04282023 WEEKEND

Young artist celebrates Bahamian culture in Canadian graduation exhibit

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer |

William Knowles is finally having the graduation he was denied two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bahamian artist recently participated in an in-person exhibition to make up for the one his class missed in 2020.

William graduated in 2020 from the Design and Visual Arts programme at Cambrian College in Ontario, Canada.

“The exhibition serves as a graduation ceremony for our class, allowing us to show our work and how the course has helped us improve,” he told Tribune Weekend.

“The venue was much larger as students from 2020/23 all participated.”

He said he definitely got a feeling of satisfaction from being able showcase his work to a non-virtual audience.

“Being in-person certainly has a more holistic feeling to it. Not only do I love admiring art in all fashions, there’s an unmatched satisfaction that comes along with seeing a piece of your work stop somebody in their tracks,” he said.

He also spoke about how his work has improved since attending university.

“Over time, especially through the programme, I’ve learned to harness more emotion through the brush. My themes have become more introspective and representative as opposed to being traditional scenery. I want my art to throw your mind on a loop and show you

something different every time you see it,” he said.

His technique and execution have improved as well, as he has grown more comfortable with his style.

“Being in proximity to so many different artists, all of whom support each other, showed me that there was a big world out there and staying true to yourself is more important than comparing your attributes to others,” he said.

William submitted two pieces of work for the exhibition.

“My pieces ‘Keep Movin’ and ‘The Rush’ both have themes of Junkanoo incorporated within them. While this is not the only style I do,

I knew it would stand out with its Bahamian themes and represent myself in the most straightforward way. People like to move to these foreign countries and change their accents and dilute their Bahamian identity... I say let it scream.”

William said he draws inspiration from a variety of sources.

“As far as artistic influences go, no major, world- renowned names come to mind in particular. I’ve always considered myself to have a creative imagination, even in my days as a youth drawing on paper in church,” he said.

“It’s really my surroundings that truly inspire me.

Considering everything you look at has been designed by someone, art is our entire world. I’ve always just enjoyed being around other artists, from my days in Sonia Isaacs’ art class all the way up until college.”

And as he continues on his professional journey, he said highlighting Bahamian culture will always be important to him.

“It honestly sickens me the way our great country is overlooked and unrecognised by other societies outside of our own. When you visit other countries, if you talk to a good amount of people about the Bahamas, you’ll realise that people don’t know anything about

us other than the stereotypes they’ve conjured in their head,” he said.

“Not only do most people think it’s one island, people hardly know the thousands of talented Bahamians who have made an impact all around the world.

“As far as art goes, I’ve personally seen numerous Bahamian artists with a great amount of talent but with little opportunity to flourish as a successful artist on a larger scale. It’s nice to realise that the world is much bigger than our 700 islands and cays and we should utilise this to the best of our abilities.”

WILLIAM Knowles at his college’s graduation exhibition in Ontario, Canada, with two pieces of work, “The Rush” and “Keep Moving”.

Reggae superstar Maxi Priest is ready to party in the Bahamas this weekend

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

GRAMMY Award-winning music artist Maxi Priest said he “cannot wait” to perform at Super Club Breezes tomorrow, as there is always something special about Bahamian audiences.

The British singer of Jamaican descent is performing as part of Survival Weekend 2023 and will bring his unique style of smooth reggae fusion to the stage.

The three-day event, designed to test revellers’ endurance ahead of the Bahamas Carnival next month, promises to offer lots of fun, food, and of course, entertainment.

Presented by Alpha Sounds Promotions, the event will bring a cross section of local and regional acts to the stage, from soca to rake n’ scrape.

Following tonight’s “We Fete” event featuring dancehall sensation Ding Dong, Maxi Priest will be the main attraction for Saturday’s “Revive Tropical Day Party”, which takes place from 4pm to 11pm.

Speaking with Tribune Weekend, Maxi Priest said it’s been a long time since his last performance in the Bahamas and he is truly looking forward to putting on a great show.

“It’s always a pleasure to perform for the Bahamian people, as they always show me so much love. I’ve travelled the world, but there is something special in the Bahamas. It’s been quite a while since I’ve performed (here) and I can’t wait. Let’s have some fun,” he said.

“As always, I put my heart and soul into what I do and will be giving you the best of me. Music is my life.”

Maxi’s last visit to the Bahamas was a philanthropic trip. He along with City of Miramar Commissioner Maxwell B Chambers, City of Miramar Legislative Aide Sharon Christie and Sonless Martin, president of Collaborative Consulting Group, sponsored a visit to Grand Bahama to participate in Hurricane Dorian relief efforts.

During the visit, they distributed food, water and first aid items to the Bahamas Red Cross Society. Afterwards, they went directly into the communities, going door-to-door, visiting with residents who were hardest hit by Dorian, meeting and encouraging them and leaving them with much needed supplies

and food items. Sev eral residents received generators.

ott, known by his stage name Maxi Priest, who sings reggae music with an R&B influence, was one of the first international artists to have success in this genre, and one of the most successful reggae fusion acts of all time.

In 1984, Maxi made history after he and Paul “Barry Boom” Robinson produced Philip Levi’s “Mi God Mi King, the first UK reggae song to reach number one in Jamaica. His 1988 album “Maxi”, was recorded in Jamaica with legendary musicians Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare and Willie

Splash Cooler Fete with music

Kannon, DJ Fresh. All activities take place on Breezes’ grounds.

Trevor Davis of Alpha Sounds Promotions said Survival Weekend focuses on electrifying performances.

They added the day party to the Survival Weekend lineup, he explained, because they wanted to offer something new and provide patrons with a more relaxed event among all the excitement.

“It’s always a pleasure to perform for the Bahamian people, as they showalways me so much love.”

