Night of Comedy at Haymans Market: AllStars Festival

On March 16, Barbados’ AllStars Festival welcomed the performance of award-winning American comedian Rich Hall, who led an unforgettable night of entertainment at the newly renovated Haymans Market. Hall demonstrated a seemingly limitless pool of comedic material, with clever quips ranging from Bajan roundabouts, which induced strong bouts of laughter from the local audience, to a humorous critique of the disparities between American and British politics, prices, and national dispositions.

Throughout the performance, Hall’s unique approach to dissecting popular topics had his audience consistently in stitches. This included a sarcastically-infused exploration of vaccine conspiracy theories, amusing anecdotes about married life, and hilariously critical observations of the American healthcare system. Many also found humor in Hall’s relatable recounting of his personal experience of being ticketed for jay-walking.

Demonstrating another aspect of his artistic talent, Hall impressed the crowd by seamlessly transitioning to a musical interlude. Taking up a guitar, he composed and performed lively, witty songs constructed through improvised engagements with select audience members. His musical prowess garnered a rousing round of applause, contributing to an hour-long show that served as a refreshing wave of comedy at the second night of the AllStars Festival.

Among the audience that night was local comedian Simon Alleyne, who spoke to the importance of such events for expanding the diversity of entertainment and comedic styles in Barbados. Alleyne praised the Haymans location and stated that Hall’s performance was excellent. He acknowledged the significance of the event as a unique learning opportunity for emerging comedians to broaden their understanding of the comedy craft.

Artistic Director Melinda Hughes echoed this sentiment, stating that the festival was not only designed for showcasing different talent but also for nurturing local comedians. As part of this goal, Hughes shared that Hall conducted a workshop for local comedians, adding that the collaboration would culminate in a final performance scheduled for March 23. The AllStars Festival had already launched on March 15 to a sold-out crowd, featuring not only comedy but also an opera gala with prominent performers such as Hughes, Shantal Martin, Todd Wilander, Nathan Richards, and Andre Hoyte.