36 Errol John: Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

Dr. Alice Samson

Introduction to Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

 Moon on a Rainbow Shawl is a  three  act  play which  was published in  1957.  The  play  was written by Trinidadian actor-playwright Errol John. Moon on the Rainbow Shawl is often considered as the ground-breaking play to have emerged out of a Caribbean mind. It was staged several times in England and is without doubt the most successful play which was authored by a black man. In 1957 it was premiered in the Royal Court Theatre and was immediately hailed as a great play. The play won Errol John instant fame and several awards including the prestigious The Observer’s Prize for the best new playwright in 1957 and the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1958.

In 1958, the play’s radio adaptation titled Small Island Moon was broadcast on the BBC. In 1962, an American version of the play was released and was staged in the New York City.

Set in the city of Port of Spain, the capital of the small island nation of Trinidad and Tobago, the play opens on a hot, late evening in the yard of two dilapidated buildings. The play Moon on a Rainbow Shawl depicts the struggle of a man to escape an impoverished Port of Spain slum. The play was later performed in such diverse locations including Australia, Iceland, Hungary, and Argentina. It has been prescribed in several courses in various countries in the Caribbean region. Since it inception, the play has been staged several times, in various spaces across the world. The play’s popularity and relevance have outlived its author. It has won new fans among the current generation of theatre lovers.

Moon on a Rainbow Shawl contains a tragicomic plot and the action takes place in the post- war setting of Old Macs Yard in Port of Spain, Trinidad. It focuses on the complex relationships between the members of the Adams family, the struggle of tram driver Ephraim, who dreams of moving to England to escape the impoverished slums, and the dreams of Rosa. The Second World War has just ended and soldiers are returning home. The play also throws light on the socio-economic condition of the island. The cramped claustrophobia of the location and heightened tension recall the simmering, kitchen-sink melodrama of various American playwrights including Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. Bringing to life a multitude of stories, featuring a diverse range of characters, sounds (including calypsos, children’s rhymes and every day cacophony), and the play is a vibrant but harsh evocation of the hardship of poverty, faded dreams, and regret in a post-war Trinidadian society.

Introduction to Errol John

Errol John was born in Port of Spain on 20 December 1924. He was home-schooled and began to work as an artist and a journalist. However, he found his true calling as an actor and an artist and decided to pursue a career in theatre. Hence, he joined the Whitehall Theatre  Group in Trinidad. Post the Second World War, he intended to migrate to England and in 1951 he arrived in London. In London he continued to work as an actor. He acted in several productions including Salome (1954), and The Member of the Wedding. The Member of the Wedding was authored by Carson McMullers and was staged at the Royal Court Theatre. The production was directed by Tony Richardson. He was noted for his performance of Shakespearean characters and acted in The Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and Othello. He won critical acclaim for essaying the role of Othello. While in London, Errol tried his luck in movies and played small rolls in several  films  including  The  African Queen (1951), The Heart of the Matter (1953), The Emperor Jones (1953), Simba, The Nun’s Story (1959) and Guns at Batasi (1964). He found indirect employment with the BBC and gained a major role in the series A Man from the Sun (1956), No Hiding Place (BBC, 1961)  and the five-part series Rainbow City.

Errol John’s debut as a playwright was inauspicious. His first play The Tout (1949) which was written in Trinidad was very unsuccessful. His second play  Moon  on  a  Rainbow  Shawl achieved iconic status as a classic of Caribbean theatre. Post the success of the Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, Errol wrote Force Majeure, The Dispossessed and Hasta Luego: Three Screenplays (1967). He also wrote the screenplay for Teleclub (1954), and Dawn (1963) and The Exiles. The Exiles was a part of the Wednesday Play series which was produced by the BBC. In 1960s as Moon on a Rainbow Shawl became popular in the United States, Errol sought to work in the Hollywood. However, he was unsuccessful as a movie star and was limited to minor roles in few films including Assault on a Queen and Buck and Preacher. He returned

to England in 1970 and settled in Camden, London. He passed away on July 10, 1988 in London. Posthumously, the government of Trinidad and Tobago honoured him with the Chaconia Medal for Drama.

Action in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

The play is divided into three Acts, which are further divided into two scenes each. The setting of the play is within two dilapidated buildings in downtown Port of Spain. The action in the play takes place within three days.

