“It’s really not easy for the average working person to manage an illness in this country.” These are the words of comedian and actor Clifford Learmond as he negotiates the aftermath of a February heart attack.
An angiogram shows Learmond needs bypass surgery, as his arteries are severely blocked, due to a combination of high blood pressure and cholesterol. He’s supposed to be on six weeks’ bed rest, but has been running around getting things done instead.
The medications he’s been prescribed are expensive: $11.50 and $15 a pill in two cases, which he has to take two to three times every day.
“Some of them are supposed to be available at the health facilities. I keep going from one health centre to the next and they don’t have them, so I just have to go to the pharmacy and buy it, to save myself from the stress of all that running around. But most of the time I’ve just been resting. Some of the days I’ve been okay; others I’ve been really tired and can’t move and just have to rest right through.”
Thankfully, a couple of friends are helping with the medication costs. In addition, he’s having to eat healthier than usual, which is very expensive. He is stressed about needing to earn money.
“It’s not going to help if I have my tablets but I have nowhere to live or can’t buy food, because you have to eat to take them otherwise you’ll get sick. I just need to start to get better fast so I can get back out to work and start to make some money to pay my bills.
“Right now I’m living off my savings, but it’s dwindling fast. Since this thing happened I have been in shock, I’m just overwhelmed and hopeless.”
The bypass surgery will cost $110,000, which Learmond is hoping the Ministry of Health will facilitate, at least partially, but then he faces three months’ recovery time, during which period he will not have any income. His heart attack came while he was participating in the Alternative Comedy Festival and a week before he was scheduled to take the stage in Penelope Spencer’s play, The Ridiculous 6 ½, at Queen’s Hall.
Learmond has been in the theatre for over 30 years, having had his start at the Trinidad Tent Theatre with Helen Camps. He credits Camps with introducing him to theatre and seeing talent in him he didn’t know he had.
“At Trinidad Tent Theatre, they taught us everything, from acting, movement, lighting design, sound, front of house, directing, stage management, etc. After that, I branched out and started working on my own. I’ve worked with almost every production company there is in this country and then some.”
Learmond insists he doesn’t remember most of the roles he’s performed, as he prefers to leave them behind once they're done. One role he remembers with fondness is that of Miguel, in the late playwright Godfrey Sealey’s work about Aids, One of Our Sons is Missing. Miguel was a young bisexual man who contracts an HIV infection, develops Aids, and dies.
“At the time Aids was a taboo subject and there was stigmatisation around that topic. Everyone was afraid to touch it and I played the lead character in that role. I remember the last run I did of that play, I got a standing ovation during my curtain call for every single performance. I don’t think any other actor in this country could boast of that happening to them.”
Learmond has also represented T&T regionally, in St Lucia, Grenada, Nevis, Barbados and Antigua, as well as at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in London, and the Fifth World Aids Conference in Montreal, Canada. He’s done thousands of radio, television and print ads over the years.
Learmond said theatre work is very close to his heart and he tries his best to be good at it in order not to cheat his audience. As far as he’s concerned, there is no glitz and glamour in T&T theatre.
“It’s a fantasy to think about seeing your name in lights here, but so many people are caught up in that world. Be true to yourself, come and do the work, be truthful to the work you do on the stage, and feel a sense of accomplishment when you do a good job.”
His contribution to the theatre over the years has been recognised by his peers, who are banding together to support him. Benefit performances in aid of Learmond and his fellow comedian, Shirley “Beulah” King were held last weekend at Queen’s Hall; however, more money is still needed.
More info
People interested in helping Learmond can call 334-4787, or donate to a/c #2226912 at First Citizens Bank on his behalf.