MAXI Priest

Landlord

This award-winning gospel artist is attempting to bridge the distance between the Caribbean and Africa by making creative connections that span thousands of miles and continents. He tells Cara Hunt about his recent tour to Uganda and Kenya, and bringing African music back to the Bahamas.

Singer Landlord has been on a roll recently. Not only is he the determined to help bridge the distance between the Caribbean and Africa when it comes to Christian music, but he is also featured in a new motivational book about men who have overcome difficulties.

The Christian artist recently returned home from an “amazing” Nations of Africa trip to Uganda and Kenya, where he performed with fellow artists Mel Holder, Pastor Jumu Grant and Dangarii Muzio.

Mel Holder is an American multi-talented Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award-nominated artist, composer, arranger, saxophonist, author and pastor.

Jumu Grant is a praise and worship leader who resides in Edmonton, Alberta. He hails from Trinidad and Tobago and from a family of ministers.

Danagarii Muzio is a well-known dancehall gospel artist from Kenya.

Landlord explained that the trip was an opportunity not just to perform for an African fanbase, but also to network with members of the music industry in that part of the world. The Nations of Africa trip featured church concerts, TV and radio appearances.

“We did a media tour with ten networks, doing interviews to promote our artists on this side of the world,” he explained.

The tour was called PlayHouse International 23. In addition to the media stints, Landlord and

his fellow artists also held a number of concerts throughout both countries to large and enthusiastic crowds.

One of the highlights of the trip, he said, was a visit to a Ugandan orphanage.

He also got the opportunity to minister to young men in what he described was a very poverty-stricken area.

“It was not the safest area to be in; really the heart of the ghetto, and we had been warned not to wear jewellery or anything too flashy, and we had to get reinforcements to go in with us. But it was a very good experience; amazing and a bit scary all at once. We were able to speak to the young men about finding and using their gifts to live a good life,” he said.

“People in Africa are very much aware of this region’s gospel music and the performers. There is a fanbase for this music there. Everywhere we went we were treated so well.”

Landlord has done his part to increase this exposure with his international Caribbean African American Gospel Music Video Countdown (CAAG), which is played all around the world.

During the show, Landlord counts down ten of the world-leading gospel music videos.

But he wants to do more to be a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean.

“There is a lot of interest in Africa for Caribbean music, and African music has always been a huge influence for musicians all over the world. So, my aim is to build a bridge between the East and the West,” he said.

Landlord is already planning next year’s visit and hopes to take along some Bahamian gospel artists.

“I definitely want to do more collaborations and take more Bahamians over there to perform. A lot of Bahamian performers want the opportunity to get off this rock and perform overseas, and you know that they say that a prophet is without honour in his home town,” he said.

“African music is really big around the world right now in Christian and in secular music. It has really taken off, and I know that Bahamian artists are interested in how that can be added to their work.”

Landlord is also excited about the release of a new book that he is featured in.

The book is called “The Heart of a Black Man – Inspiring Stories of Triumph and Resilience”. It was compiled by Telishia Berry, the publisher of Courageous Woman magazine.

The book is described as “a compelling anthology that provides a resounding voice to the

this weekend in history

April 28

• In 1789, the famous mutiny on the Bounty takes place. Three weeks into a journey from Tahiti to the West Indies, disaffected crewmen seize control of the ship from their captain, Lieutenant William Bligh, and set him and 18 loyalists adrift in the ship’s open launch. The mutineers

experience of Black men who have faced significant adversity.”

“Throughout history, systemic injustices, racism and discrimination have resulted in a range of obstacles that impacted the lives and well-being of Black men. ‘The Heart of a Black Man’ offers a message of hope and empowerment and shares the personal stories of resilience, perseverance and triumph of Black men from the United States and other (countries) including Jamaica and the Bahamas.”

variously settled on Tahiti or on Pitcairn Island.

• In 1967, at the height of the Vietnam War, American boxer Muhammad Ali refuses induction into the US Army, citing religious reasons. He is immediately stripped of his heavyweight title. His subsequent conviction was eventually overturned by the US Supreme Court.

April 29

• In 1429, France’s national heroine, 17-year-old Joan of Arc, and her troops enter city of Orléans, which was besieged by English forces during the Hundred Years’ War.

In the book, Landlord shares his own journey of growing up in poverty and the challenges he faced when he discovered that the man who raised him was not his biological father. He also details his rise to fame as an award-winning gospel artist and syndicated music show host.

“The publicist of the book reached out to me to ask if I would be willing to be a part of the book, which is really about triumph over adversity and I was just really honoured to be featured,” he said. “The Heart of a Black Man” is now available on Amazon.

Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. Some 1,900 guests attend the ceremony.

April 30

• In 1897, English physicist Sir Joseph John Thomson announces he has discovered the electron, the first subatomic particle to be discovered. The discovery helped revolutionise the knowledge of atomic structure.