In the opening scene titled the ‘Moon Rise’ of the opening act of the play Ephraim (sometimes also called Eph) is returning from his work as a trolleybus driver. The night is hot and the full moon is up in the sky. Ephraim briefly talks to Ketch, the local calypso artist as he approaches the two dilapidated buildings. He splashes water on his face at the public tap and stops to converse with Esther Adams. Esther’s parents, Charlie Adams and Sophia Adams have left her at home to take care of her newborn brother. Esther is a very intelligent and studious girl who has just won a scholarship to attend a better school. Ephraim and  Esther discuss how her family cannot afford to send her to high school. The baby cries and Ephraim says “Dream your dreams little man, dream your dreams’. Though Ephraim is secretly envious of Esther’s youth and the opportunity she has to make a better life for herself than he has, encourages her. He tells her that one of these nights he will take Esther and Rosa to the concert. He urges Esther to ‘One night, sometime reach up, touch that moon”, before moving to his room.

Sophia arrives and chastises her daughter Esther, for staying outdoors late into might. Rosa, who is the girl friend of Ephraim, arrives home. She is accompanied by Old Mack who is both her employer and landlord. Old Mack drops to his knees and pleads Rosa to accept his gifts. As Old Mack leaves Rosa, Sophia catches up with Rosa. Sophia warns Rosa against indulging Old Mack. She reminds Rosa that she has to speak to Ephraim. Rosa goes to Ephraim’s room. Ephraim asks her to leave his room. He is pensive and is smoking a cigarette.

In the second scene of Act One, titled ‘Next Morning’, Esther wants to go out and play with her friends. Sophia refuses Esther the permission to go out and reminds her that they are a poor household without any help. Rosa comes home and informs Sophia that some money has been stolen from Old Mack’s café. Sophia chuckles on hearing about Old Mack’s misfortune and adds this comment about Old Mack’s misfortune. “Thief from thief, child, does make Jehovah laugh and I is only a mere mortal. The way he robbing us here with the rent on these nasty little rooms. Serve him blasted right!”. Rosa looks out for Ephraim, but he is avoiding her. Rosa is summoned back to the café. Ephraim walks out of his room and speaks to Sophia. The iceman passes by and Ephraim exclaims that “That Iceman so warm! He don’t know. He don’t know! But the only ice I feeling for now is SNOW!”. Sophia feels that Ephraim is up to something but is not able to figure out his scheme.

Prince, a loud entrepreneur, who is smitten by Mavis enters the building. Mavis is a prostitute who entertains the soldiers. Sophia and Mavis do not get along with each other. Charlie Adams, the always drunk, former cricketer and Sophia’s husband arrives. He is suffering from a hangover and describes the reception which he attended last night to welcome home the island’s WW2 troops. As he speaks of ‘heroes’ Sophia scornfully enquires if Charlie had not felt shame. Charlie avoids an argument moves to Ephraim’s room.

Sophia continues to speak to Ephraim and tell him about exposes her fears. She is worried of the new school that Rosa. She tells Eph that Charlie was a world-class cricket many years ago. As Ephraim blames the social and political conditions in Trinidad, Sophia disagrees. She reminds him that many cricketers on the island have succeeded without any special privileges. Ephraim confesses that “This Trinidad has nothing for me, nothing I want”. Sophia is stunned and asks him about his relationship with Rosa. Ephraim hints at having a ‘plan’ and he leaves a message with Sophia that he will ‘maybe’ see Rosa tonight. He is supposed to attend a party for a ‘fellow that going away’ (from the island). When Sophia asks why he’s going, Ephraim replies “I’ll ask him when I see him”. In response Sophie says: “Run boys! Run! I wish I could do a little running myself. They’d search hell to find me”. Rosa returns from the café and wants to talk to Charlie. However, the conversation never happens. That evening, Rosa tries to seduce Ephraim, but he will not sleep with her.

In the opening scene of Act Two, it is late in the night. Mavis is bringing in home a soldier. She has a verbal confrontation with Sophia. The baby cries and Sophia exclaims to the lord ““Yer hear the baby God? Yer hear him? No rest for me tonight. Grant me patience, I asking yer! Save mey from sinning mey soul!” Rosa visits Ephraim’s room. She tries to seduce Ephraim and sleeps next to him. He is not interested in sleeping with her. They are sleeping on her rainbow shawl. Rosa informs Ephraim that Charlie has stolen the money from the  café. She says that she has seen his hat on the floor of the shop. She also tells Ephraim that she has disclosed the same to the police and fears that they will arrest Charlie. Ephraim is angry and states that she is endangering the Adams family when the wealthy, stingy Old Mack “could well afford to lose” the money stolen. He accuses of having a soft corner for Old Mack and states that she is accepting and wearing his expensive gifts. Ephraim tells her that there is nothing between them and that he is leaving for Liverpool the following day. He shows her the tickets, his savings and the passport. Rosa pleads with him and asks him to stay back. She reveals that she is pregnant with his child, which does not sway his decision to leave. Rosa is furious and leaves the room.

