If you want to hear social and political commentary, soca, humour and chutney all in one place then the Divas Calypso Cabaret International is the place to be.

Based at the Mas Camp Pub, Corner French Street and Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, the Divas opened its doors last Wednesday to a full house. Manager Rudy Ottley gave patrons a package that will make them want to come back for more.

The quality of the music was excellent. A band of musicians from UTT and COSTATT worked cohesively with an engineer who knows his stuff; they are proved themselves. The MC called the band the Lacouray Connection.

The opening salvo by Catherine (The Spiritual Diva) with "Rae Rae", left no doubt that it was going to be a good night. Stacy Sobers came next with sweet soca music in "My Land"; she was accompanied by dancers, making her performance very visual.

"Calypso is Alive" is true calypso performed by Tenaj Smith, so too is "Close to the Edge" by Lady Nurse. But a debutante with the sobriquet Tiny brought the crowd to life with her song "Piranha". She told of the troubles women go through in the calypso world. She was raw and held nothing back. Tiny is a bomb.

Following close on Tiny's heels with another ditty was Sharon Alexis. Her song "Panty Line" is well constructed and was well delivered. You have to listen very carefully to understand her point.

Shradah McIntyre is another debutante who is passionate about Trinidad and Tobago and she said so in her song "Because I Know".

Veteran Karen Eccles gave a grand performance of "Turn off the Lights" and got the audience's attention. Using all her expertise in performing Angela Ramoutar's rendition of "I Am Your Lady" sent patrons into fits of laughter and dance simultaneously. She had them

dancing and singing.

Shorty closed off the first segment of the show with "Mashing up Road". By this time intermission was welcome.

Upon resumption, another newcomer to the tent, Shelly, had her "Fun in the Sun" and Sister Virtue gave a lesson on "Parenting". Lady Chaconia had the "Key to Success" while the Messenger "Hang Jack", all good calypsoes.

But it was Joy C (Bridgette Cresse) in her first appearance in a tent who caused a stir, with a powerful delivery of "Life's No Disaster" in which she told people to get down on their knees and pray. She received two encores and was going on a third but time did not permit.

Lil Jean (Jean Lewis) continued where Joy C left off and had the Mas Camp buzzing. Patrons got off their seats and waved anything they had.

Lil Jean's song was a mockery of soca artistes, their songs and their performances. "Low, on the count of four, anybody horning, anybody from Trinidad, wave something and low" were the words to the song. The Mas Camp audience lapped it up and Lil Jean had to come back on stage on three occasions.

The Mama Diva Sweet Jean (Jean Sam) closed the show with "Mad One" and "Chiney Wedding". She too had the audience laughing with her peculiar brand of humour.

The Divas Calypso Cabaret International is a power house of laughs and could turn out to be one of the best tents for Carnival 2012.