• In 2011, Prince William of Wales, second in line to the British throne, marries his longtime girlfriend Kate

• In 1945, Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler commits suicide in an underground bunker in Berlin by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM BLIGH, captain of HMS Bounty

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

1 Ozone’s remarkably conducive to sleep (6)

4 Death by hanging (8)

9 Bay - and yet not bay perhaps (6)

10 Account by a young person should be reliable (8)

12 Track of a bird (4)

13 She gives a refusal if rebuffed apparently (5)

14 Colour one goes when quietly getting a wrong cue? (4)

17 Experts on current problems (12)

20 It has the military stamp on it (6,6)

23 Approve of American fashion (4)

24 Highly demanding (5)

25 Cover or uncover (4)

28 Furniture designer another’s out to get (8)

29 A sign of twins (6)

30 It slowly moves to the centre to get up outside (8)

31 The old witch leads the soldiers to the pudding (6)

123

910

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Down

1 Shocking bounders caused perjury to be committed (8)

2 Stranger dismissed - rides off (8)

3 An element of jazz in classical music (4)

5 Not given a thought except by the United Nations? (12)

6 Honest expression of agreement (4)

7 Early airman who became unstuck (6)

8 First in school we study part of Scandinavia (6)

11 Courtesies heard in court (5,7)

15 Street light is made to go off (5)

16 The sentry lost his head going in (5)

18 As it grows up it grows down (8)

19 Said and done in making a complaint (8)

21 Drink concession given up by firm (6)

22 Rush into a job for life (6)

26 Turn up the gas ring to cook it (4)

27 Nominally she gets five years (4)

Across

Across: 1 Tagus, 4 Fretful, 8 Tub, 9 All the way, 10 Nettles, 11 Usual, 13 Creepy, 15 Attain, 18 Minor, 19 Asphalt, 21 Fall short, 23 Nab, 24 Impulse, 25 Pithy.

Down: 1 Titanic, 2 Go-between, 3 Shawl, 4 Folksy, 5 Exhaust, 6 Few, 7 Loyal, 12 Up against, 14 Parasol, 16 Notably, 17 Parole, 18 Mufti, 20 Put up, 22 Lip.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Divan, 4 Dictate, 8 Mar, 9 Paper clip, 10 Scarlet, 11 Limey, 13 Evince, 15 Stated, 18 Piece, 19 Flights, 21 Soup plate, 23 Ore, 24 Retinue, 25 Laden.

Down: 1 Demesne, 2 Versatile, 3 Nepal, 4 Depots, 5 Corslet, 6 Awl, 7 Empty, 12 Matchwood, 14 Cheapen, 16 Discern, 17 Aflame, 18 Poser, 20 Ideal, 22 Ult.

EASY PUZZLE

1 Innumerable (6)

4 Be conspicuous (5,3)

9 Inappropriate jocularity (6)

10 Worrying problem (8)

12 A raised platform (4)

13 Punctuation mark (5)

14 Goad to action (4)

17 Portable two-way radio (6-6)

20 To dupe (4,3,1,4)

23 Source (4)

24 So far (2,3)

25 Begin to be active (4)

28 Marihuana (8)

29 Inconstant (6)

30 Long-term plan (8)

31 Reparation (6)

registered (5)

26 He’s in a whirl (4)

27 Socialist scheme to get alien on Mars (3,6)

L R S C G I E E A

20 A pain, taking pressure from tribe (6)

23 Article in favour of new protective gear (5)

2 Waste, 3 Leer, 4 Author, 5 Recovery, 6 Chagrin, 7 Temperamental, 12 Indolent, 13 Stamina, 15 Missed, 18 Adept, 19 Flat.

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid number represents a letter – or black square. As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. The grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down.

Solution tomorrow

Down

1 Rapid disastrous collapse (8)

2 Military waking signal (8)

3 Opposed to (4)

5 Globally (3,5,4)

6 Give up possession of (4)

7 Be tenant of (6)

8 Speculative view (6)

11 On request (3,3,6)

15 Concluding (5)

16 A pale purple (5)

18 Erroneous (8)

19 Unrivalled (8)

21 Plant of iris family (6)

22 Skilled worker in wood (6)

26 Treaty (4)

27 Steady (4)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here?

In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in S permitted’.

TODAY’S

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

2585

BATTLESHIPS

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow

poMpoSity impost miso moist moot mopy most omit oops pomp POMPOSITY poop popsy posit post posy soot sooty soppy spot stomp stoop stop topi tops typo

targEt thE alphapuzzl across: Cute, Yield, Clock, Trowel, Filter, Phial, Inspect, down: Capacity, Ovation, Junkie, Zodiac, Foyer, Liege, Gods,

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator

for your favourite Bahamas Carnival Rising Star!

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

JUDGES of the Bahamas Carnival Rising Star had a difficult time sifting through 100 submissions to decide which artists would make the semi-finals of the competition.

But after an intense selection process, the 13 semi-finalists have been unveiled.

Bahamian music artists will have a chance to win the opportunity of a lifetime by participating in the Rising Star competition, aimed at finding the next “big thing”.

Among other fantastic prizes, the winner will get the opportunity to create a song with an international recording artist. The winner will be crowned on Saturday, May 19, during a live event

According to Jamal Mortimer, Polantra Media representative, Rising Star received an overwhelming response from musicians this year.

“The competition is receiving great support from the local artists. We have received nearly 100 submissions to date. We stand behind each artist and are truly proud of the talent expressed in this competition,” he said.

Even though the competition is held during the Carnival season, the committee encourages and accepts submissions representing all music genres created by Bahamians, ensuring a rich and varied representation of the country’s musical landscape.

For the competition, Mr Mortimer said, judges were looking for specific elements like originality, diction, intonation, vocal quality, rhythmic interpretation, and whether “the music grooves naturally” or if it feels

platform and our support,” said Mr Mortimer.

The semi-finalists are: Dia, Judah Tha Lion (who has two songs in the competition), Trippla, Leoneisha, Carrington McKenzie, Pricklebush, Dale Knowles, Cedric Cartwright, Ilsha, Nishie LS, Maradonna, Ron Jon Jovi and Baja.

Mr Mortimer said now that Bahamas Carnival is back in full swing this year, the committee would have been remiss not to bring back the Rising Star competition.

“When we first launched the initiative back in 2019, we received great support from the local artists. The quality of songs, in our opinion, could compete on the international level,” he said.

