Josephine,
Lypo
(the Pan
Man) and
Rufus
Tom
New York,
USA - Yes, yes,
yes... The musical
“The Pan
Man”
is the real
deal.
Entertaining,
educational,
moving and provocative,
this thought-provoking
musical drama
takes the audience
on an enthralling,
fantastic, authentic
historical journey
about the life
of the ‘pan
man,’ in a time
and place when
the steelpan
instrument and
its players
of this magnificent
instrument were
looked down
upon and severely
castigated by
society.
Long before
the phrase
‘from the
outhouse to
the
Whitehouse’
became
fashionable
- the Pan
Man
successfully
made that
arduous
excursion.
While the drama
is set in the
Caribbean island
of Trinidad,
the home of
the steelpan,
the challenges
faced by the
characters are
representative
of universal
tribulations
and human struggles.
And there lies
part of the
reason why the
“Pan Man” connects
with the diverse
audience on
so many levels
- the other
being this effective
cast of talented
actors and actresses
who bring a
depth of reality
and unbridled
passion to the
production.
Moreover, the
play has significant
meaning and
message for
today.
The play was
performed at
the state-of-the-art Nagelberg
Theatre.
This
facility
functions as
an outreach
of the Baruch
Performing Arts
Center whose mission
- in part,
is to serve
as a major performing
arts hub
for the New
York city metropolitan
area.
Josephine,
Rufus
and
Lypo
The Pan Man
is the brain
child of playwright
and composer
Franky Duke.
Mr. Duke is
committed to
writing stories
about the Caribbean
and Caribbean-American life. He already has
ten other plays
penned, and is to be
commended on
this brilliant
musical.
Lypo,
the Pan
Man
There is no
shortage of
very colorful
and memorable
characters in
the Pan Man. The musical
revolves around
the steelpan instrument,
and a family
of three
whose lives
are directly
affected by
this phenomenon
called “pan.”
One of the central
figures is Lypo
Tom,
played by
Ryan
Joseph.
Mr. Joseph’s
impeccable
musicianship,
acting and
performance
skills belie
the fact that
this was his
first major
production -
he is a natural.
Ryan
Joseph’s
work in this
play was
merely an
extension of
his
determination
to excel -
which he is
already
known for as
a steelpan
music
artist.
It was his
first time
as an actor,
and not only
did he enjoy
his role -
he nailed
it.
Josephine
(Karen
Holder)
& Rufus
(David
Duncan)
Then there is
Josephina
(Jo) Tom,
Lypo’s
mother, played
by Karen Holder,
who is bent
on holding her
family together
in spite of
all the disappointments
and hardships. She is like
many women,
the ‘glue’ that
holds the family
unit together.
Ms. Holder
was first-rate
as she made
you feel her
pain and joy.
The maternal
and
protective
instinct
demanded of
her role
fitted as a
glove.
And of course
there is Rufus
Tom,
the ‘larger than
life’ complex
figure played
by David Duncan,
who captivates
the audiences
from the very
first scene
to the end.
Duncan’s
portrayal of
Rufus was so
on-point,
that it was
hard to
distinguish
his
‘character’
from Duncan
the actor,
and one
forgot that
it was just
that - an
act - so
realistic
were his
scenes.
He is one
who truly
enjoys his
craft.
Lucy,
sister
Josephina
and Reverend
Dan and
his wife
These main
actors were
all
admirably
supported by
the rest of
the cast,
several of
whom
did double-duty in
character roles. Salone
Bishop who
played both
Dinah and
Susan, was
especially
rib-tickling
in her scene
where, as
Dinah, she
was
‘returned
from
America’ and
visited her
one-time
best friend,
Jo, Lypo’s
mother.
As Jo’s
sister Lucy, Malou
Beauvoir in
character was
the strength
Jo needed to
be helped through trying
times, and
also her
sister in
faith.
Keith Trent
as Mr. Josey
the
businessman,
successfully
communicated
the
constantly-working
mind of
people in
business,
generally
always
looking for
that ‘quick
buck.’
He surely
got under
the skin of
the
audience - as
he was
supposed to
- and then on
their good
side, when
he agreed to
financially
assist Lypo’s
steelpan
vision.
