Brian Mac Farlane wowed crowds at both the downtown and Savannah judging points on Carnival Monday and Tuesday and walked away the five time winner of the George Bailey Band of the Year. His presentation, Humanity the Circle of Life, depicted the chronicles of man's journey from the cradle to the grave and noted that all man's major moments are captured in black and white.
"That was the prevailing theme throughout the presentation. That stark reality of the fact that the written aspects of man's life is devoid of all the colour that life itself has," he said.
Mac Farlanes somber presentation was in direct contrast to the explosion of colour and revelry of the bands before him but people waited at the final judging point to see what has been dubbed "Mac Farlane's theatre" to play out.
Led by an almost funereal procession by the Laventille Rhythm Section, Mac Farlane entered the stage dressed in black and matted silver biblical robes, dancers circled him and a conch shell rang out, heralding the birth of man. Gerard Weekes, who portrayed the Carnival King In the Beginning Good and Evil, walked unto the stage carrying a massive costume with four large scrolls each with a depiction of an angel and devil vying for his attention. Weekes was tempted by the silver apple hanging nearby, glanced with fear at the judgmental snake hovering over him and walked away before the rest of the masquearders paraded across the newly built Savannah stage.
While Mac Farlane has been in the mas business for most of his adult life, he has only started producing his own band for the past seven years. This fifth win puts him in prestigious company as he is now just one win shy of tying with fellow masman Wayne Berkley. Berkley's presentations earned him 11 wins overall, but six consecutively.
Mac Farlane's influence was seen in other Carnival bands as they crossed the stage as several of the masqueraders presented a dance routine before the throngs of fellow bandmates rushed the stage.
This year, perhaps also a Mac Farlane influence, saw the return of the rhythm sections as part of bands presentations.
Though Mac Farlane and his team at the Art Factory mas camp were thrilled by the victory, they were disappointed with the lack of structure and organisation behind the mas scene.
Daryl Joseph, road manager for the band, often criticised the lack of consultations between the people on the ground and the people making and implementing the decisions. He said representatives from various bands met with the National Carnival Bands Association (NCBA), the bands governing body, and outlined ways to help speed up the pace of the presentations and to improve the accessibilty to the stage, but very few of the suggestions were put in place.
The winning band now plans to take its popularity and use it to improve the way Carnival is being handled.
"Even if that means not competing anymore," Mac Farlane said.
"Next year I plan to break all the rules. I will parade on clear streets, I will present in open spaces and I will give the people what they want to see," he said.
Humanity the Circle of Life was the last big band to cross the stage at 8.45 pm on Tuesday night and the stands emptied out soon after his elaborate presentation was over.
