Shining Stars opening night puts focus on kaiso ladies

Female artistes took the spotlight at last Friday’s opening night of Carter’s Shining Stars Calypso Tent at the Daphne Joseph Hackett Theatre. 

One female in particular brought back memories for many and enthralled others hearing her for the first time. The sweet-singing Kathy Lewis graced a calypso stage for the first time in more than two decades and what a grand occasion it was. She displayed a sense of timing, poise and confidence that suggested she had never left. 

Lewis rendered two of her previous songs, Sing Fuh De People and De Solution, and patrons lapped them up. As a guest artiste and with time at a premium at a show that went late into the night, Lewis could not acquiesce to the crowd’s call for more. But after 21 years away from the calypso scene, her time on stage in a segment of the programme dubbed The Strength of a Woman was simply sweet nostalgia.

Winner of the Baje To The World competition, Kyrique had set the tone for the tribute section with his interpretation of reggae star Shaggy’s Strength of a Woman. Following in that sisterhood theme, the reigning Carapichaima Calypso Queen from Trinidad and Tobago Lady Lystra did her Pull De Plug and Luv Up Ya Woman. Tent manager and veteran calypsonian Lady Virtue then added her voice to proceedings with a rendition of Barbados We Cry.

Showcased in this section also was N’Kyla doing Run Away, Empress B with Race To The Bottom, and Mama Africa doing Solution To Gun Violence. 

Mary E and Christal Cummins-Beckles-Holder from De Big Show Tent showed their support for women doing All In The Name and Check De Scene, respectively. Lady J performed Labels and Queen T did an up-tempo selection entitled Keep Up. 

Chrissy D hosted this segment of the evening’s entertainment. 

Of note was the attire of the women who were at their elegant best in all-white themed apparel with just a hint of colour. 

Of course, the men were not to be left out of the occasion entirely. In the first half, they provided a number of impressive performances with emcee Admiral Nelson holding things together in his own inimitable style.

Among those who shone was De Announcer with PMs.  He got multiple encores and each time endeared himself to the audience with a new verse.

Kid Site’s Viral was another highlight. He sang that everything happening in the world was being captured digitally, exposed to the world over social media and going viral.

Lil E offered Flash It Inna E, veteran Jah Stone performed Something Wrong, Mr G offered much food for thought in his Say Something, the Camera Man gave his take on Ninja Man and perhaps needed The City character to add to his offering. 

Mr Reason got an encore for his Competition, veteran Kinky Star tried with Show Us You Really Care, R.S Cyclone did Who Are Them, Franswaa rendered Conflict Of Interest, and Lando performed a party number called Jamming. (CW)