Play Mas

Mustapha Matura

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781350234222
• eBook ISBN: 9781350234246
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Drama
• Index: Literature

"Matura's play not only offers a potted guide to Trinidadian ethnicity, economics and politics, but also a potent metaphor for the post-colonial process. It is also very funny... the real power of Matura's play lies in its reminder, under all that surface exuberance, that the movement towards independence carried its own element of fancy-dress masquerade." The Guardian 1950s Port of Spain. Samuel, a young tailor's assistant, dreams of Trinidad's independence. On the eve of carnival everyone fills the streets, dressed up to play mas. This annual celebration turns to tragedy and spurs Samuel on to make a decision that will change the political landscape of the future of this vibrant, volatile island. Play Mas premiered at the Royal Court in 1974, winning the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, and transferred to the West End. Described as a wickedly funny, exuberant and poignant play, it is published in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series for the first time, with a brand new introduction by Paulette Randall.

Act One

Scene One

Daytime. A tailor’s shop made of bare wooden boards. In the middle one, a sewing machine, a wooden counter, a dummy in the corner, a wooden box on the floor.

Ramjohn Gookool is dressed in a white T-shirt, khaki trousers, slippers. He is cutting some khaki fabric.

Ramjohn (calling out) Samuel, bring in de focking ting nar.

Samuel (off ) Okay.

Samuel comes on dressed in a coloured T-shirt, shorts, barefoot, carrying a wooden box.

Ramjohn Right good.

He holds it up to look at it.

Samuel Wha yer go do wit it?

Ramjohn I en’ sure yet.

He puts it down, goes back to cutting.

Samuel I see yer just wanted me ter bring it.

Ramjohn Yes.

Samuel Yer just like ter see me work. (He sits down.)

Ramjohn Yes.

Samuel I see.

Ramjohn Go an bring de odder one.

Samuel All right. Wat yer go do wit it? (He gets up.)

Ramjohn I en’ sure yet, go an bring it.

Samuel All right.

Ramjohn becomes involved with staring at the crate.

Samuel goes, returns.

Samuel (as he enters, interrupting) Here.

Ramjohn Shh, let see. Hmm. Yes maybe. Yes, a tinking a keeping some chickens, dis might do, yes a suppose so, yes okay, I’ll have dis one.

Samuel A could sit down, now?

Ramjohn Yes – no.

Samuel Make up yer mind.

Ramjohn Yer better go an see if me modder want anyting.

Samuel All right.

He goes through to the yard. In it is Miss Gookool, holding a shirt over a tub.

Samuel Miss Gookool, de boss send me ter see if yer want anyting?

Miss Gookool No, tell ’im, I en’ want notting.

Samuel turns.

Miss Gookool But wait, see if yer could reach up da shelf an get me a block a soap, a trying ter wash dis ting, but car’ come out.

Samuel All right.

He reaches up, brings down some soap, gives it.

Miss Gookool Tanks.

Samuel Anyting else?

Miss Gookool No, but see if . . .

Samuel Da is wat a ask yer.

Miss Gookool Wat?

Samuel If dere was anyting else.

Miss Gookool No, but if de iron off a want yer ter switch it on for me.

Samuel All right. (He does so.) Anyting else?

Miss Gookool No, it was on?

Samuel No, it was off.

Miss Gookool Yer switch it on?

Samuel An da is wha yer tell me ter do.

Miss Gookool Yes, you do it?

Samuel Yes.

Miss Gookool Well, yer better go an see if Mr Gookool want anyting.

Samuel All right. (He comes through.)

Ramjohn Yer was a long time. Wat yer was doing?

Samuel Notting. Miss Gookool wanted me ter reach she a piece a soap.

Ramjohn A see, yer reach it?

Samuel Yes.

Ramjohn A hope yer didn’t spend all morning doing it.

Samuel No, yer wanted me for someting?

Ramjohn No, yer could sit down now.

Samuel All right. (He sits.)

Ramjohn Here, take dose trousers an unpick de seams.

Samuel All de seams? (He takes the trousers, examines them.)

Ramjohn No, just de inside leg, yer do’ know how ter unpick a leg?

Samuel Yes, I know but a was just asking.

Ramjohn Well, do’ ask, just unpick de leg.

Samuel All right.

He begins to unpick with a finger nail.

Ramjohn Yer know one day . . .

Samuel One day wat?

Ramjohn One day somebody go come in here an ask me ter build a double-breasted eight-buttoned wit vest an drape trousers. Den yer go see how ter build suit.

Samuel Yer mean yer never build a double-breasted eight-button before?

Ramjohn No, dat is wat a say, one day somebody go come in an ask fer one, an is den a go build it.

Samuel Or a see, how yer go build it?

Ramjohn Well, after a measure an cut de pattern, first a go start wid de padding, de padding is de foundation of de suit, de shoulders – yer must start wid de shoulders.

Samuel Yes.

Ramjohn Because if yer do’ get de shoulders right, yer in trouble, de shoulders must be right, dey must be straight an broad.

Samuel Den wat?

Ramjohn De shoulders must be like de front of a boat, dey must make de room for de suit ter pass.

Samuel Yes, den wat?

Ramjohn Den de lapels, de lapels must lie down as if dey sleeping for ever, dey mustn’t move at all, even wen yer take off de suit de lapel mustn’t move.

Samuel Den wat?

Ramjohn Den de sleeves.

Samuel Wat bout de sleeves?

Ramjohn De sleeves must bend like a piece a iron –

Samuel Iron do’ bend.

Ramjohn Yer not listening ter me or wat?

Samuel But iron do’ bend.

Ramjohn Wat does bend?

Samuel Steel, is steel does bend not iron.

Ramjohn All right, den de sleeves must bend like a piece a steel an whenever dey come back it must be like dey never move.

Samuel A see.

Ramjohn Whey you fin out iron do’ bend?

Samuel I do’ know, a just know it do’ bend, it does break.

Ramjohn A see, anyhow yer does talk too much, well dat it all?

Samuel How yer mean?

Ramjohn Yer tink a suit is just shoulders, an lapels an sleeve?

Samuel No.

Ramjohn Yer do’ want ter know bout de buttons, de vents, de waist, de linings, an all bout d...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Dedication
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction by director Paulette Randall and designer Libby Watson
• Foreword
• Play Mas
• Act One
• Act Two
• Copyright Page