Think Piece "Tanti at de Oval"

Assignment: Think Piece “Tanti At De Oval”

Paul Keens-Douglas is an acclaimed Trinidadian-born playwright, writer and performer who utilizes his own experiences and acute eye to portray the various aspects of life in the West Indies. His stories are written in such a way that they capture the attention of the reader with colloquial dialect, providing a vivid image and a tale that embosses reality. A writer for more than thirty years, Paul Keens-Douglas is well known around the Caribbean. Keens-Douglas began his career in 1972 when he switched his degree from writing poetry in Standard English to dialect, under the influence of Louise Bennett, Jamaican poet. Eventually he published his stories in a book entitled “When Moon Shine” and decided to stage a show titled “Tim Tim”, where he narrated his stories. Other works by Keens-Douglas include, “Tim Tim: The Dialect Poetry of Paul Keens-Douglas” (1976), “Tell Me Again” (1979), “When Moon Shine” (1979), “Twice Upon A Time: Poetry and Short Stories” (1989), and “Role Call” (1997). He has produced a total of 16 CDs, nine volumes of books, 17 live performances and two DVDs.

“Tanti At De Oval” (1992) is a comedic piece that tells of a nephew taking his aunt on her first visit to The Queen’s Park Oval to view an important cricket match between Trinidad and the Combined Islands. The piece describes Tanti Merle as a vibrant, colourful character who likes to be at the head of things and have her own way. A story told in first person, the nephew spins a tale of Tanti Merle’s excitement, preparation for the match, and many embarrassing moments (for him) that were experienced along the way. A vivacious supporter of the Combined Islands, the piece ends with Tanti Merle almost starting a riot at the conclusion of the match, which was a draw. This piece will focus on the importance of cricket in the Caribbean, Caribbean language and life, the views of foreigners of Trinidad, treatment of the elderly and gender inequality....