—Elea Carey reading from "Kiss Me"
Thursday 15 May 2008 was the latest live show of A River & Sound Review, and it was a good one. (Conflict of interest alert: I am helping out with publicity for RSR. Please note, however, that I was a fan prior to working with them.)
The show began with singer-songwriter Patrick Bradshaw. He sang three haunting, offbeat, quirky tunes throughout the evening, accompanying his voice with guitar and harmonica. I also had the pleasure of hearing him play a cover song during sound check, although I cannot remember either the artist or song title. But, if I hadn't known better I would have thought the song an original since it fit so nicely into his oeuvre. I purchased his album Alice and Other Curiosities after the show and have been listening to it constantly.
Kendall Pepple was the winner of Pierce County Library System's "12th Annual Our Own Words: Teen Poetry and Fiction Contest" in the 11th and 12th grade poetry category. He read winning poem "The Nature of New York City." He was obviously a little nervous, but held his own rather nicely.
Fiction writer Elea Carey followed. She read her short story "Kiss Me." It was one of those stories that is so well written that it convinced many of the audience members that it was autobiographical. I heard a couple people discussing it after the show, and uttering that they couldn't believe that she would "expose" herself so publicly. I also overheard someone asking her about some of the experiences of the protagonist. She had to explain again that it was fiction, and that she was not the character. (To "celebrity culture" and the people that keep it alive: you are killing us!)
Master of ceremonies Jay Bates called forth an audience member to play "Name That Book." It consisted of three rounds. Each round gave some background information about a particular book. Then the first line of the book was read. The player was asked to name the book and the author. If necessary, the player received three multiple choice answers from which to choose or requested help from the audience. Whitney played a fair set, with only a few hints from the audience.
Pennsylvania poet Philip Terman was the highlight of the show. He read a longer poem from his first collection of poetry, The House of Sages. "For Ganya" was a sensual poem that delicately married imagery from the garden that he and his wife tend with his love for her. It was earthy and, at times, erotic. I don't think that I could have managed the complex balance of the garden, its contents, his wife, her sensuality, her sexuality, and his apparent love for her. And, his reading of the poem really made the words sing. He alone was worth attending.
The evening ended with another episode of the literary soap opera drama As the Publishing World Turns, as read by the RSR Players. Heathcliff Beed learned that Ophelia Paine, the object of his lust and affection, was actually his sister. Although I am sure that may turn out to be false. Only time will tell.
The audience was attentive and generous with its applause. It was good to once again have a true literary event happening in Puyallup. I can only hope that A River & Sound Review will continue to capture the imagination of lovers of literature in Puyallup and the South Puget Sound region.
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The podcast of the above show (episode 19) is available for your listening pleasure.
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