At a beachside bar at the Gran Bahia Principe hotel in Runaway Bay a crowd recently watched the two men jump up and down vigorously to thumping music, engage in a sword fight, dance on their hands and perform other acrobatics. What made it so extraordinary was that both men have just one leg. Despite the physical feats, they never once lost their balance.
I kept looking at the floppy pant leg that was pinned back at the knee, convinced they were concealing something.
"People can't believe we have one leg," Wallace told me after the show. "They think we're hiding (the other one)."
The 26-year-old lost his leg to bone cancer at the age of 17, while his pal Morris, 41, lost his leg after a motorcycle accident when he was 22. Both have been working as entertainers in one form or another for several years.
In 2006 they first assumed their pirate personas after getting a job at Dolphin Cove, where they show guests around and introduce the shark show. About three nights a week, they also entertain guests at hotels on the island including the Gran Bahia Principe and Sandals Ocho Rios.
Aside from dancing on one leg, their act includes spinning on their crutches, walking on their crutches with their remaining leg up in the air, and a karate demonstration that includes swinging sticks at each other!
Their model?
"We watch the two-legged guys but try to do it better," explained Nelson, though he admitted the hours of practice weren't easy. "It takes a lot of falling down. You need a strong mind."
And it helps to have a sense of humour. The two friends came up with their stage name "One Pair," when they realized they could save money on footwear. Since Nelson is missing his right leg and Wallace is missing his left, and both have the same size feet (size 10), they can shop for shoes and buy and share just one pair.
The duo aren't the least bit sensitive about the absence of a limb. In fact they actually flaunt it during their performance in a way that has some in the audience laughing uproariously and others wincing.
"Does anyone ever feel you're being taken advantage of?" I asked.
"No problem, don't worry," smiled Wallace. "The most fun we have is since we have one leg only."
The pirates seemed so upbeat, cheerful, and almost giddy while we chatted, I half wondered whether they'd been drinking (not that it mattered), but didn't detect a hint of booze. No, I concluded, they're just two happy-go-lucky guys bursting with positive vibes.
"We like to entertain people," chimed Nelson. "We have a lot of fun!"
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NEW ON JAMAICA'S NORTH COAST
- The Outameni Experience near Falmouth is a 90-minute journey through Jamaica's past where you'll meet Taino Indians, watch a Spanish flamenco dancer, visit an English town square, meet a Chinese shop keeper and watch Rastafarians sing and dance on stage.
- Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios is one of the top new attractions and includes a 1-km-long chairlift above the forest canopy; a bobsled roller coaster ride; a zip-line canopy tour; a water slide; and a pavilion where you can learn about Jamaica's flora, fauna and history and see crafts people at work.
- Hotels: New properties that have opened within the past year or so include the Grand Palladium in Lucea, the Riu Montego Bay, and Iberostar Rosehall. Other hotels have recently been renovated such as RIU Palace Tropical Bay (formerly Riu Tropical Bay) in Negril; the AAA five-Diamond Ritz Carlton in Montego Bay, Couples Tower Isle in Ocho Rios, and Rooms in Negril (part of the SuperClubs portfolio).
For more information, check visitjamaica.com or call 416-482-7850 or 1-800-465-2624.
- During the winter, WestJet has daily service from Toronto to Montego Bay. See westjet.com or 1-800-538-5696.
