Jean and Dinah... [Paperback]

Tony Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2002

'Jean and Dinah, Rosita and ClementinaRound the Corner Posing,Bet your life is something they selling . . .'- The Mighty Sparrow -Jean and Dinah . . . orchestrates itself out of the calypso Yankees Gone also known as Jean and Dinah, sung by the Mighty Sparrow in 1956. This calypso was a male response to the influence of the occupying Yankees on local girls in the post World War II period. The play is a tragi-comedy set in present-day Port-of Spain, Trinidad, in Act One, then in Act two, the characters take us some 40 years back to their theatre of the streets of Port of Spain.It is Jouvay morning, the dawn of Carnival Monday and Jean comes to take her friend, Dinah, to play mas (masquerade) in the city as they have done for the past forty years. This year, however, Dinah is tired and ailing and does not want to go. Jean tries desperately to rally her into making their annual pilgrimage through the streets where they play sailor mas on Carnival Tuesday.In the ensuing battle to get Dinah out of bed onto the streets of Port of Spain, both women discover things about themselves that shaped their lives. This play gives the women in Sparrow's calypso a voice. Their stories take us on an emotional roller coaster of laughter, pain and sorrow.'Tony Hall's play Jean and Dinah . . . is one of the finest pieces of West Indian theatre I have seen in years-- it--never surrenders its raw, poignant humour, its rhythm that mimics that of Carnival music, and when I saw it performed by two excellent actresses I felt continuous astonishment, delight and pride.'Derek Walcott, Nobel LaureateMarch 8, 1997. 'It not only succeeds, it triumphs by committed, at times inspired acting and play and poise by Rhoma and Penelope Spencer.'Earl Lovelace, NovelistTrinidad Sunday Express, December 11, 1994. Jean and Dinah is lively, amusing and often touching, with some powerful moments.Judy Raymond, JournalistTrinidad Express, December 7, 1994. The context of the play commands Caribbean, but especiall

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tony Hall is a playwright and actor who has worked extensively in Western Canada and with the Trinidad Theatre Workshop. He has also worked with Banyan Limited in developing television for the Caribbean. In 1990, Tony and Errol Fabien launched The Lordstreet Theatre Company with the jouvay mas A Band on Drugs. Mr. Hall has been Visiting Artist in Residence at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut since 1998.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (October 24, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0759687978
• ISBN-13: 978-0759687974
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,541,093 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this play, December 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Jean and Dinah... (Paperback)

"Jean and Dinah" offers you an insight into a country that does not only exist as palm trees and white beaches. The paly offers an inside perspective on a culture that has to deal with poverty and social problems. 'Jean and Dinah' - the two heroines - are two Jamettes that lead and live a fight against colonialism and history. Carnival, Trinidad's most important event of the year, functions as a frame for the drama. In Trinidad Tony Hall's drama is considered to be one of the most important dramas in contemporary writing. Whoever wants to get to know Trinidad and its people should put the Baedeker (travelling guide) aside and read this play.

Sandy Stoll aus Stuttgart Deutshland

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jean and Dinah - a must, November 2, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Jean and Dinah... (Paperback)

The context of the play commands Caribbean, but especially Trinidadian, jamette history - all those who live below the diameter of respectable society. Badjohns such as Mastife, Batonier and Hannibal, and legendary women of the streets such as Alice Sugar and Boadicea (Bodi) are invoked as part of its natural landscape. Creole language is also interestingly utilized, commanding calypso as poetic and literary referential points along with Shakespeare and the Romantics.

Rambai Espinet, Poet

Toronto,

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this play, December 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Jean and Dinah... (Paperback)

"Jean and Dinah" offers you an insight into a country that does not only exist as palm trees and white beaches. The play offers an inside perspective on a culture that has to deal with poverty and social problems. 'Jean and Dinah' - the two heroines - are two Jamettes that lead and live a fight against colonialism and history. Carnival, Trinidad's most important event of the year, functions as a frame for the drama. In Trinidad Tony Hall's drama is considered to be one of the most important dramas in contemporary writing. Whoever wants to get to know Trinidad and its people should put the Baedeker (travelling guide) aside and read this play.

Sandy Stoll aus Stuttgart, Deutschland