Caribbean comedians bring raw, real humour to the CARIFESTA stage

By Simone Tull

Sex, lies, and a whole lot of laughter — nothing was off-limits when regional comedians stormed the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Thursday night for Cat Luck Aint Dog Luck.

Part of the CARIFESTA XV celebrations, the comedy showcase pulled together 15 acts from across the Caribbean, each bringing their own spin on satire, social commentary, and side-splitting storytelling. Though billed for a 10 p.m. finish, at 1 a.m., the majority of patrons were still glued to their seats, unwilling to miss a single moment.

The energy in the room reached its peak when veteran comic Rachel Price, Trinidad and Tobago’s undisputed Caribbean Queen of Comedy, strutted onto the stage after a lively introduction by compatriot Jr Lee.

With her trademark fire, Price tackled everything from the crime wave back home to the horrors of a sugar wax appointment. Her comedic timing was razor-sharp, her stories instantly relatable. She had patrons in stitches with her take on regional travel, especially LIAT’s knack for “finding potholes in the sky.” Seamlessly bouncing from one subject to the next, Price skewered TikTok’s botched attempts at teaching Caribbean culture and poked fun at the contrast between gentle parenting trends and the tough-love Caribbean way. Every joke hit home, drawing nods of recognition and waves of laughter.

The night flowed like music — literally. Several acts laced their sets with songs, parodying the soulful lyrics of yesteryear against the raunchier beats dominating today’s airwaves.

Jamaican comedian Johnny Daley was a crowd favourite, his animated storytelling pulling the audience into every scene. Guyana’s Chris Gopaul did not hold back either, delivering a bold, biting look at toxic relationships and why, in his words, “some women can be despicable”.

Flying the Bajan flag, Biko kept the laughs rolling with interactive comedy, urging a patron onstage to prove his theory that Caribbean security guards only need two skills: clap with authority and the ability to shout, “You can’t park that there!”

Queen Archibull Cox leaned into his flamboyant style, hilariously recalling the first wedding he ever attended — complete with his ever-present reel of foil that, on this occasion, went unused. Janine White showed promising chops as a comedienne, while the duo Double Laughs — Jennifer Walker and Yolanda Holder — brought a satirical edge to the sex trade, balancing cheeky humour with sharp observation.

Newcomer Kraigg Carrington made his comic debut with Things Caribbean People Do That I Just Can’t Stand. His ten-minute slot was insufficient to capture everything he hoped to discuss, but he kept the audience engaged and left them wanting more. Dy Browne dropped a quick-fire lesson on local sayings, while show producer Simon Alleyne stepped from behind the scenes to add his own spark to the night’s eclectic mix of diverse accents.

Alleyne expressed gratitude to the CARIFESTA XV Secretariat for including comedy in the Special Events Calendar. He was particularly impressed with the versatility of the newer outdoor venues to stage comedy shows, such as the Golden Square Freedom Park and the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre in Botanical Gardens.

Alleyne stated that he looks forward to staging comedy shows at the newly constructed National Performing Arts Centre and lauded the National Cultural Foundation and the Ministry of Culture. He emphasised that an investment in culture is an investment in the preservation of the identity of Barbadians and said that with local investment, the local comedy industry will thrive.