University Professors Praises Antiguan Play

Details

Shows

Thursday, 14 July 2011 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Head of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Visual Art at Grambling State University in Lousiana, Dr King David Godwin, has highly commended Antiguan student Collin Jno-Finn, author of the play Power Struggle.

Dr Godwin travelled to Antigua to witness the production staged at the Dean William Lake Cultural Center on June 25 and 26.  The play dealt with the struggle of one well-to-do church member, Sister De’Castro, to overthrow the leadership of the church, Rev Careen Lyons.

Jno-Finn is a senior at Grambling State University, pursuing a double major in Mass Communication and Theatre Arts. Dr Godwin said in his review, “The work speaks to a much deeper depth than the church. The audience could readily relate to the many facets of ‘power struggles’ that one might see in business establishments, political arenas and even in some homes.

The story line and plot work well. The sequences of events logically flowed and were not ambiguous. The performance displayed a vivid interrelate connection between character and story line. The audience was able to grasp and understand both through the other. Character development was extremely good.”

Although the presentation suffered technical difficultieson both nights, Dr Godwin said although the lighting sometimes changed or dismantled the mood for a moment, the actors’ performances were not distracted in a major way. The sound track was ideal for the progression of the work, he said, and showed an exemplary connection to the dialogue and the mood of the script in totality.

The production was truly “a slice of life” presented in a realistic manner.  The audience in turn was attentive and displayed a deep abiding interest in the work. Not only did this production suggest the ins and outs of territorial mindsets, but it also suggests broader themes about change and thinking “outside the box” Dr Godwin noted. He said, Jno-Finn’s “Power Struggle” is a perfect example of how, when confronted with change, there is a natural tendency to focus on how to defend ourselves from it instead of how to use and succeed with it.

He highly commended Jno-Finn, and said, “As a University Professor and administrator and theatre director of 35 years, I have never witness a student written and directed production with such precision as Collin Jno  Finn’s ‘Power Struggle.’  I usually discourage students who write to direct their own works.  However Mr. Jno Finn has proven that it can be done and done well.  My applause to Mr. Collin Jno Finn and the Nazarene Drama Team, for a stellar performance!”

Dr Godwin has told Jno-Finn that he might ask for the play to be done at several upcoming functions on campus. The university professor’s visit was made possible with assistance from the Department of Culture, LIME, and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.

• < Prev
• Next >