Dear Source:
Let the play begin!
Well, Well, Well, once again St. Croix shows its classical stuff. Its ability to strut upon the stage. Here on our beautiful big, little Island the show went on. Thank you, to all who attended. It was a magical evening. The trade winds blew, the moon was full and the audience was appreciative. For those on the tiny historic stage the kindness of those seated in the audience was much enjoyed.
Dear reader, What Am I Talking About? Saturday night, in one of our great historic settings we put on the first ‘reading’ of the new powerful play by actor and now playwright Richard Clark from St. Croix. The play is about the mother of Alexander Hamilton. Rachel [with several last names] is portrayed masterfully by our own Natilie Hollins. Natilie gives her all in bringing out the dynamics of Rachel, a woman of deep and disturbing makeup. On the little stage, set in the historic courtyard, the power of this mother of one of the most important founders of America comes leaping out at you. Nothing is held back, the drive and troubles of this woman are manifest in Natilie’s performance. Also on stage is actor Richard Clark and we two local guys who help out with some lines of our own. But the show is about this woman, this mother and her trials [literally] and tribulations.
In New York, on Broadway is playing the fantastic play “Hamilton.” It has been nominated for more awards then any play in history. The play is sung in ‘RAP.’ Or ‘rapid in rap Rap, which is not the language of the older set, but it is still easily enjoyed none the less. Shakespeare might have even have received greater success if he had tried to ’rap it.’ I was lucky enough to see Hamilton opening night, on Broadway, but now it is sold out for several years. We know this brilliant man Alexander Hamilton was born on Nevis and raised on St. Croix, then shot in New Jersey. Everyone knows he was with General Washington during the Revolution, then the first Secretary of Treasury, founder of the Bank of New York, founder of the newspaper The New York Post, created the US Coast Guard and basically was the man who Created Modern America. All this while suffering the taunts of being an ‘outside’ child, a ‘bastard.’ He had not one day of formal schooling before leaving St. Croix and yet went on to write most of the Federalist Papers, which to this day are the foundation of the legal system and government of the U.S.
Today many here and other places are raised by single mothers, so was he, in fact so was the first President and the current President along with many other successful men. It’s no excuse for not being successful, just ask Obama or Hamilton.
Let St. Thomas have their thousands of tourists unloading off boats and their big hotels, we prefer fine art and fine artists and the peaceful setting of our Big island. Even while we were preforming our live play there was another wonderful live play going at CCT, what talent we have on our Island. Speaking of tourism, which we could use a little more of, in the “Playbill’ of the Hamilton play, which is given to everyone in the audience on Broadway, the little island of Nevis has a full page ad promoting itself. Perhaps, Beverly, we should take out an ad as well. If you do take out an ad, please mention that St. Croix is also a part of the U.S.V.I. and that St. Croix has the artisans, art and even a book store that make life here a wonderful thing.
Bob White, St. Croix