Trevor Davis of Polantra Media Group added: “The decision to keep the song competition alive for Bahamas Carnival 2023 highlights the committee’s dedication to nurturing and promoting local talent. This year’s Carnival promises to be a spectacular celebration of music, culture and community, and the Rising Star competition will be an integral part of the festivities.”

“unintentionally halting, stumbling, forced, rushed or dragging.”

“Because of such great submissions, this competition has become that much harder to judge,” he said.

For the semifinalists, there will be a series of

events leading up to the finals.

“Radio, event appearances and social media voting will all be a part of the journey to selecting the finalist. Our aim is to help the artist to become more aware of their areas for growth as we provide the

The top seven songs from the Rising Star competition will be selected through a combination of crowd voting (25 percent), committee evaluation (50 percent), and radio and DJ voting (25 percent). The finalists will then have the opportunity to perform live on the Bahamas Carnival stage and compete for the grand prize of $10,000.

The committee’s intent is to have the winner of this year’s competition collaborate with an international soca artist.

The public is encouraged to participate in the voting process and support their favourite artists as they vie for a chance to be named the Bahamas’s next Rising Star. To vote, visit www.carnivalbahamas.com.

Deciduous trees for environmental health

Good day, gardeners. Spring has sprung, and one way to know this is by looking at the native deciduous trees that have been shedding their foliage as they transition into another years’ growth cycle.

Deciduous trees are those that shed their leaves annually in response to seasonal changes, and they play a vital role in maintaining the biodiversity of the islands.

One of the most prominent deciduous trees in the Bahamas is the wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum). This tree can grow up to 30 metres tall and is found throughout the islands, particularly in the dry scrublands. Height

varies depending on many factors, rainfall, soil depth, wind, salt spray, or lack thereof the preceding, can all inhibit or encourage growth.

The wild tamarind is a valuable food source for many species of wildlife, including birds. The tree produces long, slender pods that contain sweet, edible seeds that are consumed by the Bahama woodstar hummingbird and the great lizard cuckoo. The wild tamarind also provides shelter and nesting sites for birds such as the Bahama mockingbird and the Cuban pewee.

Another important deciduous plant in the Bahamas is the pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) which when left to grow can take on the appearance of a small tree. The pigeon pea provides

an important habitat for several species of wildlife, as well as being food for our tables. The pigeon pea produces small, edible fruits that are consumed by birds such as the white-crowned pigeon and the smooth-billed ani. The tree also provides shelter and nesting sites for birds such as the mangrove cuckoo and the northern mockingbird, from what I read. This I cannot verify for myself. I’ll throw it in there anyway, maybe somewhere this is true, certainly not for cultivated garden patches or fields.

The gumbo limbo or gumelemi tree (Bursera simaruba) is another deciduous tree found in the Bahamas. This tree is known for its distinctive red bark, which peels off in strips to reveal a smooth, green bark underneath. The gumbo limbo tree provides an important habitat for a range of wildlife, including birds and insects.. The tree produces small, red fruits that are eaten by birds such as the West Indian woodpecker and the Bahama swallowtail butterfly. The gumbo limbo tree also provides shelter and nesting sites for birds such as the mangrove warbler and the white-crowned pigeon. In the bush, where there is a poison wood tree (Metopium toxiferum) usually very close by there will be one or more gumelemi trees. The peeled bark of the gumelemi can reduce the reaction of human contact with poison wood.

The buttonwood tree (Conocarpus erectus) is another deciduous tree found in the Bahamas, although generally less so than the aforementioned. This tree is commonly found along the coasts of the islands as well as near swamps and marsh areas, mangrove habitats and beach dunes, and provides important habitat for a range of marine and terrestrial wildlife. The buttonwood tree produces small, green fruits that are consumed by birds such as the brown pelican and the red-winged blackbird. The tree also provides shelter and nesting sites for birds such as the mangrove cuckoo and the yellow warbler.

In addition to providing important habitats for wildlife, deciduous trees in the Bahamas also play an important

role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem. Deciduous trees help to prevent erosion and maintain the quality of the soil, which is crucial for the survival of other plants and animals. The leaf debris that falls each year eventually adds to the soil base as it decomposes. Deciduous trees also provide shade and reduce the amount of heat absorbed by the soil, which helps to regulate the temperature and moisture levels of the surrounding environment.

Unfortunately, many deciduous trees in the Bahamas are threatened by development, climate change, and invasive species. Development and land use change can lead to the destruction of important habitats, while invasive species such as the Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and the Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia) compete with native vegetation for resources. Climate change also poses a threat, as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can impact the survival of deciduous trees and the wildlife that relies on them.

All of these trees play an important role in the ecosystems in which they exist, and in my opinion, ought to be used as often as possible in the cultivated landscape. For the most part, they need no care to establish, and as with any tree, benefit from selective pruning in the landscape setting. I’ve been mentioning native plant material lately, it is important to me and highly valuable in the landscape. If clearing a parcel of land, please leave some native trees, for the benefit of all creatures, great and small. As always, I wish you happy gardening.

• Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at Fox Hill Nursery on Bernard Road. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@ gmail.com.

WILD tamarind

American rapper Meek Mill wants to open a music school in the Bahamas

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

Rapper Meek Mill recently caught the attention of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis after he made a tweet expressing his interest in investing in the Bahamas.

The rapper tweeted on Wednesday: “I want to build a music school in the Bahamas and teach them how to record and set up small studios the way we do in America.”

He asked his 11 million followers: “Who can connect me with the prime minister?”

Prime Minister Davis responded that same day to the tweet, saying, “Our administration is always open to discussing ways to advance our orange economy, invest

in Bahamians and empower our young people.”

The 35-year-old rapper is known for hits such as “Going Bad”, “Dreams and Nightmares”, “Sharing Locations”, “R.I.C.O” and “All Eyes on You”.

