1968/69 LTM NATIONAL
PANTOMIME
ANANCY
AND PANDORA
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 voices 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."
Cast of Characters |
Musical
Numbers |