The action in the Scene Two takes place the next morning. Sophia is urging Charlie to complete preparing the cricket bats. Prince comes to meet Mavis and is disturbed by the fact that she has spent the night with a soldier. He is heartbroken as realizes that Mavis is a prostitute. He accidentally hits Mavis and injures her. Prince and Mavis reconcile and announce their wedding. Old Mack comes to the yard and announces that he wants to report his employee Stephen to the police. Charlie, fearful that Old Mack’s employee, Stephen, is going to be arrested for his crime, confides to Sophia that he robbed the café. As Sophia suggests that they have Rosa speak to Old Mack and return the remaining money, Ephraim, overhears the conversation. He demands that he return the money. Meanwhile, the police arrive and arrest Charlie.

In the first scene of Act III, Ephraim goes to Prince who is drinking beer and borrows a cigarette. Mavis informs them that Sophia has gone to meet Old Mack to borrow money and bail Charlie out. Ephraim is tipsy and staggers back to his room. Esther, oblivious of her dad’s arrest arrives home. Sophia comes home and finds Young Murray, a young batsman waiting for her. Murray informs her that the boys want Charlie to coach their cricket team, before he leaves. Sophia tells Esther about her dad’s arrest. Esther blames Sophia and tells her that she is the reason for Charlie’s decline. Esther reminds her mother that she was “always pushing him and making him feel shame in front of all kinds of people” as she yells and runs out into the yard. Ephraim leaves for his last trolley shift.

Rosa comes back to the yard and speaks to Sophia. She says that Charlie’s matter has moved out of Old Mack’s hands. Sophia asks Rosa to speak to Ephraim and convince him. Rosa is adamant and retorts that a “wedding ring is too cheap to have to kiss a man’s foot for”.

In the last scene of the play, a glamorously dressed Mavis and Prince are going out to a night club, Ephraim is packing his stuff and Sophia is searching for Esther. Sophia confronts Ephraim and tries to convince him to stay back. He offers 10 dollars bill to bail out Charlie. Sophia refuses the money and pleads him not to abandon a pregnant Rosa. She reminds him that it was he who first seduced Rosa. Ephraim retorts back and argues that Rosa liked sleeping with him. He further adds that “the baby born! It live! It dead! It make no damn difference to me!” A distraught Sophia slaps him. Ephraim leaves the yard in a taxi. Rosa comes out running into the yard calling for Ephraim. Sophia tries to comfort Rosa and says that she will support her. But her words of support are interrupted by the sound of Old Mack calling for Rosa from Rosa’s room. The play ends with Esther’s return, warmly calling for her mother.

Sounds in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

Errol John borrows several sounds from the everyday life to lend credence to the play’s settings. The action in the first scene of Act-I opens with the steel drum which is playing a military beat. The sound indicates that there is a military presence on the island. The Calypso singer’s voice and practice are also heard. The calypso indicates that the action is taking place in West Indies. The baby’s cry comes up frequently throughout the play. The baby’s cry  lends domesticity to the play.

   In the scene two, Esther wants to go out and play. The audience hear children say “Yer can’t catch me tho! Yer can’t catch me tho… I caught yer – I caught yer! I caught… yer!” The audience realize that kids in the building are out playing. The use of the Creole informs the reader/audience that the play is set in West Indies and the action is taking place amidst a domestic setting. The kids’ sounds hinder Rosa from having a conversation with Charlie. As she intends to question Charlie the kids’ chants ‘I caught yer, I caught yer’ distract her and affect the scope of her actions. The other children’s rhymes used include play.”One, two, three, mother catch a flea. Flea die, mother cry, one two three, you to catch! You too catch.” Likewise, the conversation between Sophia and Ephraim is also affected by the sound of an iceman, selling his wares in a sing-song manner. Thus the voices from outside give the reader the feel that something amiss is on with the characters.