Salvation,
and
praise
after
all the
trials
and
tribulations
Andrew Bell
as Reverend
Dan
definitely
gave the Tom
family
reason to
hope, and to
hold out for
the
proverbial
light at the
end of the
tunnel, not
only in
words, but
more
importantly
- by his
deeds.
He surely
left many in
the audience
wishing that
their own
pastors were
more like
his
character,
Reverend
Dan!
Students
listen
attentively
to Ms.
Escandon,
as she
plots a
different
course
for
their
lives
The scene in
the
classroom
where Lypo
and his
steelpan are
mocked, with
the pan
being
referred to
as ‘bush
music’ by
his
classmates,
spoke
volumes.
Their
teacher Ms.
Escandon was
played by
Aileen
Maria, who
believed in
and smartly
guided her
students, who
included
Lypo, Kirsten
Gomez as
Stacey,
Salone
Bishop as
Susan, Hugh
Anderson as Benji,
Elijah
Manning as
Ox, and
Shaunette
Wilson who
played both Doreen and Reverend Dan’s
wife.
A
smitten
Claudia
with an
equally
enamored Lypo
And there
was Claudia - the fellow student who
made Lypo ‘weak at the
knees’ and
for whom Lypo weaved
a sonnet in
steel on the
pan.
It was the
transition
from ‘bush
music’ to
sweet pan
music.
The
following
talent
contest
where
everyone is
blown away
by Lypo’s
skill set on his pan,
also allows
the other
characters
to give very
good
accounts of
themselves,
and climaxed
in an
excellent
vocal rendition by
all the
‘students’ with
the refrain
“We are High
Fliers.”
With the
belief of
their
teacher
Aileen
Maria
burning
within them, they
made her
earlier
words come
true - that
no longer
would they
be called
the “Left-backers”
as they had
been
mockingly
dubbed by
others, but
would be
henceforth
known as the
“High-Fliers.”
Lypo the
Pan Man
- his
musical
talent
and
passion
accepted
through
the
instrument
of his
choice -
the Pan,
and
wearing
the
white
cape
bestowed
by Mr.
Josey
In addition
to Lypo on
pan, there
was a live
instrumental
ensemble on
hand
providing
the
accompanying
original
score
(penned by
playwright
Franky Duke)
for the
play.
Denis Nelson
on
keyboards,
Lino Gomez
on bass, and
son
Christopher
Gomez on
drums
supplied
both
bridges, as
well as full
backing for
the show’s
vocal
numbers,
complementing
especially
the soaring
pieces
performed by
the
‘students’
and
Josephina.
Ryan
Joseph,
Karen
Holder &
David
Duncan
Surprisingly,
in a little
more than two hours
- the audience
observes this
family dealing
with class struggle,
poverty,
education
stereotypes, dreams
denied and deferred,
love, and family,
among others
and ultimately,
triumph.
Indeed, while
the musical
reverberates
with classic
themes of
hope,
salvation
and
redemption
- the Pan
Man’s
journey is
unique, as
there is no
story like
that of Pan.
In the play,
as in life,
the Pan - and
by extension
the Pan
Man’s family
and friends
-
travels from
being
relegated as dregs of
humanity,
situated
behind God’s
back to
front and
glittering
center of
God’s house.
A fantastic
voyage to be
sure.
Directed by
Michelle
Mannette–Gomez,
and with
Set and
Costume
Design by
Emelda Jerry
(who also
functioned
as Stage
Manager)
“The Pan
Man: A
Musical
Drama” is a
must see.
Bravo!!
(l-r) Mrs. Duke
- wife of playwright Franky Duke, Ryan Joseph,
“Claudia,” Hugh Johnson, Kirsten Gomez and Aileen Maria
The
Pan
Man
- Cast
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Karen
Holder
as Josephine |
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David
Duncan
as Rufus |
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Ryan
Joseph
as Lypo “The
Pan
Man” |
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Malou
Beauvoir
as Lucy |
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Aileen
Maria
as Ms.
Escandon |
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Keith
Trent
as
Mr. Josey |
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Hugh
Anderson
(right)
with “Claudia” as Mr. Johnson |
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Salone
Bishop
as
Susan |
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Shaunette
Wilson
as
Doreen |
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Andrew
Bell
as
Reverend
Dan |
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Elijah
Manning
as
Ox |
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Michelle
Mannette-Gomez
as
praise
singer |
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