• Latest
The Importance Of Making A Proper Will

Playwright Francis Urias Peters Has Done It Again!

9 years ago
A Myriad of Complaints Follows the Opening of Grenville Bus Terminal

No increase in bus fares

12 mins ago
Irrigation schemes to improve agriculture sector on sister isles

Irrigation schemes to improve agriculture sector on sister isles

2 hours ago
PM Mitchell to attend agri-investment forum in T&T

PM Mitchell to attend agri-investment forum in T&T

5 hours ago
Claims of coronavirus at SGU designed to create fear and panic

Covid-19 update: Grenada Dashboard 17 August 2022

10 hours ago
Vacancy: Accountant

Vacancy: Accountant

22 hours ago
New PWU president’s vision to unite and empower members

PWU disturbed by reports of dismissals and transferring of members

22 hours ago
RGPF

Accused of multi-million dollar drug charges to stand trial

23 hours ago
Ministerial Complex Workers Relocating

Carriacou Covid Economic Support Secretariat Office relocated

1 day ago
Higher Gas Prices for March 2014

Gas prices for August 2022

1 day ago
CDB officials visit Carriacou

CDB officials visit Carriacou

1 day ago
Layne Wins Table Tennis Easter Open Tournament at PWU

GTTA stages ITTF Level 1 Certificate Coaches Workshop

2 days ago
RGPF

Man charged with Possession of Illegal Firearms

2 days ago
NOW Grenada
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
NOW Grenada
No Result
View All Result

Playwright Francis Urias Peters Has Done It Again!

This story was posted 9 years ago
30 October 2013
in OPINION/COMMENTARY
4 min. read
Sir Lawrence A Joseph
Share

by Dr. Lawrence A. Joseph

The play “Redemption Time” which was written and directed by playwright Francis Urias Peters takes a snapshot from our historical past. The play was excellently produced and directed, and all the actors must be highly commended for their fabulous performances. It was a bowlful of serious drama pleasantly sprinkled with a sufficient quantity of comic relief. It is no surprise then that it took the playwright over ten years to fully conceptualize the production as there were so many episodes of human trauma, suffering, death and disappointment coming from what is usually referred to as Grenada’s “revolutionary period”.

The name of the play itself forces one to raise the question, “Why Redemption Time?” An applicable definition of the word “redemption” suggests that a person or persons have been saved from some sort of error or evil. In this light the play did in fact live up to its name when at the close of the curtain, “Rachael”, (marvelously acted by Dale Bhola-Wilks) who was an ardent revolutionary, recanted, having been seemingly saved from the  onslaught of revolutionary fervour. Redemption here was a far cry from what was portrayed in the movie called “Redemption” which action thriller depicted a story of revenge, rather than a story of healing. Rachael’s emotions depicted healing as she finally walked with her man “Winston” (superbly played by Kareem Alexis) into the glorious sunrise of their future.

The story began in the year 1978 with “Miss Audrey” (also superbly played by Agatha Alexis with tremendous “impact”) at her home. The inside of the house prominently displayed a picture of her political hero, Eric Gairy, the then Premier of Grenada. She was a staunch Gairyite acknowledging that Gairy was instrumental in improving the lives of many poor people in Grenada, including her own. On the other side of the coin was her son “Steve”; (again superbly played by Samuel Ogilvie, the actual son of former Commissioner of Police Nestor Ogilvie). “Steve” was indoctrinated to be a revolutionary and had no regards for Eric Gairy, to the consternation of his mother, “Miss Audrey”. In a relatively neutral position was “Audrey’s” other son “Winston” who concentrated on preaching the gospel. The family was therefore torn between different philosophies and ideologies.

The portrayal of Gairy’s “mongoose gang” wreaking havoc on the lives of anyone who dared to oppose was vividly captured by the acting of Earl Mc Leish who represented Gairy’s “Police”. The imagery of those “bloody days” came out in full force. Then “the revolution” came on 13 March 1979 and Gairy was overthrown. “Miss Audrey” could have died and in fact did die sometime later after succumbing to a stroke, as events unfolded.

“Winston” the pastor was flabbergasted and especially so when he found out that his brother “Steve” was killed as a consequence of the coaxing of his revolutionary acquaintance “Joseph” (played powerfully by Terrence Walters). “Winston” then pulled a pistol at “Joseph”. The death of “Steve” in fact represented the deaths of thirteen brave Grenadian soldiers who were killed during the military intervention in October 1983. Those soldiers firmly believed that they were defending the homeland and that they were capable of burying the “imperialist invaders” in the sea. “Miss Audrey” however questioned the capacity of little Grenada fighting against big America. The irony of the situation is that all the key revolutionary leaders, represented by “Joseph” came out from the war unscathed.

Scenes of the chaos which occurred on what was then Fort Rupert (now Fort George) on 19 October 1983 when the armored vehicles arrived were vividly displayed with video presentations. It was on that day that Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, his cabinet colleagues and many civilians were brutally slain. The portion of the play which involved the military intervention was poignantly portrayed with video scenes of what happened on 25 October 1983. There were scenes of helicopter gunships doing their military maneuvers and releasing their bombs. The harsh sounds of heavy artillery were heard in the background. It was war in Grenada. 19 and 25 October 1983, came alive at the Spice Basket in Beaulieu.

It would be a great pity if all of our youthful population would not get the opportunity to see this play. It may well be a good idea if special runs could be made especially for the students at our schools at special admission prices. Those students need to become acquainted with the history of this country, for as Francis Urias Peters himself has reminded us, “A people who forget their history are prone to repeat it”. High praises are quite in order for all the cast and background supporters of “Redemption Time”. Well done Francis!! Well done!! You have done it again!!

NOW Grenada is not responsible for the opinions, statements or media content presented by contributors. In case of abuse, click here to report.
Tags: francisgairyjosephlawrencepetersplayredemptiontheatreurias
Next Post
Second Junior Sailing Regatta at Clarke’s Court Bay Marina

Second Junior Sailing Regatta at Clarke's Court Bay Marina

Comment on post Cancel reply

Please enter your valid email address.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© NOW Grenada. All Rights Reserved. Published by Aqua Design Inc. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Front Page
  • Categories
    • General News
      • All
      • Agriculture & Fisheries
      • Arts & Culture
      • Business
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • History
      • Lifestyle
      • Law
      • Politics
      • Technology
      • Travel & Tourism
      • Weather
      • Youth
    • Sports
      • All
      • Athletics
      • Cricket
      • Football
      • Watersports
    • Community
      • All
      • Tribute
    • Crime
    • Features
      • All
      • Today in History
    • Opinion/Commentary
    • Press Releases
      • All
      • Advertisements
      • Notices
  • Video
  • Notices & Vacancies
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us

Copyright NOW Grenada

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Visit our Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.