By Jenny Enarsson

"No peace! No peace at all in this yard!"

Sophia is fed up with all the trouble that her neighbours and family members cause her.

Ram John Holder as Old Mack, landlord.

Mavis upstairs brings home a different man every night.

Sophia’s own husband Charlie stays out drinking till morning comes. Their baby son cries. Their daughter Esther has won a partial scholarship to go to high school but where will the rest of the money come from?

Next-door-neighbour Rosa is in love with Ephraim who lives across the yard, but lately he seems to be distancing himself from her.

And in the background hovers Old Mack, the landlord who makes everyone’s life miserable.

On top of all of this, the lack of prospects in Port-of-Spain is getting to bus driver Ephraim. He is likely to be promoted to ticket inspector soon, but he is convinced that there must be more to life than what the island has to offer him.

Sophia and Charlie tell him how much things have improved since they were young, but to no avail. Ephraim dreams of snow and longs to go far away, across the ocean to the exotic port of Liverpool. Meanwhile, someone commits a crime that puzzles everyone.

Moon on a Rainbow Shawl illustrates ways in which desperation and hopelessness manifest themselves. While the moon looks on, dreams of a better life drive the main characters down very different paths.

Background on the author and production company:

Errol John’s play, Moon on a Rainbow Shawl was written in 1957 and is set in his native Trinidad around that time.

The Eclipse Theatre production at the Oxford Playhouse is delicately directed by Paulette Randall and beautifully delivered by an impressive cast. Especially noteworthy are Dystin Johnson as Sophia and Victor Romero Evans as Ephraim.