In the first scene of Act-II, the action begins with the howling of wind, hooting of an owl and the roof squeaks and shudders in the wind. The sound lends an ominous air to the setting. The baby’s cry rent the air forcing Sophia to pray “Yer hear the baby God? Yer hear him? No rest for me tonight. Grant me patience, I asking yer! Save mey from sinning mey soul!” The hoot of the owl is repeated and even as Rosa informs Ephraim that sound scares her, Ephraim mimics the bird closely. Rosa is already suspicious of Ephraim’s intentions. As Ephraim reveals his intentions of abandoning Rosa and the baby, the Calypso ‘Brown Skin Gal’ is heard. The calypso taunts her with words “Brown skin gal stay home and mind baby. Brown skin gal stay home and mind baby. I’m a gain away in a sailin’ boat – And if I don’t come back, throw ‘way the damn baby.”

In the scene two as Mavis and Prince make up, the sound of the wedding is heard. The sound accentuates the effect of Mavis’ words ““always get the ring first, then get the baby’.

In the scene one of Act-III the sound of rain and thunder are heard. The rain and thunder add solemnity to the departure of Ephraim. As Ephraim is packing his stuff, he turns on the radio. Frank Sinatra’s “Polka Dots and Moonbeams’ is being played in the background. The taxi is round the corner and honks impatiently. The sound of the horn is loud and jarring and forces Rosa out of her room. It is the sound of a good-bye and also harkens the end of an unequal relationship.

 Themes in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

The themes in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, now regarded as a canonical work of black theatre, are  still  relevant  today. Its  depiction  of  immigration,  the  struggles  faced  by  the African Diaspora, and the sacrifices and aspirations of a post-war community living in poverty are resonant today. The story describes the depths to which circumstances can force a human being  to  stoop  down to.  The  play  sheds  light on  the  unequal  relations between  men and women. All the men in the play are selfish and weak. Old Mack is a lecherous, stingy pervert, who leaves no opportunity unused to seduce Rosa. Prince is so smitten by Mavis, the prostitute, that he does not consider the evidence of her infidelity. When he sees the evidence he hurts her. When Mavis threatens him with the police Prince is scared easily and promises marriage. Charlie is an old fool, who has wasted his life and talent due to his drinking habit. He is a drain on Sophia and Esther. He finally begins to steal money to finance his addictions. Ephraim is young and hardworking, but is unethical. He has seduced Rosa, won her trust and has made her pregnant. He has no qualms in abandoning her.

The women in the play are strong, and loving. Barring Mavis, Sophia, Rosa and even the teenage Esther are diligent and ethical. They support their men despite the flaws. They stick to the place and want to fight. The difference between men and women in the play is very stark.

The second theme that is recurrent in the theme is that all the characters have given up hope of making a good life in Trinidad. They have either resigned themselves to fate or seek to exploit the others to make a living. Ephraim seeks to escape the hopeless situation in the island by migrating to England. Charlie has resigned to the hopeless state and takes refuge in drink. Old Mack wants to maximum profit out of the hopeless state on the island. Mavis is making a living by catering to the rich soldiers. Sophia and Rosa are also aware of the dim prospects that are available to them. But they decide to stay on. The decision to stay behind and continue is not a testimony to their hope that the things will turn around, but is indicative of their state of helplessness. They are not sure of the prospects outside the island. Only Esther, who is very young and intelligent, has hope.

The play also comments on how global politics can shape the political economy of small places. The end of the Second World War has affected the life on the island. As the American troops leave the island, business goes down. Jobs are cut and many Trinidadians who are otherwise employed find themselves jobless. The six year war, the gradual decline of the colonial power and the withdrawal of the American troops have contributed to inflation, unemployment, and lawlessness on the island. Trinidad, which the U.S. deems is located in its own backyard did not play a significant role main thin the World War. It is geographically removed from Europe, which was main theatre of the war. However, it felt the ramifications of the war quite acutely. The play states that the conventions and the traditions of local populations have been altered permanently and the people on the island are deeply affected. They are anxious and many of them display psychotic conditions. Ephraim’s inexplicable urge to migrate, Esther’s shrieks, Prince’s infatuation for Rosa are all indicative that the local population is severely traumatised by the end of the war.

 Characters in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl

Ephraim :

Ephraim works with the tram department. He is the protagonist of the play and he feels trapped in a Trinidadian society where opportunity and upward mobility is scarce. He is also aware that the rich abuse the poor. He demands more from life. He is aware of the political situation on the island. He is sympathetic to the underdog and has a soft corner for Charlie and Sophia. He sympathises with Charlie’s and wishes the best for Esther. He offers moneyto Sophia and volunteers to intercede with Old Mack on behalf of Charlie.

