Saturday, July 24, two young entrepreneurs presented a gala evening at Coral World to include "Three Queens of Comedy," Seventeen Plus, and Sam "the Lollypop Man." While the "Queens" were billed as three ladies of laughter; this was far from the truth.
The entrepreneurs will go nameless in the hope they will learn from their mistakes. They have great concept, but, unfortunately, got two lemons.
Coral World was all we have been led to expect, then some. The grounds are scrupulously clean; the night was perfect, and the staff quick to meet your needs. Well over a hundred Virgin Islanders turned out for what was advertised as a night of fun and laughter.
The evening started about 45 minutes late and the crowd didn't forget it. Throughout the evening various members of the audience called for the MCs and the performers to "get it on and get on with it." The days of waiting for the last dog to wander in are gone. It is time for those who pay the freight to demand the show start on time, or take back their money. It is insulting to wait, and wait, and wait to accommodate those who are rude, rude, rude.
The first act was Nikki Crosby from Trinidad. Nikki admitted to a Chinese father who, coupled with an obviously most compatible gene carrier of the distaff sex, produced a lovely daughter. Flashing eyes and an impish grin did not hurt this woman in bringing her material to the audience.
While her beauty and good humor got her across, her material truly endeared her to the home crowd. It is true some of her lines walked the tight rope of the risque, she continued throughout her performance to fill the role of the mischievous girl next door.
I would have been proud to take her home and introduce her to my parents, and even my grandparents. Her stories hit many a common chord and I know even my parents would have identified and understood.
Next was the Queen of Smut. Hope Flood was billed as some kind of "poet, motivational speaker, and 'keeping it real' comedienne." If she is any indication of what is going on today in California, I can only cry for my native state. For far too long, all she could do was scream the "F" word and talk about boys who have sex with their mothers.
What in the world is happening to this culture that even allows, much less adopts, a word which names what should be a tender, loving experience as the ultimate invective? Has the ultimate experience truly been reduced to a beating? One black comedian/ comedienne after another appear to be shouting to the world at the top of their lungs, that black men and women are beasts unleashed to create subjugate and cause pain. If this sounds raw and insulting, I agree. The only way to change this appearance is to stop paying money to those who scream invective to the world.
And since when has incest become such a wonderful topic? Anyone listening to Flood could easily adopt the position that acts of incest are right up there with "Good job!" "Way to go," and "Superior." I know at least one gentleman who left immediately after Flood's monologue of trash, as he simply did not want to listen to any more gutter language. Me, I turned her off and went to sleep. Figured I would stick around and give Ms. Taylor a chance.
Montana Taylor was a cross between Crosby and Flood. While not nearly as inventive as Crosby and unable to bring to bear a West Indian understanding of her audience, Taylor at least had some material. Another advocate of the "F" word, she did admit a less than perfect relationship with men, which might improve when she learns to talk.
Also, like Flood, she broadcast her excitement at being a "black woman" then spent her entire act denigrating them, and reducing them to objects for male domination and sexual exploitation.
Bottom line, hooray for Caribbean humor. It is alive and well, and much more entertaining than what has been billed as California "new wave." I will pay to listen to Nikki Crosby regale me again. But leave the gutter mouths in California or wherever.
Finally, I want to express my apologies to Seventeen Plus and "Sam" The Lollypop Man. Having been grossed out for well over an hour, all I wanted to do was escape to my quiet home. Some other time good people.
Editors' note: The event was not sponsored by Coral World.
