It wasn't exactly a teenybopper crowd that went wild at GALA Hispanic Theatre on Saturday night for the rapso group 3canal, the indisputable stars of the music and poetry show "Caribeana Imperia." Diplomats waved their arms in the air and women almost old enough to be the performers' mothers danced with abandon and cooed about what one dubbed the three "delicious" young men from Trinidad and Tobago and their fiery, danceable music.

Clearly some of the audience at the "Caribeana" opening was already hip to 3canal and its calypso-driven rap. The rest found out fast, or as fast as this peculiar hybrid show allows. The largely English-language "Caribeana" is half staged poetry, half concert -- and to paraphrase Woody Allen, here's hoping you get the half that sings.


Samuel Encarnacion in
Samuel Encarnacion in "Caribeana Imperia" at GALA Hispanic Theatre. (By Daniel Cima -- Gala Hispanic Theatre)
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Not that Martin Carter's poetry is bad; it's just a tad precious as recited and danced to by the six actors playing Caribbean archetypes -- the Poems Man, the Grande Dame, the Warrior, etc. It's like a knockoff of a choreopoem (see Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf"). Island figures lyrically announce their concerns and travails while moving in moody patterns up and down the ramps and platforms of Eric Grims's three-level set.

But once Wendell Manwarren, Roger Roberts and Stanton Kewley -- 3canal -- begin stalking the stage, the party is on. It's buoyant music -- embattled, for sure, with a litany of complaints about the ways of the world but leavened with uplifting pleas that are sometimes rapped and sometimes sung, often in harmony. Melodic hooks are the attractive veneer for songs propelled by lyrics and irresistible rhythms (the reggae beat pops up once or twice).

The guys aren't great singers, but they're a passionate, unified front and rather charming. Despite militant trappings that include the righteous sarcasm of "Talk Yuh Talk" (with nadie escucha , or "nobody listens," projected on one of the backdrops) and T-shirts emblazoned "Revolution" as they sing the same and wave a red star flag, it's clear that their mission is to galvanize, not polarize.

That's driven home in a few bland songs of encouragement ("Now Is the Time," "Build") near the end of what had blossomed into a fairly cogent second act. No sooner does 3canal send the energy through the roof with a medley climaxing with "Talk Yuh Talk" than Carter's protest poetry matches that fervor, and the link between the music and poetry finally becomes not just intellectual but also visceral.

Directors Manwarren and GALA's Hugo Medrano haven't quite figured out how to make a reliable virtue of the show's stop-and-go nature, but every now and then they catch a bit of lightning in a bottle. It's a roller coaster -- periods of grinding uphill, with thrills guaranteed on the other side.

Caribeana Imperia, songs by 3canal, poetry by Martin Carter, translated by Salvador Ortiz-Carboneres. Directed by Wendell Manwarren and Hugo Medrano. Choreography, Dave Williams; lighting design, Ayun Fedorcha; costume design, Alessandra D'Ovidio. With Michael Cherrie, Diann Marshall, Marlon Anthony Russ, Paige Hernandez, Abby Charles and Samuel Encarnacion. Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes. Through July 30 at GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. Call 800-494-TIXS or visit http://www.galatheatre.org .

3Canal and the Little Carib ReEvolution

By Wayne Bowman wayne.bowman@trinidadexpress.com

Story Created: Feb 26, 2011 at 12:49 AM ECT

Story Updated: Feb 26, 2011 at 7:57 PM ECT

In the newly restored Little Carib Theatre in Woodbrook rapso group 3Canal on Wednesday night premiered its 2011 edition of The 3Canal Show. The title of this year's production is ReEvolution Time and was the first event to take place at the Little Carib since its reopening after being closed for restoration over three years ago.

The venue was the home of legendary dancer Beryl McBurnie who, during the 1940s, created a performance space there for the nation's budding talents. Although the restoration was quite extensive the original layout and intimacy of the space was maintained. Upgrades include the latest in lighting and sound technology.

ReEvolution Time is the 3Canal Show's return to its original home and during the production the group dedicated "Trodding On" to McBurnie and the theatre. The show opened with the dancers taking the stage to oratory on the spirit of a warrior delivered by Wendell Manwarren over the music of "Reevolution Time".

