MEETINGS
Meetings premiered at the Phoenix Theatre in New York in 1981.
The play was first performed in Britain at the Hampstead Theatre, London, on 25 March 1982, directed by Mustapha Matura, with the following cast: Corinne Skinner-Carter (Jean), Rudolph Walker (Hugh) and Angela Wynter (Elsa). It was revived in 2007 at the Arcola Theatre with Davinia Anderson, Nicolai La Barrie and Inika Leigh Wright.
Meetings is a three-hander which explores the human need for cultural heritage and identity. Inspired by the new generation of young, affluent middle-class business men and women who benefited from the oil boom of the late 70s, Mustapha writes about a couple’s loss of identity in a new world consumed by fast cars, swimming pools and chicken and chips. The play tells the story of husband-and-wife Hugh and Jean, who are both at the height of their careers. Although they are not short of business deals or money to buy the most extravagant luxuries, it quickly becomes apparent that something pivotal is missing from their lives, preventing them from being truly happy.
About the Playwright
Award-winning playwright, poet and actor Mustapha Matura was born in Trinidad in 1939 to an Indian father and Creole Scottish-African mother. Mustapha travelled to London by ship in 1962 and worked as a hospital porter for a year before pursing an acting career in Rome with fellow Trinidadian filmmaker Horace Ové. After starring in stage plays there, on his return to London, Mustapha decided to pursue playwriting.
Mustapha has written over twenty plays which have been staged in London and America. His writing tends to explore the West Indian experience in London as well as comment on the influence of the western world on the Caribbean islands. Mustapha’s first full-length play As Time Goes By won the George Devine and John Whiting award in 1971. Since then, he has continued to write exceptional plays which celebrate his Trinidadian-British identity.
Other published plays by Mustapha Matura include Welcome Home Jacko, Playboy of the West Indies, The Coup, Nice, Rum ’n Cola Cola, Independence, Trinidadian Sisters (an adaptation of Chekhov’s Three Sisters), Nice, Independence and As Time Goes By.
Summary (Extract)
The action takes place in Hugh and Jean’s house in Trinidad.
JEAN has landed the biggest break of her career; an opportunity to market a new American brand of cigarettes. Husband Hugh’s new friendship with Marie, an old country woman, reawakens his taste buds to traditional Caribbean food. Hugh immediately realises that creole food, and thus a connection with his cultural heritage, is what is missing from his life. This could not be further away from his wife’s fast-paced American-inspired life, which is consumed by business meetings, fast food and new fancy high-rise buildings.
Hugh employs Marie’s granddaughter Elsa to cook his childhood favourite creole dishes. This distracts Hugh from his work commitments and wife; he grows an even larger appetite for black African culture and begins attending Shango meetings (a religious Yoruba ritual ceremony) situated in the countryside. Jean becomes fearful that her husband’s new pastime will destroy their reputation, career and marriage.
Hugh is convinced that his new way of life will only make their marriage stronger, but rag-to-riches Jean is not prepared to give up everything she has worked so hard to gain, so easily.
You mean give up what we have, what we work for. Is dat what yer want? I do’ know what yer want, ter tink dat old woman go adopt yer and give yer she grandaughter an everyting go be cosy, is dat what you want, ter give up everyting we have for dem bush people. I go tell you something yer know, dem en’ de only people who was poor an suffering. My people an dem was Portuguese but dey wasn’t rich neither. Yer hear Perez an yer tink dey rich, but my father show me our family album an tell me how his granfadder come to dis island wit only a stitch on he back, yer hear, but dey en’ lie down in de sun an drink rum, dey sell dis an buy dis an build up dey life. Yer know he was de first man ter bring a motor car on dis island eh, dey bring tings wit dem ter dis island too, culture, roads an dey sweat an you want me ter give up what dey do fer some dream you have, everyting dey do, dey die fer.
…
Yer want a virgin eh, well that’s normal, take she, but do’ forget, fer everytime you horn me, I could do it twice, an a know how…
JEAN leaves.