer her on. As she exited she received a partial standing ovation, accompanied by several barks.
EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE
The award winner for best lighting and Best Lighting,
Herstory, History, Ourstory: Then and Now, followed. Simone Harris and Damion Clarke again gave excellent performances. Several persons found that they could only describe it as beautiful, especially as they showed a united front and an end to political violence to the backdrop of the national heroes.
Excelsior's second play for the night, Politrix, followed. The play, which was written by Orville Hall, won Best New Script as well as Best Actor (Courtney Wilson) and Best Supporting Actress (Lovan Chambers). Politrix turned out to be the most heckled performance and the audience seemed to be enjoying their comments about the play more than the play itself. Taylor Hall's Lanna-Gaye Franklyn followed with her performance of 'Delores' for which she had won Best Monologue (Female). While she still had trouble controlling her skirt and her accent, she gave a credible and enjoyable performance. She was followed by Craig McNally's performance of 'Pregnant'. McNally's performance brought the house down. Unlike Delores, he had his British accent well under control and the crowd loved his performance as he vented about the trials of a pregnant man. Mico's also won Best Stage Props for the 'Tangle' and Rowhena Pennant was commended for her acting.
The final performance for the night was Taylor Hall's 'Jihad'. The play won two awards, Best Sound and Best Costumes. Additionally, its director Taneisha McGhie won Best Director. Taylor Hall also received two high commendations for Jerusha Stupart's performance of 'My Black Skin' and the stage setting of 'The Fall'.
Although they did not perform, the University Dramatic Arts Society also went away with two awards and a high commendation. Live Forrestor won Best Poetry Performance (Male) and 'Office Procedures' won Best Set, while Stacy-Ann Watt was commended for her storytelling for 'Tom Cruff'.
Mark Mills and Canute Fagan were also commended for their performances in 'Yard '99', Centerstage's contribution.
