By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
“The Nutmeg Princess”, first published in 1992 by Annick Press, is a classic production by Grenadian Canadian
The book, which has been available in classrooms in Canada and other countries, has also been a popular gift for children.
“The Nutmeg Princess” was also adapted to stage in 1999 by Young People’s Theatre (YPT), and won a Dora Mavor musical award.
Keens-Douglas has just relaunched “The Nutmeg Princess”, and would like to see another stage run by YPT.
“It’s a new generation now so it will be fantastic for Young People’s Theatre to do ‘The Nutmeg Princess’ again,” Keens-Douglas told Share at the relaunch of the book at Blackhurst Cultural Centre (BCC) on Bathurst Street, before a room full of children and adults.
The children were treated to storytelling, including excerpts from the colourfully illustrated book. They also participated in a workshop, which included the making of “Nutmeg Princess Crowns”, and participated in a mini parade.
The adults included Keens-Douglas’ brother Paul Keens-Douglas, the renowned international performer, author and storyteller, who is popularly known in the theatrical world as “Mr. Tim Tim”.
Paul Keens-Douglas, who was born in Trinidad but spent his early childhood in Grenada, has a catalogue of work that includes 15 albums, three videos and 16 CDs.
In an interview with Share, Paul Keens-Douglas revealed that he, too, will be having a book launch at BCC later this month.
“It’s one of my early stories but I’m doing it as a children’s book now,” he said.
Paul Keens-Douglas was referring to a 1975 story, which is often referred to as “Vibert and the Kite”. In the soon-to-be-released book, titled “String Bank”, the illustrations are done by Keens-Douglas daughter, Tara.
The fable of “The Nutmeg Princess” involves three main characters: best friends Aglo and Petal and Petite Mama, who tells Aglo and Petal the story of a mysterious nutmeg princess whom only she has seen.
The story is set in Grenada, also known as the Isle of Spice, where Richardo Keens-Douglas – an award-winning author, storyteller and actor – was born in 1953.
“Canada has been very good to me,” said Keens-Douglas, who studied at the Dawson College School of Theatre in Montreal, and has had his own television and radio shows in Canada.
“My first 18 years were in Grenada but the other 50 years were in Canada. Canada has been a wonderful country to me; it’s part of my blood. But they say wherever you bury your navel string, that is home, and my navel string is buried in Grenada. I’m a spice boy living in Canada.”
After 32 years of the release of “The Nutmeg Princess”, Keens-Douglas said there’s a new generation of kids to be exposed to the story and lessons of the children’s book.
“I just thought it would be nice to bring it back. It’s such a unique story. I think it’s important to have this book available again to the public,” he said.
“The Nutmeg Princess” includes lessons of friendship, caring, faith, belief in self, unselfishness, kindness and having a “good heart”.
“To see the Nutmeg Princess, you must have a good heart,” Keens-Douglas emphasized to his captive children’s audience.
“She will appear only if you have a good heart and you take care of your brothers and your sisters and your friends, and you are kind to each other in school; and you get up for older folks and you say, ‘have my seat’. All of that is being good.”
Not only is a good heart required to see The Nutmeg Princess, but one also has to travel to Grenada, Keens-Douglas said.
“Up to this day, because of Aglo and Petal’s hard work, nutmeg is the choicest crop on that little island in the Caribbean called the Isle of Spice,” he said.
