By Zoisa Fraser and Sarah Bharrat
Last Easter weekend, Robert Hatcher and the Calypso Tumblers both former contestants on last year’s America’s Got Talent show, along with other local performers put on a smashing three-night performance at the National Cultural Centre
The Calypso Fury Concerts aimed to entertain and amaze and its safe to say now that amaze us they did; the singing, acrobatic performances and dancing were all smoothly executed in style and beneath it all there was definitely lots of Guyanese flavour to make our chests swell with pride.
Robert’s duets with Celeste David were described by many as “simply beautiful” and since gossip usually flies faster than the sonic, it is now the humorous rumour in town that Robert was so smitten by Celeste, he’ll be back shortly to propose.
Robert’s voice, his simplicity and his willingness to testify to God’s goodness were refreshing. Many people said he is West Indies star batsman, Brain Charles Lara’s doppelganger, which further endeared him to the audience.
Robert is evidence that dreams really do come through with lots of hard work, belief and support from loved ones. This man who now serves as a role model for most in his home town Cincinnati, Ohio will be 28 on June 22 and is a promising star steadily rising.
The most striking thing about him is his smile, simply because there’s nothing fake or suggestive attached to it. When he smiles, it’s pure, simple and genuine much like his voice.
In an interview with The Scene, he said Guyana is a beautiful place and it has opened his eyes to a different part of this world. Though he had no prior knowledge of the two recent slaughters, he said had he known it would not have affected his decision to come here. “I don’t believe in living my life in fear,” the singer said.
Although Robert admitted that he wasn’t fond of the food he was smitten with the local talent. Before his appearance on the hit television show America’s Got Talent Robert worked in the Cincinnati sewers and he said that even though he didn’t win the million dollar prize, the show has made him a winner in many ways. “I’ve been launched to the world by that show I feel like a million dollars.”
In his hometown, he said, “they treat me like royalty”.
Of the tumblers, Kenneth ‘Yogi-laser’ Greenaway was perhaps the man who stole the show when he managed to fit his entire body into a small glass box, just minutes after passing it through a cylindrical prop, with amazing ease. Yogi-laser flicked and tumbled all over the stage, spicing up his act with funny faces and wiggling body movements, that sent the audience, especially the children, into uproar. Someone should have checked Yogi-laser to see if he was really flesh and blood or made of rubber.
This spiritually conscious tumbler said he was given the name Yogi-laser, by a religious guide and “it was at that time in my life that I discovered my talent for doing all these amazing things with my body”.
Kenneth, 45, who hails from Montserrat, is a deep individual with the somewhat unnerving habit of looking straight into your eyes. He expressed concern at the poverty he has seen in Guyana and his hope that this will eventually change.
Silvan and Raymond Bartellete are brothers who hail from St Kitts. These muscular guys are 42 and 41 years old respectively, but one would never have guessed from looking at them or listening to the excitable Raymond. Silvan, the more laid back brother, was the foundation for some of the difficult but yet cool lifts. At some points when it looked like that the person he was holding would fall, the muscles in his arm protruded as he held his ground.
Raymond told The Scene that he enjoys food especially his home cuisine. “Silvan is missing out big time; I don’t know why he’s vegetarian.” Raymond told us while giving his brother a wicked sideways glance.
Both brothers explained that family means everything to them and they try to spend as much time as they can with them. They said their lifestyles didn’t allow them to get married and settle down. Don’t be fooled though, these charming devils admitted that they did have children and took their roles as fathers quite seriously.
They said that although being tumblers called for some sacrifices they wouldn’t give it up and look forward to performing for a while yet. As Silvan told us, “I’m a man of the past living in the present living for the future.”
Lamonte Goode, one of the younger members of the Tumblers and is dedicated to his career. Each performance, Lamonte explained, takes a good deal of strength, coordination and natural skill to execute. Training must never cease and physical fitness must be continuously maintained because a Tumbler’s health is one of the key factors, which determines exactly what a Tumbler can do, the Ohio born Lamonte explained.
Lamonte has a shy look about him, a smile that enhances his boyish good looks and of course a well maintained six-pack. He current hairstyle is a sort of golden brown baby Mohawk, which he describes as his way of being unique.
Lamonte, who currently lives in Los Angeles, said he enjoyed his short time in Guyana and the food “wasn’t so bad”.
Michael Rodriguez, the youngest Tumbler at 27 years old, is also the tallest with lots of hair that he leaves to fall in wild waves. Michael told The Scene that when he first got off the plane he stood and took a deep breath. “I thought, now this is air I should be breathing.”
Michael, a native of California, described Guyana as a whole, new experience since he’d never been to place quite like this before.
Fondly, called ‘Mosquito’, by the rest of the Tumblers (and they didn’t tell us why), Michael loves Indian food and going to the beach. He even admitted to going to nude beaches, saying he’s quite comfortable with his body.
Clarence Chester is a US-based Guyanese who has been with the group since the beginning. This 40-year-old Tumbler has an outgoing personality and is always on the move.
While The Scene was interviewing the other Tumblers, last Saturday, Clarence was trying his best to catch the whole thing on video. It was a miracle really that we managed to ask Clarence a few questions as it seemed impossible for him to stay in the same place for two minutes at a time. However, during the process of him popping up between someone else’s interview, we learnt that he originally hails from West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Looking at Clarence and how he interacts with those around him makes it quite clear that he’s easy to get along with and is quite passionate about all aspects of his profession.
The Calypso Tumblers’ trip to Guyana marked their Caribbean debut.
The Classique Dance Troupe and the Crystallite Dancers also entertained the audience as well as Guyana’s newest rapper Tebogah Christian aka T Chris. Following the show, members of the audience were given an opportunity to mingle with the performers and take photographs in the lobby.
