There's no place like Omeris

 St. Lucia is abuzz this week with the annual Jazz Festival.  Created in the 70's to promote tourism, this occasion has become a high point of the year for tourists and Lucians alike.  Stages are set up the length of the island featuring local and international arts entertainment.

 One component of the festivities this year is a visit from London's Globe Theater.  The cast and crew are here for the week performing Omeris, a play by local playwright and nobel laureate, Derek Walcott.

 In preparation for an event at the British Residence welcoming the theatre company and commemorating the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death,  I met with Mr. Walcott and his wife Sigrid at their home in Cap Estates.  The meeting was intended to determine the entertainment for the embassy event, which might include madrigals and sonnets.

At the conclusion of the evening, we had made a number of decisions, drunk too many gin and tonics, and  I had read aloud a sonnet at the request of the great playwright.  We also had a tour of the mansion which features an ocean-side swimming pool, theatre workshop and painting studio.  I didn't realize that this man who pens like a Caribbean Shakespeare is also an accomplished visual artist!