Final results trigger backstage extempo war
Posted: Saturday, February 21, 2004

By MARIA BHOLA, Newsday TT

ANGRY PATRONS stormed out of the almost filled Grand Stand at Queen's Park Savannah last Thursday evening when Mark "Contender" John and Phillip "Black Sage" Murray were named finalists in the National Extempo Monarch competition. For many it was a straight case of déjà vu when for the second consecutive year, Joseph "Lingo" Vautor-Laplaceliere was left out of the final round of competition. The Savannah quickly became a ghost town as the crowd engaged in some heavy "booing" and chants of "We want Lingo" and "Thief! Thief again!" before vacating the Savannah. Lingo, who is visually impaired, was a strong contender from the start of the competition, maintained this strength in the preliminary and semi-final rounds, but was sacked for the finals. While there was no dispute over Black Sage, patrons blatantly rejected Contender. Even Contender voiced his vote for Lingo as finalist in one of his verses.

Meanwhile, as the two finalists engaged in extempo war to empty seats, another war broke out backstage. Defending Extempo Monarch Sheldon John, in an outburst of dissatisfaction with the judges' decision claimed: "I know for a fact they judge me fair, but this is the second year they thief Lingo and that is wrong!" A visibly upset Lingo declared: "I will never enter another Extempo competition in this country again!" Although friends warned him to be careful what he says because the media was around, he insisted on making his point. Eventual winner Black Sage made his way through the crowd now gathered at stage right and expressed: "I too agree that Lingo should have been in the finals, but the judges' decision is final. We cannot be competitors and judges as well."

This comment brought more chaos to the already heated mob and Sage, John and Lingo spent a few moments in a heated feud. Scores of artistes, friends and fans tried to console Lingo but with little success. Competition, however, was quite keen in the Political and Social categories with Michael "Sugar Aloes" Osuna taking top honours in the Political category and Karene Asche capturing the Social Commentary title. The Humorous Calypso category was the most unentertaining segment of the show. Contestants in this category came up very short on humour in their renditions and patrons were visibly bored with these performances. Clear winner, Myron "Myron B" Bruce was just about the only entertaining act in this segment, with the exception of Roger Mohammed's groovy musical arrangement.

Even the Limbo category was not what it had been in previous years. The finalists included Malick Folk Performers, Cocorite Ujamaa Folk Performers and Footprints. Ujamaa's queen, Sue Ellen St Louis, made quite an impression on the crowd with her keen Limbo techniques and stage presence. MCs for the evening were Willard "Relator" Harris, Andre Williams and Winston Maynard. Maynard was not a crowd favourite as many felt he did little to boost the standard of the show. Kelly Green and Harmony with Brass provided accompaniment for calypsonians, while Syl Dobson and The Boys accompanied the extempo artistes. The show was over at about 1.30 am but most patrons left when the Extempo finalists were named. Here are the final results:

Political
1. Sugar Aloes
2. Kizzie Ruiz
3. Kurt Allen
4. Heather MacIntosh
5. Mark John
Dr Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool (no show)

Social
1. Karene Asche
2. Devon Seale
3. Kizzie Ruiz
4. Heather MacIntosh
5. Duane O'Connor
6. Joanne "Tigress" Rowley

Humour
1. Myron B
2. Roger Mohammed
3. Bomber
4. Jean Lewis
5. Victor McDonald
6. Kenroy Smith

Extempo
1. Black Sage
2. Contender

Limbo results are still pending.

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