He dated fellow rapper Nicki Minaj in 2015 for two years before they broke up amidst claims of abuse by both parties.

Meek Mill is no stranger to the Bahamas, having previously posted photos of visiting the islands to his social media pages.

In 2021, Meek together with fellow superstar rappers Drake and Lil Baby, NBA player James Harden and Fanatics mogul Michael Rubin, hit up a high-stakes baccarat table at the Baha Mar Casino. Lil Baby said he lost $600,000 gambling.

Darling. “Peter Pan & Wendy” arrives on Disney+ today.

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— Filmmaker David Lowery (“The Green Knight,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”) brought a lyrical magic and a quiet sweetness to his remake of “Pete’s Dragon” and now is trying his hand at a live action take on the Peter Pan story. He follows in footsteps of people like Steven Spielberg (“Hook,” 1991), Joe Wright (“Pan,” 2015) and Benh Zeitlin (“Wendy,” 2020), some of whom struggled more than others in their attempt to capture the high flying adventure of the JM Barrie tale that we can’t seem to quit. The cast includes Jude Law as Captain Hook, Yara Shahidi as Tinker Bell, Jim Gaffigan as Mr Smee and Alan Tudyk as George

— Forget what you think you know about the music documentary. Brett Morgen, who did wonders with the Kurt Cobain story in “Montage of Heck,” rewrites the cliché script for his David Bowie doc “Moonage Daydream,” debuting on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday. He eschews the typical talking head format and a traditional narrator for something more experiential, allowing the viewer to immerse themselves in the music and the David Bowie experience. As AO Scott wrote in the New York Times, “it’s less a biography than a séance.”

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— Smokey Robinson’s new album “Gasms” finds the 83-year-old in a frisky mood, with the Motown icon writing a collection for the bedroom. There is yearning across its nine tracks and just a few titles alone hint at that: “Beside You,” “I Wanna Know Your Body” and “How You Make Me Feel.” The album has a bit of old and new. He admits it’s his most blatantly sexy

collection and that jumps out with the title track, in which he tells his lover “You give me gasms.” The album is out today.

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

NEW TELEVISION TO STREAM

— In the new National Geographic limited series, “A Small Light,” Bel Powley plays Miep Gies, who along with her husband, helped to hide Anne Frank’s family among others during World War II. “When (Anne’s father) Otto Frank asked her if she would help hide his family, she said yes right away, (with) no hesitation,” co-executive producer and writer Joan Rater told the AP in a recent interview. Liev

Schreiber plays Otto in the series and Billie Boullet portrays Anne. “A Small Light” debuts Monday, May 1 on National Geographic and will stream on Disney+ the following day.

— Alicia Rancilio

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

— Cal Kestis, the protagonist of Electronic Arts’ 2019 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, was on a mission to rebuild the gang after they got purged by Darth Vader. With the help of developer Respawn Entertainment, Cal also managed to revive a franchise that had gone dormant, at least in the video game arena. He’s back for more in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. The poor dude’s still on the run, but he has mad lightsaber skills, some nifty Force tricks and a spunky droid named BD-1. Will Cal wreak vengeance on Vader? No, that’s Luke Skywalker’s job. But EA is promising that Survivor will deliver plenty more of the interplanetary exploration and challenging saber-swinging combat that made Fallen Order a hit. The Force reawakens today on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

— Lou Kesten

New this week: David Bowie, ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ and Smokey

MEEK Mill (AP Photo)

YARA Shahidi as Tinker Bell

literary lives - Robin Williams (1951 - 2014)

One of the greatest comedians of all time

Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the American actor known for his improvisational skills and the array of characters he created, which caused him to be regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time.

“It’s a brutal field. They burn you out. It takes its toll. Plus, the lifestyle – playing, drinking, drugs. If you’re on the road, it’s even more brutal. You gotta come back down … and then performing takes you back up.”

– Robin Williams

Robin McLaurin Williams was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, on July 21, 1951.

His father was a senior executive in the Ford Motor Company, and his mother a former model from Jackson, Mississippi. He credits his mother as an important early influence on his humour. He tried to make her laugh to get her attention.

Williams attended Gorton Elementary School in Lake Forest, and middle school at Deer Path Junior High School. He was a quiet child who did not overcome his shyness until he became involved with high school drama.

In 1963, when he was 12, his father was transferred to Detroit, where they lived in a 40-room farmhouse on 20 acres in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. There, he was a student at the private Detroit Country Day School. He was on the school wrestling team and was elected class president.

Williams was raised by the family’s maid as both his parents worked. When he was 16, his father retired and moved to Tiburon, California, where Williams went to Redwood High School. After high school, he

went to Claremont Men’s College to study political science, but dropped out to pursue acting. He studied theatre for three years at the College of Marin in Kentfield, California.

In 1973, Williams got a full scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York City. He was one of 20 students accepted into the freshman class along with Christopher Reeve. William Hurt and Mandy Patinkin were also classmates. Williams and Reeve had a class in dialects taught by Edith Skinner. Skinner was bewildered by Williams’s ability to instantly perform different accents. Williams was a human dynamo and had a reputation for being funny. His critics were silenced after he played an old man in Tennessee William’s Night of the Iguana.

“He simply was the old man. I was astonished by his work and very grateful that fate had thrown us together.”

The two remained close friends until Reeve’s death in 2004.

During the summers of 1974, 1975 and 1976 Williams worked as a busboy at The Trident Hotel in Sausalito, California. He left Juilliard in 1976 at the suggestion of John Houseman who said there was nothing more that Juilliard could teach him. No one was surprised that he left.

