he usually tells how he crossed the ocean or the desert to wreak havoc on this side of the world, and his speeches feature double entendre and hyperbole. The midnight robber boasts of his evil exploits as he relates his family tree to prove his evil credentials. The midnight robber holds spectators spellbound when he delivers his passionate robber talk, brandishing his weapons – usually a toy gun or knife – to punctuate his story. His sweeping black cape, with its images of skulls or other visions of death and destruction, illustrate his story and tell his personal history.įile Photo: A midnight robber gives a demonstration to visitors on Nelson Island. Ominous and often downright scary his wide-brimmed black hat, decorated with ghoulish images, bobbing above the rest of his all-black costume, appears like an undulating wave carrying the robber through the Carnival streets. He is Carnival’s anti-hero, the character spectators love to hate, and he earns his respect from his well-crafted, mesmerising speeches. He is a lofty poet who represents street theatre at its best, and an entertainer bent on creating a healthy combination of fear and fun. On the other hand, he is a master of history and current events, which he can rattle off with amazing literary prowess. On one hand he is a menacing masquerader who looms large as a representation of evil.

THE midnight robber is a study in contrasts, and he might just be traditional carnival’s most intriguing character. Features Midnight robber: fearsome poetry mas

Midnight Poems by Amanda Springer