Mas Productions Unlimited ready for ‘Chromatic Kingdom’

After previewing in early April, to wide acclaim, “Chromatic Kingdom” during its Spring Tea Social, the Brooklyn-based Mas Productions Unlimited says its ready to portray its production this Labor Day.

“It’s a fantasy mas – just based on the blending of colors,” Band leader and designer Wesley Millington told Caribbean Life in an exclusive interview at the mas camp at 1504 Remsen Ave. in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn. 

“We’re trying to do something that’s interesting to look at – different from the usual stuff you see now,” added Millington, who started working on costumes in his native St. Vincent and the Grenadines since he was 6. “People go in the store and buy costumes, but we do everything from scratch.”

Millington said “Chromatic Kingdom” comprises four sections, with 20-25 children masqueraders in each section. 

The sections are: Radiance, Guardian, Twilight and Goddess of Flight.

“We do it (play mas) to get this generation involved,” Millington said. “It’s part of the culture.”

Aubrie Pindar-Mathis, 10, portrays “Radiance”Photo by Nelson A. King

Trinidadian Gail Mathis, who recently became a member of Mas Productions Unlimited, said, over the years, she has been bringing her grandchildren to play mas with the band.

“It’s nice to belong to something that’s positive,” the Bedford-Stuyvesant resident told Caribbean Life. “It’s the culture, too. You try to teach them (grandkids), so they don’t forget.”

Two of Ms. Mathis’s grandchildren – Aubrie Pinder-Mathis, 10, and John Mathis-McClarin, 9, will be portraying “Radiance” and “Guardian”, respectively, in “Chromatic Kingdom”.

Nicole Holder, another new member, also said her two children – Sariah Holder, 6, and Sinaya Holder, 15, will play with Mas Productions Unlimited. Sariah will portray “Twilight”, and Sinaya will play “Goddess of Flight”.

“I feel amazing because I have beautiful Black kids,” said Ms. Holder, a Vincentian. “It’s a great thing to have the kids express themselves with our culture.”

Aubrie, who has been playing mas with Mas Productions Unlimited for four years, said she looks forward to “having fun and expressing the costume”, while John, who has been playing for similar years, said he’s elated to “celebrate the culture” in wearing his costume.

Sinaya has been playing mas since she was 1-year-old.

John Mathis-McClarin, 9, portrays “Guardian”Photo by Nelson A. King

“It’s my mother’s culture,” she said. “I inherit it from my mother.”

Millington said Mas Productions Unlimited will be using glow colors in “Chromatic Kingdom”. 

“They blended in such a way that one can see the relationship among the colors, but there’s a difference among the combinations in the costumes,” he said, adding that masqueraders will sway to the sweet soca vibes of DJ Dee, a member of the band, during the Junior Carnival. 

Mas Productions Unlimited was formed in 1992, with its first production the following year.

Last year, the band presented “Fusion” for Labor Day, “based on the blending and use of colors to create costumes,” Millington said.

For more information, call Millington at (718) 759-7766.

Sariah Holder, 6, portrays “Twilight”Photo by Nelson A. King