Williams began performing standup comedy in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1976. He gave his first performance at the Holy City Zoo, a comedy club, where he worked his way up from tending bar. In the 1960s San Francisco was the centre for rock music renaissance, hippies, drugs, and a sexual revolution. Williams says he found out about drugs and happiness during that period.

“I saw the best brains of my time turned to mud.”

Williams moved to Los Angeles in 1977 and continued performing at stand-up clubs, including The Comedy Store. TV producer George Schlatter saw him there and asked him to appear on a revival of his show, Laugh-In, which aired in late 1977 and was his debut TV appearance. He also performed a show at the LA Improv for Home Box Office. This was the start of his television career, despite the failure of the Laugh-In revival. He continued to perform stand-up at comedy clubs such as the Roxy. In England Williams performed at The Fighting Cocks.

Williams rose to fame playing the alien Mork in the ABC sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978-1982), and began to reach a wider audience in the late 1970s and 1980s, including three HBO comedy specials: Off The Wall (1978), An Evening with Robin Williams (1983), and A Night at the Met (1986). He won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for the recording of his live Copacabana

show (1979) in New York City, Reality … What a Concept.

Williams admitted that he used drugs and alcohol early in his career because of the stress caused by performing, but neither drank nor used drugs while performing.

Critics such as Vincent Canby were concerned that Williams’s monologues were so intense that it seemed as though his creative process could reverse into a complete meltdown.

Williams’s biographer Emily Herbert described his intense, utterly manic style of stand-up which “defies analysis … going beyond energetic, beyond frenetic … and sometimes dangerous because of what it said about the creator’s own mental state.”

Williams felt secure that he would never run out of ideas as world events were constantly changing. He improvised the association of ideas to keep his audience interested. Some comedians even accused Williams of stealing their jokes. He

– Christopher Reeve

– Robin Williams

later avoided going to other comedians’ performances to avoid similar accusations.

His stand-up work was a consistent thread throughout his career, as seen by the success of his one-man show Robin Williams: Live on Broadway (2002).

In 2006, he was voted as being among Comedy Central’s list of “100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time”. In August 2008 he announced a 26-city tour Weapons of Self-Destruction which began in September 2009 and ended in New York on December 3, and was the subject of an HBO Special on December 8, 2009.

Williams’s characterisation of the alien Mork in Mork & Mindy, which co-starred Pam Dawber, was the catalyst for his enduring television career. At its peak it had a weekly audience of 60 million and turned Williams into a superstar. He improvised much of his dialogue speaking in a high nasal voice. The show was such a success that Williams appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The cover photo was taken by Michael Dressler and captured both the humorous and thoughtful sides of his character.

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Williams began to reach a much wider audience with his standup comedy: three HBO comedy specials Off the Wall (1978), An Evening with Robin Williams (1983), and A Night at the Met (1986). He co-hosted the 58th Academy Awards in 1986, and was a regular guest on talk shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman.

He appeared with fellow comedian Billy Crystal in a cameo in Friends, and an episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway? He starred in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and in 2006 was the surprise guest at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. He appeared with Robert De Niro on Saturday Night Live in 2010, and starred in a new series The Crazy Ones (2013) which was cancelled after one season.

Although he had a small part in the film Can I Do It …’Til I Need Glasses? in 1977, his first starring

role was in Popeye (1980). He starred in The World According to Garp (1982), and had smaller roles in The Survivors (1983) and Club Paradiso (1986). His first major film career break came in Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. He improvised most of his lines and played the role of a radio commentator without a script.

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), Hook (1991), The Fisher King (1991), and Good Will Hunting (1997), were some of his film roles.

Other dramatic roles played by Williams in film included Moscow on the Hudson (1984), Dead Again (1991), Hamlet (1996), What Dreams May Come (1998), Jakob the Liar (1999), and Bicentennial Man (1999). In Insomnia (2002) he played a murderer on the run against Al Pacino, and One Hour Photo where he played a photo development technician. He also appeared in The Final Cut (2004), and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014), which was the last film to be released while he was still alive.

Williams earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Good Will Hunting (1997), and Academy Award nominations for Dead Poets Society (1989) and The Fisher King (1991).

He starred in five movies in 2006, including Man of the Year and The Night Listener. Four films were released after the actor died in 2014: Night at the Museum; A Merry Friggin’ Christmas; Boulevard; and Absolutely Anything.

Robin Williams had a problem with alcohol and cocaine for most of his life. He was married three times: to Valerie Velardi (1978-1988), Marsha Garces (1989-2010), and

Susan Schneider (2011). He had one child, a son, with Velardi, and two with Garces. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, he battled an addiction to cocaine. He quit drugs and alcohol in 1983 and turned to exercise and cycling to alleviate his depression. He started drinking again in 2005, and in 2006 checked himself into a substance-abuse rehabilitation centre in Newberg, Oregon, admitting to alcoholism. He never returned to using cocaine, but acknowledged his failure to maintain sobriety. In mid-2014, Williams again admitted himself into the Hazelden Foundation Addiction Treatment Centre in Centre City, Minnesota for treatment for alcoholism.

In March 2009, Williams was hospitalised for heart problems and had an operation at the Cleveland Clinic to replace his aortic valve, repair his mitral valve, and correct his irregular heartbeat The successful operation was completed on March 13, 2009.

His wife Susan Schneider stated that after they were married, in the period before his death, Williams had been sober but was seriously depressed and was diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson’s disease. A later 2014 autopsy revealed that this was a misdiagnosis, and that he had diffuse Lewy Body Disease, which included a spike in fear, anxiety, stress and insomnia.

Williams was found dead in his home in Paradise Cay, California on August 11, 2014. The final autopsy report, released in November 2014, concluded that Williams’s death was suicide resulting from “asphyxia due to hanging”.

