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| ANANCY AND PANDORA |
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| Louise Bennett- Coverley Directed by Leonie Forbes and Keith Amiel Lyrics by Louise Bennett and Greta Fowler Music adapted by Louise Bennett and Marjorie Whylie Set by Donat Bucknor and Michael Crosby Costumes by Paul Methuen Choreography by Rex Nettleford Lighting by George Carter |
The
Story Once
upon a time, Makeke, a village woman, had a beautiful little baby,
who was named Pandora. On the day of the christening, when Makeke
suffered a great loss, she took an oath that she would lock her
child away from the sight of all mortal men. So she made a song
which was known only to Pandora and herself, so that whenever
she returned home she could sing it as a signal to Pandora to
open the door.This went on for eighteen years, and the fame of the lovely Pandora, locked from the sight of all men, became a legend. Letters came from all over the country begging for her hand in marriage, but Makeke refused them all. Among the suitors was the Young Chief, but he too, was refused. Then Anancy went to the Young Chief and offered to introduce him to Pandora but to do this he had to find out the tune that had to be sung to open Pandora's door. He transformed himself into a spider and hid near Makeke's house in the woods. He listened to the singing and caught the words and tune. But his voice was coarse and Pandora would not open the door to his song. He went to the blacksmith, as advised by the old witch that he met in the canefield, and asked him to drop some hot lead down his throat to make his voice sweet and melodious. Eventually he was able to sing the song, and Pandora, believing it was her mother's voice, opened the door and was caught in Anancy's net and transported to the house of the Young Chief. Later, Anancy, still exerting his wiles, told Makeke that if she went to the house of the Young Chief and called her daughter's favourite fruit, "Mackafat", she would find her daughter. There was a happy reunion. Makeke retracted her oath and bestowed her blessing on the young couple, and on the invitation of the Young Chief, went to the house to live with them. From that day to this, if there is any trouble in a house where the mother-in-law lives with her son-in-law and daughter, "Anancy cause it."
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4 Tom Redcam Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I.