DYNAMIC DUOS...
Went to the far reaches of Melbourne Thursday night, well not really, but sometimes after driving straight from work, it does feel that way. Where you ask? Yarra Glen.
Love the vibe that Sandy Jeffs gets in her gig, the intimacy, the food and the damned good poets. This time it was...
identical twins, Bronwen and Emily Manger. Perhaps that should read Emily and Bronwen Manger, as I don't know who was born first and what the etiquette is in listing twins....
They were great, as usual. Have seen them perform in various venues and I found it interesting to watch the way they worked. Each a counterfoil for the other, offering a balance of tone and mode but also presentation.
(photos by Alex Ruschanow)
Presentation is sometimes so over looked, or even forgotten about. Many writers think that content alone will suffice, and it does, on the page. But when performing, it is presentation that can make or break a poem. Can have the audience shuffling in their seats and thinking thoughts such as - a coffee would be nice about now- or I wonder if that dress comes in red?
You don't want your audience to loose the thread, you want them with you every step of the way. You want them smiling and laughing with you...want them saying ooh and ahh at the right time.....shuddering if you want them to...nodding in agreement....or perhaps wiping a tear away. Only if you want them to.
Emily and Bronwen are not only good poets, they understand the art of performance. Their ability to work back and forwards, highlighting the strengths in each others work, and I loved their calm way of always being supportive for the other.
It was another good night of poetry in Melbourne's outreaches. Sandy is an entertaining host (especially when she is knocking down art works) and brings some good poetry to, as she calls it, Yarra Glum.
Definitely one to add to your list of poetry venues.
Love the vibe that Sandy Jeffs gets in her gig, the intimacy, the food and the damned good poets. This time it was...
They were great, as usual. Have seen them perform in various venues and I found it interesting to watch the way they worked. Each a counterfoil for the other, offering a balance of tone and mode but also presentation.
Presentation is sometimes so over looked, or even forgotten about. Many writers think that content alone will suffice, and it does, on the page. But when performing, it is presentation that can make or break a poem. Can have the audience shuffling in their seats and thinking thoughts such as - a coffee would be nice about now- or I wonder if that dress comes in red?
You don't want your audience to loose the thread, you want them with you every step of the way. You want them smiling and laughing with you...want them saying ooh and ahh at the right time.....shuddering if you want them to...nodding in agreement....or perhaps wiping a tear away. Only if you want them to.
It was another good night of poetry in Melbourne's outreaches. Sandy is an entertaining host (especially when she is knocking down art works) and brings some good poetry to, as she calls it, Yarra Glum.
Definitely one to add to your list of poetry venues.
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