“Robin was losing his mind and he was aware of it … Depression is a symptom of LBD and it’s not about psychology … His brain was falling apart.”

– Susan Schneider, 2014

Robin Williams was cremated at Monte’s Chapel of the Hills in San Anselmo, and his ashes scattered over San Francisco Bay on August 24, 2014.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia.

WILLIAMS with Christopher Reeve, with whom he attended Julliard

WILLIAMS in the popular 1970s TV show ‘Mork & Mindy’ – a spinoff from Happy Days

Shakespeare’s First Folio turns 400: what would be lost without the collection?

By Emma Smith Professor of Shakespeare Studies, University of Oxford

(THE CONVERSATION) It has been 400 years since the publication of the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, a volume now known as the First Folio. Prepared by his fellow actors after his death, the book presented 36 plays divided into the genres of comedy, history and tragedy.

Without it, 18 of Shakespeare’s plays that had not previously been printed would have been lost, among them Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night and The Tempest. No “friends, Romans and countrymen”, no “brave new world”, no “double, double toil and trouble”.

But what would really be different if this book had never been printed at all?

Most significantly, there wouldn’t be the cultural icon we know as “Shakespeare”. Those works that do survive would be scattered across numerous flimsy early editions, rather than gathered in this imposing and serious volume.

Without the weight – cultural as well as literal – of the collected edition, it’s possible few would care about these surviving plays. Something similar happened to other playwrights of the period, whose work was not given the authority of a collection.

We’d also have an idea of Shakespeare as more interested in histories and comedies than tragedies. Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, Julius Caesar and Timon of Athens would be lost without the First Folio.

Since some of these early editions did not name Shakespeare on their title pages, the authorship of plays such as Romeo and Juliet, Titus Andronicus and Henry V would be uncertain. Conversely, title pages identify Shakespeare as the author of The London Prodigal (1605) and A Yorkshire Tragedy (1608), which most modern scholars do not attribute to Shakespeare. In part this is due to the fact that they are not included in the First Folio. Without it, the canon of Shakespeare’s plays would have decisively shifted.

This different canon would have prompted a different historical response. The convenience and ready availability of the First Folio as a repository for Shakespeare’s plays was a significant practical factor in getting him back into the theatres when they reopened at the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.

This large collection of Shakespeare’s works took up visible space on the shelf. Had he not come back into prominence at that important moment – and had the newly revived theatre

looked elsewhere for their dramatic scripts –Shakespeare’s reputation might well have been permanently lost.

If Shakespeare had not been revived in the later 17th century, it is hard to see how he would have become the national poet during the 18th. No statue in Poets’ corner, no arguments between the literary figures of the day about the best way to edit his plays.

Shakespeare’s international reputation

This much-depleted Shakespeare would hardly have galvanised outrage about the sale of his Stratford birthplace in the 19th century.

Perhaps modern Stratford-upon-Avon would now simply mark its playwright son with a blue plaque (rather as Shakespeare’s writing partner John Fletcher is remembered in his hometown of Rye). There would be no birthday parade, no Othello taxi firm, no tourist industry. No one would care if his wife, Anne Hathaway, had a cottage.

Without the First Folio there would be no dedicated Shakespeare theatre in Stratford, or at Shakespeare’s Globe on Bankside. There would be no Shakespeare festivals around the world, such as that in Stratford, Ontario. In fact, Stratford, Ontario, named in the 19th century for Shakespeare’s hometown, would now have a different name entirely, as would Stratfords in Ohio, Connecticut, Wisconsin, New Jersey and in New Zealand and Australia.

Halloween would be quite different without Macbeth, which popularised a trio of witches around a cauldron performing a spell. Valentine cliches of romantic love are unthinkable without the popularity of Romeo and Juliet. No sporting fixture between England and France would reach for the lines about Agincourt from Henry V.

A Shakespeare reduced in national prestige would not have been sufficiently prominent to be translated. Without German Shakespeare, we might never have had Freud’s version of the Oedipus complex, which he understood through his reading of Hamlet.

Karl Marx would not have conceptualised his theory of capital via Timon of Athens. And translations around the world – into more than 100 languages – would not have established Shakespeare as a global author.

There are other, more serious consequences of this fancy. Colonial rule in India would not have relied on Shakespearean study as the central text of empire. Othello’s murder of Desdemona might not have left its long shadow of prejudice about interracial marriage.

Perhaps the Confederate actor John Wilkes Booth would not have shot Abraham Lincoln at DC’s Ford’s Theatre, in April 1865 since he wouldn’t have been steeped in the role of the assassin Brutus in Julius Caesar.

The First Folio’s after-effects are far reaching indeed, touching fields of human psychology and geopolitics as well as literature, culture and theatre. No First Folio means no Shakespeare. And, whether you enjoy his works or not, that’s a hard reality to imagine.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https:// theconversation.com

THE TITLE page of the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays.

Lizard love

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

Ijust love lizards! I love seeing them on the fence, running across the grass, on the wall at night, basking in the golden glow of the lights that attract a feast of delectable insects to satisfy any hungry lizard’s empty tummy. Here in the Bahamas, we have quite a selection of these enchanting little creatures with short stubby legs, long beguiling tails, and inquisitive little faces.

Since we moved to a house in an area where there is quite a large amount of undeveloped land nearby – in other words, bush – I have noticed that we are graced with so many more lizards or varying shapes, sizes and colours.

One of my frequent visitors, or perhaps resident, I see him so often, is my curly-tailed lizard friend. He invariably greets me down by my garden path, looking a bit sheepish, I think, because I believe I catch him sunbathing on the smooth concrete of the walkway. I always feel sad for this splendoured, busy little fellow because he is always alone.

