Friday, December 16, 2011

Ron Stewart's Poetry Group At Landon Library

I have not attended Ron Stewart's poetry group for a long time, but I am subscribed to his updates and enjoy "staying in the loop."

Ron was unable to host this past Wednesday, December 14, 2011, however, he let us all know how it went. Here is his update:

Here is the insider report on Last Night at Landon. I have it on good authority that a lively poetry workshop took place with 9 or 10 poets.

As you now know the guest facilitator was the beautiful and talented Christine Thorpe and my thanks go out to her for stepping in at short notice and running a fine workshop.

Unfortunately I was not there to take notes on the poems studied last night, but here are some of the titles. I leave it to you and your vivid imaginations to fill in the blanks.

Here are some of the titles:
  •     They wore pink - (perhaps something about breast cancer?)
  •     Armageddon in the Food Fair (I can't imagine what was going on here,   but it sounds great)
  •     Skating Party (A short poem with a twist I bet)
  •     Dragon Summer (Knowing who wrote this poem, I'm sure it wasn't about martial arts)
  •     She is (or was) no ordinary rose (not about gardening)
  •     Untitled about tights and angels (I don't think this was about angels in tights)
  •     Lover moon (I can see the canoe bobbing gently in the reservoir while two lovers...)
If any of the participants would like to send their poems along I would be more than pleased to read them. My curiosity is killing me.

Anyway, back to Last Night at Landon.

My insider reports that the poems were thoroughly discussed and the poets found the group comments eye opening if not helpful.

I hope to get back on track for the January workshop. See you on the 11th at 6:30 PM at Landon Library.

If you are a London, Ontario poet and you would like to share your work and get feedback,  Ron's monthly workshop is for you.

Put January 11th at 6:30 p.m. on your Calendar.   

P.S. Landon Library, if you are unfamiliar with it, is located at 167 Wortley Rd., London, Ontario, Canada N6C 3P6. Phone is 519-439-6240.

Friday, December 02, 2011

London's Passionfool Theatre Company Excels!

I've not really known what to do with this blog - still don't - since it's no longer connected or linked to the original London Writers' Society website.

Yet, there have been so many times I've wanted to blog about a book or a local play or write a recommendation. 

I keep thinking I'll start another blog or another site, but I'm really busy.

So, although sticking with "London Writers' Society" for the name of my blog doesn't really fit anymore, it is what it is - at least for the present.

Since I have this blog set up and I need not make any decisions about a new name or URL - I don't have to build or set up anything - and I can still just write, I'm going to do it, even though it's unlikely that this blog will come up in any search engines or be found.

Still - what the hey. So - to my real topic.

When Passionfool Theatre comes out with their new season subscription, get it!

I had one this year and it was great. The last play staged (in November 2011), Attempts On Her Life, was surprise after surprise and brilliantly done. The whole cast did a great job, yet Jason Rip's performance really struck me as outstanding. 

Since this is what I have come to expect from Passionfool, this last time - when I was waiting for the performance to begin  (and if you've been to the Arts Project venue you know this is a very small venue with few or no props) - I realized I felt as excited as I do when we go to Stratford!

It was, of course, for different reasons.

I feel enthused about going to a play at Stratford for - let's face it - the beauty of it.

It's an opportunity to visit that beautiful little town, step into the sumptuous venue, be enthralled by lavish sets and costumes, and thrill to some famous  thespian projecting his or her energy "in the flesh."

It isn't, however, a place to go if you are interested in thinking a new idea or having a bit of a paradigm shift about reality. 

For instance, I didn't think too much about Camelot after I saw it at Stratford.

Yes, it was fun. Yes, it made me laugh and, yes, it made me shed a tear for the pain of lost love.

But, bottom line, it was predictable - even though I had never seen a performance of Camelot before - and that's why I think people go to Stratford.

They've seen many of these plays before or, at least, heard the story lines.

The surprise is to see the new costumes, sets, small interpretative changes. In the case of Camelot, the big surprise - and one that got a gasp from the audience - was when a real falcon flew from Merlin's arm.


I have no doubt that Passionfool Theatre - had they the funds - could stage equally beautiful productions, yet that is not their forte.

The company does "edgy" really, really well. Brilliantly, in fact.

Passionfool stages plays you will never see at Stratford, plays that surprise you and - in the words of the TVO slogan - "make you think."

I think the thing I really like about the plays they put on is that they demonstrate how difficult it is, really, to stereotype people or to label them.

We are all much more than we think we are or project. And both the Shadow and the Angel are ever present and waiting for the right - or wrong - circumstances to invite them out to play.  


In any event, this is local theatre at its best.

So call The Arts Project at (519) 642-2767 and reserve your 2012 Passionfool season subscription.

For a whopping $50 you'll see 3 plays: House, Three In The Back Two In The Head, and The Crucible. (Brochure.)

If you enjoy provocative and brilliant local theatre,you will not be sorry.