However, he is good only when issues do not affect his interests. Ephraim is selfish and conceited. He has no qualms in abandoning people and does not want to take responsibility for his actions. He boasts that he has boarded her old grandmother in a poor house to die alone. He forsakes Rosa to her fate and is unmindful of her being pregnant. He is sexist and chauvinistic even as he at times helpful to others.

2. Sophia Adams:

Though physically and emotionally exhausted, Sophia is a spirited woman. She is the wife of Charlie Adams and mother of Esther. She also has a newborn son. She is fond of Ephraim  and Rosa and detests Mavis. She cares fiercely for Esther’s future, hence she is tough on Esther. She is a good mother and asks Rosa to convince Ephraim to stay back behind.

Rosa: As a young girl, Rosa was orphaned and was raised by Nuns. She owns a ‘rainbow shawl’. As she comes to stay in the yard Ephraim befriends her. She loves Ephraim and allows him to seduce her. She is pregnant with his child. However, she is not able to convince Ephraim to stay with her. Rosa is being wooed by her employer Old Mack. Though he supplies her with costly gifts, Rosa does not reciprocate his affections. Towards the end of  the play when she realizes that she has been duped by Ephraim, she consents to remain with Old Mack so that her child can have a father. The biggest tragedy in the play is that Rosa has become corrupted and has lost her innocence.

Old Mack

Old Mack is a 65-year-old, wealthy, stingy man who owns the yard and the shacks that the Adams’, Ephraim, Rosa, and Mavis live in. He also owns the café where Rosa works. As Sophia says “he is a man never to be generous”, yet he generously showers costly gifts on Rosa. He is infatuated by her. He is loathed both by his tenants and his employees. Towards the end of the play as Rosa has no option she decides to stay back with Old Mack; hence he gets what he wanted.

Esther Adams

The elder child of Sophia and Charlie Adams, Esther Adams is a young, bright and motivated girl. Esther represents a possibly positive future for Trinidad. She helps her mother do the domestic chores, take care of her brother and is pleasant to her neighbours. She is liked by everyone in the yard. She helps Sophia realize that her attitude towards her Charlie has ruined him. The final stage directions note that Esther’s call for her mother “should give the impression that the future could still be hers.”

5. Charlie Adams

A drunkard who performs odd jobs, Charlie Adams is the husband of Sophia and the father of Esther. Formerly, he was a cricketer of international repute. However, his dreams are shattered as he is sideline by the white men who run the cricket boards. He is sidelined from cricket as he voiced his opinions against institutional racism which was embedded in West Indian cricket boards. He is extremely supportive of his daughter and her efforts and, shown by his actions in the play, wants a bright and prosperous future for Esther. He is scared of his wife. However, his addiction to drinking causes his ruin and he is forced to steal money to fund his habits. When Old Mack suspects Stephen of robbing his café, Charlie feels bad for Stephen and seeks to own up the crime.

Mavis

Mavis is a beautiful young lady, who caters to the physical desires of the American soldiers and the local elite. Mavis lives in the same yard and is detested by Sophia. She is more intelligent than either Rosa or Sophia. Towards the end of the play she is engaged to the rich, local entrepreneur, Prince. She comments that women should get their men to commit for marriage first before making babies. She admires Ephraim. However, she says she would, unlike Rosa, not have allowed him to use and abandon her.

Prince

Prince is the local, black entrepreneur who is enamoured by Mavis. He refuses to believe that Mavis is a prostitute. His antics offer comic relief to otherwise a serious play.

References:

• Kellaway, Kate, Review of Moon on a Rainbow Shawl”, The Observer, 18 March 2012.
• Jump up^ “Errol John in ‘SMALL ISLAND MOON'” (Third Programme, 27 May 1958, 21.15), Radio Times, Issue 1802, 23 May 1958, p. 39.
• Jump up^ “John, Errol (1924-1988)”. BFI Screen Online. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
• Oda Jurges. “Selected Bibliography: Black Plays, Books and Articles Related to Black Theatre Published from 1/1960 to 2/1968.” The Drama Review: TDR, vol. 12, no. 4, 1968, pp. 176–180. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1144400.
• Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, by Errol John: [theatre Program], 1960, Union Hall. , 1960. Print.