The is the consummate bachelor (or perhaps he was a home full of baby curly tails and he is seeking some quiet in my peaceful back garden). He needs to watch out though, because I have a very large Gaulin who calls my garden home, as does a small flock of ibis who I write about frequently.

Wikipedia tells me that my curlytailed lizard is actually a Little Bahama curly-tailed lizard and is a subspecies of the northern curlytailed lizard, and was previously endemic to the Bahama Islands, but was intentionally introduced to other islands. In fact, he was originally found only on Grand Bahama Island and in the Abacos, but was released intentionally in Palm Beach, Florida in the 1940s. The curly tail has since spread, and now lives widely in southern Florida in addition to many places in Bahamas, including my garden.

He has the persona of a dinosaur, and scampers around the garden with a very important demeanor.

Then we have the Bahamian anole (also known as the brown anole). They are sleek little fellows; the race car of the lizard world. They are as quick as lightning and dash at a flash at an unsuspecting mosquito who took a second too long near the speediest of them all. How sad it makes me to see them for sale at PetSmart for a mere $7.99.

The anole likes to live in trees. He climbs and jumps; he needs space and plants to be fully happy.

The anole is a pretty territorial guy and likes to keep his ladies to himself. If you see a gathering of them, it is probably one gentleman surrounded by adoring ladies.

Welcome to the Smoke show

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

Where there’s Smoke, there’s... hopefully you! Ready to adopt this two-year-old female potcake who had a blast during the Saturday dog walk this past weekend?

Smoke’s friendly with other dogs, might even be OK with cats. She’s trying to overcome heartworm, so

My favourite feature of the Bahamian anole it that he can gradually change colour from bright green to brown, yellow or gray, depending on the temperature, humidity and his mood. I love it when they are in their bright green mode… it is the most vibrant green, almost chartreuse. My back terrace is a gathering spot for the anoles. y dogs ignore them, and the conferences entail hours of lizard sunbathing interspaced by mad dashes in random directions.

My third regulars are a family of tropical house geckos. These nonnative geckos can easily be seen at night as they spend all their time on the walls of houses very near the lights. As they are nocturnal geckos,

they use the lights to attract dinner. At first, we had one, shortly a second one joined, and now there are several hanging out on the walls getting their evening meal. This family is very tame, and I can get surprisingly close. I am happy to see that they are a family unit.

By now you may have noticed the fairy tale trend: I want all my lizards (and birds) to be with a significant other and worry about them if they are solitary. In another life I would probably have been a professional match maker!

Lizards play an important role in nature. Apart from being these rather comical dinosaur “wannabes”, they add movement to a static walkway, they add life, and they eat bugs.

They are in my opinion the cutest of the reptiles.

Of course, the most famous lizard in the Bahamas is the iguana. Built like an armoured tank with a powerful tail, they get all the attention. According to Wikipedia, the northern Bahamian rock iguana is a species of lizard of the genus Cyclura that is found on Andros Island and the Exumas. Its status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list is “red” – vulnerable with a wild population of less than 5,000 animals

Tourists flock to see and feed them. They are plentiful on some islands and I love to see them, but they cannot eclipse the charm of their smaller distant cousins who grace my garden and fill my days with their antics.

will need to take it easy for a little while but that hasn’t dampened her spirit at all. Has a fire been burning in your heart, wanting a companion like Smoke? Then come into the Bahamas Humane Society to meet her or call 325-6742 for more information. Smoke looks forward to meeting you!

• Come check out the Open Yard Sale at Goodfellow Farms on Saturday, April 29, from 8am to 2pm. The BHS Thrift Shop will have a table as will others. Proceeds will go to the BHS. Hope to see you there! Next up is the Jewellery Sale on Saturday, May 6, from 10am to 2pm at the Thrift Shop.

(Photo/Judy Young)

BTVI trio step out in style

What started as an open-ended class assignment for Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) students Samantha Murphy, Janice Brown and Sandra Ferguson transformed into a full-fledged event featuring the work of local designers and BTVI alumni Kendi Smith and Kevin Evans.

The trio, who are enrolled in the Fashion Consultancy course, were required to come up with and execute a project of their choice. A brainstorming session and weeks of planning led to the production of a fashion show dubbed “Spring 2023: Rocking the Road to 50”, a tribute to the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.

Samantha Murphy, a 50-year-old fashion student, suggested the fashion show option for the class assignment. She underscored that although the fashion show was a success, collaboration was key to overcoming challenges during the planning stage.

“The processes of getting sponsors, organising the event and onboarding the designers and models took a lot of brainstorming. The hardest part about the whole process was trying to get a venue,” Samantha said.

The aspiring plus size fashion designer added, “The Fashion Consultancy class has been very interesting and informative. It has challenged my thinking and ability to work with a limited or non-existing budget.”

Janice Brown, a current government employee and longtime seamstress, was excited about the assignment.

“I feel the fashion show went very well. The models were very professional, the designs were unique and the audience seemed pleased with what they saw. There was applause and cameras taking photos of every design as they were showcased,” she said. said.

Sandra Ferguson, a trained accountant and retiree, admitted she initially did not see the significance of the Fashion Consultancy course, but as someone who uses fashion as an escape, is glad she took it.

“The exposure to this field has left an indelible imprint on us, helping us become more rounded in the fashion arena. Not only will we be able to design and create garments for clients, but we can also act as a one stop shop for events,” she said.

“Fashion makes you dig deep and discard shyness. We saw this firsthand and in return, our event allowed Kevin Evans and Kendi Smith to get more local exposure.”

Along with BTVI alumni as the featured fashion designers, students served as hair stylists and makeup artists for the event.

FASHION Consultancy students Samantha Murphy, Janice Brown and Sandra Ferguson with their instructor Kathy Pinder, pictured second from left