Maljo cancels 2005 season
Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2005
By Terry Joseph
Unusually inclement weather has affected operation of the two calypso tents left to open, one of which has been forced to cancel its season outright, while the other–featuring an exclusively female cast—shifted to an indoor location and is opening tonight.
Both the cancellation of Maljo Kaiso (which was due to open this Friday) and a move from Hilton Trinidad to the Mas Camp Pub in Woodbrook by the Divas Tent have been blamed on the elements. "We had a rough time last year with rain," said Divas promoter Rudolph Ottley, "in addition to which, Hilton is starting its renovation so it would have been tricky anyway, so we are grateful to Mas Camp for giving us a home under a roof for the season."
Co-proprietor of Maljo, comedienne Nikki Crosby, yesterday told the Express she and business partner Errol Fabien had only just taken a decision to cancel the season's programme due to continuing (and unpredictable) inclement weather, which has plagued promoters of outdoor events since Boxing Night.
"Our plan was to use the St James Amphitheatre but with the rain over the past few days and no clear indication it is going to let up by this weekend, we had to make a decision and we opted to cancel the season rather than chance it," Crosby said.
It is an unfortunate blow for Maljo, since the tent did not have a presence in Carnival 2004, due to the intense involvement of its principals in Gayelle-The Channel. "It was therefore important to us to have a face this year," Crosby said, "but this rain is licking up promoters all around."
Billed by promoter Rudolph Ottley as the World's Only all-Female Calypso Tent, The Divas, which premieres its 2005 season tonight, also features an all-woman band led by Chantal, a chorus of Calypso Groove Sisters and MCs Miami-based D' Wassi One and Naomi in a cabaret show that also presents steelpan acts, mas, dance and rapso.
The tent will operate from Tuesday to Friday at 8.30 p.m. each week with a special after-work show on Fridays from 5 p.m.
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