3Canal-Manwarren, Roger Roberts and Stanton Kewley then took the stage to the cheering audience, those seated in the balcony and the one that chose to gather at stage level and dance to the music under the strobe lights employed in the production. There was also live animation on a screen to the right of the stage orchestrated by recent graduates of the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

The rapso watchdogs of politicians did comment on the political landscape several times during their production, for instance when they sang "Thin Cow". Manwarren drew reference to news reports that the People's Partnership Government was looking to institute the property tax, which they objected to when the PNM sought to do so last year. Manwarren said, "We did not vote for that. We voted for change. We are not asleep. The war is not over," to which the audience cheered.

Later on while performing "Power To The People", Manwarren spoke of the waves of revolution moving across the Middle East. Citing the latest protests in Libya, Manwarren shouted, "Gadaffi needs to understand he's got to go. We celebrate Egypt, Tunisia, Libya." He then reminded the audience that it is the people who decide who governs, shouting, "I am the government," as the band struck up the music of "Running Away".

Among the guest artistes performing was the band, Gyazette which performed a political commentary titled "Who Is the Captain Of This Ship," done in alternative music style blending blues, rock, kaiso and other local genres.

Also performimg was Kin Sibling Rivalry, which is fronted by 3Canal guitarist, Kiwan Landreth-Smith. They too performed music with elements of rock, kaiso and other local rhythms exploring the Jouvert experience. Colis Duranty had the audience in grip when he performed a love groove "Bring Back My Love" followed by "I Can Hardly Wait".

In the producer's notes of the 3Canal Show programme, 3Canal lead vocalist or chantuelle, Roger Roberts, says that "this work is neither a concert, nor a play, nor a musical, nor a tent, nor a performance school, yet it is all of the above and more." Roberts' words are certainly proven by the 3Canal Show 2012: The Pappy Show/The Reckoning which ended last Saturday at Queen's Hall, St Ann's.

The Show, presented in two acts, melds rapso, theatre, dance and social commentary into an event of performance art. It is a Show to make you think; to make you laugh; and occasionally, to make you wine.

Act I: The Pappy Show is an hard-hitting, satiric examination of the current government admirably written by Penelope Spencer and 3Canal lead vocalist Wendell Manwarren. Act II: The Reckoning is a movement of song and dance in homage to the worldwide Occupy Movement where 3Canal and cast occupy the stage with new music and first-rate choreography by Dave Williams, Iswasi Romero, Deon Baptiste and Arlene Frank.

With a cast boasting heavyweights such as Penelope Spencer as The Ringmaster, Cecilia Salazar as Queen Mamala, The Mammy of the Pappyshow, The Pappy Show took some of the most scandalous news stories of the past year and a half and presented them with enduring hilarity. The Pappy Show was a vaudeville circus. The caricatures were easily identifiable and the slight comedic twists on the actual events were not written too far or too close from the truth, but with just enough fiction to make the facts funny.

The remaining stellar performances from The Pappy Show were given by Conrad Parris as The Juggler aka Jack, Keron Leela as The Clown aka Dr Rambambam, Mark Nottingham as The Snake Charmer aka The Blockhead Midget, Marlon de Bique as The Magician aka Manlee Rowsingh, Jesu le Blanc as The Mime aka Captain Dumb Dumb and Marvin Dowridge as Queen Mamala's Assistant aka Pappy-Mammy 2.

The Reckoning was reminiscent of jouvert, of that unbridled and unabashed will to speak up and out using the Carnival arts. Manwarren, Roberts and third lead vocalist, Stanton Kewley energetically performed previously released songs from their 2012 album Reborn such as "Cant't Done," "Sacrifice" and "Work It Out" and additional tracks from the album including "Occupy," "Nah 'Fraid" and "Corruption".  On stage they were accompanied by "the People" who had no qualms about speaking or dancing their minds either. 3Canal really engaged the audience and kept the spirit of past shows alive.  

As a bonus, The 3Canal Show also included a pre-show which served as a pleasant warm-up with performances by up and coming local artistes where the selections included not only soca, but R&B and folk music. Included in the pre-show were Fidel with "Stand Up," Royal Boys with "Academic Soca," Rev & The Dream with "Everything is Carnival," Trevor with "Heaven," Devon Carter with "Celebrating Life" and Shaft with "Hooked". Costuming for the show was executed skilfully by Robert Young, Meiling, Sparrow, Zidelle Daniel and Sarah Woodham who had all the performers dressed quite appropriately for their various roles. The combination of music, theatre and dance certainly makes The 3Canal Show 2012: The Pappy Show/The Reckoning more than a show.