‘Minsh’ retreats to win the war

Mas luminary Peter Minshall is in a contemplative mood as he tries to figure where mas is heading. Photo: Keith Matthews

Mas icon Peter Minshall has resurfaced after a noticeable absence, to criticise the new offering of mas, calling it cheap.
The Trinity Cross holder and Emmy Award winner has been out of the Carnival limelight since 2006’s Sacred Heart.
Speaking on CNC3’s Big Story on Wednesday night, Minshall said he stayed away for so long because he did not want to repeat himself.
“You don’t want to piss in the wind,” he said, requesting that he be called “Minsh.”
He said that as a wise general would retreat, studying where the action was, he was prepared to “lose a battle or two in order to win the war.
“For some time now, there has been a very battle on for the soul of this country, and as far as I am concerned, the good guys are losing.”
He said the people mistakenly put a wedge between what were known as culture and politics.
“Mas in politics is no less the playing of the mas on the streets.”
Minshall accused the population—and even more so the Government—of selling out to the Chinese.
He said the Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s and the Centre for Performing Arts on Keate Street in Port-of-Spain, were built by “architectural ghosts such as the Chinese.
“At the same time, the beads and the feathers are being made by the Chinese.
“Our country is falling into a chasm from which it will never return.”
When mas is bad, it’s awful
He said that “much noise” was being made about this man—Minshall—but reassured that his work was of and about the people.
“The mas happens only by the permission of the people. It is the most extraordinary marriage; it is the most beautiful collaboration.
“When it’s bad, it’s awful…Like when opera doesn’t work, it’s unbearable. That theatre is bad theatre, but brilliant mas surpasses opera.
“Mas comes at you like thunder and lightning. It comes at you with all the power and force of a tsunami…It is all great art, an entire painting, like the entire works of Shakespeare.
“It is there to tell you about history, about human tragedy, about comedy.
“It is about fancy clowns and devils and demons and angels…”
Minshall questioned why should T&T, an island “rich in ancestry of Africa, Europe and India—three pillars of civilisation—” look unto the world.
“This little island does not want to be a country like every other country.
“This little island wants to be a country like no other. This little island is but a true vision and true understanding of its destiny…The world should be following us by example.”
Minshall said since his 30 years of involvement in the Greatest Show on Earth—T&T Carnival—the production of costumes has been reduced to the “cheap and tawdry.”
Costumes on wheels
Minshall felt that Carnival was now restricted to big trucks, which supplied “the drinks, the food, the toilets, the air-conditioning, the personal massage and the costumes,” littered between these great chasms of trucks.
“Oh. I don’t call them mas, I call them costumes,” he said.
“They say I am European; they say I am white, but that is not my measure.
“I am Caribbean; I am a rare hybrid. I am a multi-layered, richly-textured creature.
©2005-2006 Trinidad Publishing Company Limited

BRIAN MAC FARLANE 2008: EARTH Cries of Despair Wings of Hope.

Brian Mac Farlane’s effort for 2008 is EARTH, Cries of despair Wings of hope

To me this band is a different Mac Farlane, than his previous presentations, if “The Washing of 05, Threads of Joy of 06 and Boyie of 07, always seemed to have an element of Minshall in it, EARTH, in my opinion is Truly Mac Farlane in design. (Almost anyway.)

1995 dance of the Scarlet Ibis opp Paradise reborn 2008

The costumes are designed to a theme and a story line, the story is that of the Earth and mans destruction of this planet. However this is not the first time that Mac Farlane has touched this theme, for Carnival 1995 Brian MacFarlane designed a similar band for Peter Samuel’s “Mask Productions” called “Dance de le Mang”



Like I said before the band is visually like no other Mc Farlane has done in recent times thus far, but by the looks of the designs, on paper it like it is not his strongest to date

1995 polluted waters (rightside) vs 2008 Radiation.

While the theme is current and the designs somewhat contemporary, the costumes lack the kick of previous presentations. Maybe on the road with individuals, a king and queen and other trappings the band can still look impressive.

This is however by no means a pretty mas, Earth is designed to depict the reality of today, that is an ugly one. With sections like Floods of Terror, Army of Fear, Pestilence, and Famine, Earth, Cries of despair is indeed an anti pretty mas, the theme, being dark disturbing, and macabre. Not since Minshall’s Dance Macabre in 1980, or even Peter Samuel’s Dance de la Mang in 1995, has death, pollution, and decay been portrayed on the streets of P.O.S, in a grand way.

To balance this depressing depiction of the Earth dieing Mac Farlane has also designed “Wings of Hope” a 5 section Band for Rosalind Gabriel’s children’s band that would merge with Mac Farlane’s to complete the story. With sections like “New Dawn” “Passion of Humanity”, “Oceans of Rejuvenation”, “Grace” and “Paradise Reborn” the designer not only gives the story a happy ending but also portrays our dreams and expectations that our youth can save us and save the Earth from our destructive habits and practices.

Oceans of Rejuvenation 2008.

For me “Wings of hope” saves the band, Earth totaly, without these sections the band would be simply boring, while I don’t believe that Carnival is always about Colour, I find the use of Black and White almost monotonous, and the designs of these costumes ON PAPER lacking some kind of a dramatic PUNCH, so the colour in the latter sections is a visual positive, that gives the band, that dramatic STING it seemed to lack in the first part.

There is absolutely no doubt that EARTH, is a contender for another band of the year title for Mac Farlane, however, Trini Revellers have beaten him in the past (2006) and even Legacy with their presentation of Passages are right back in the race.

While I am a fan of Mac Farlane’s work and find his contributions highly valuable to Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival, and cultural retention, I am of the opinion that he is deliberately retracing a creative, conceptual path long set in stone by Peter Minshall.

With Earth, Mac Farlane has produced some original, contemporary looking designs, but yet the band seems to lack that BAND OF THE YEAR, VIBE I got of the designs in the past.
I give EARTH, Cries of despair Wings of hope FOUR STARS, I don’t think it’s his best work but it is without a doubt a contender for Band of the year 2008!