Review: Attila the Stockbroker at Petersfield Write Angle

Upstairs @ The Square Brewery, Petersfield

After more than 100 gigs, Attila announced to a full house: “This was the last for this year”. He held the audience in laughter and pathos - “I write about ….the world and what happens to me”. He believes “Poetry’s not boring. Poets are!”

His feelings about his mum’s Alzheimer’s disease, his father - who died when he was 10 - and his step dad, “You decent gentle man. You were the head of the household. I was the stroppy kid”. It took 37 years for them to admit they loved each other: “It’s never too late”. Attila switches comfortably from humour to ‘serious’ and combines the two.

Talks of his “Auntie Rose who lived next door, wore 20’s clothes - in 1964 – never married, because the man she loved was killed in WW1”. Attila paid tribute to the soldiers of WW1: “Not a war to end all wars forever. A pointless feud”, “What passing bells for those who die as cattle”.

A poem about Southwick’s own Heartbreak hotel, his local pub, where “if you wanted a pint of beer that wasn’t real ale, or a fight, or you were a lost sailor, you went there”.

When it closed, Attila noticed a new sign, thinking there’d be a better pub, and discovered it said the ‘Redeemed Christian Church of God Kingdom Life Assembly Achievement Centre’!

Attila started taking pills for high blood pressure - “This angry young man is still angry, but older. And now Father Time has just pissed on my shoulder. You’ve got to grow up, John - you’re way past that stage. You’ve reached the condition they call ‘middle age’. It’s time to be quiet, say ‘yes’, watch TV - High spot of the week, a nice dinner party. Polite conversation until you doze off. The topics: house prices, taxation and goff”. (golf)

He might be feeling his age but Attila on stage is still full of energy! ‘Poison Pensioner’ (to his aunt): “I can’t see how you’re related to me. You worked all your life in the Public Sector. You were born in a council flat, you clueless bitch, but you side with the Right and vote for the Rich”!

Another cause concerns: “Pollution, global warming, endless corporate greed…The extinction of elephants, bears… but one species no one cares about.”

Attila, whose mother taught him classical violin, took his guitar and sang ‘No thank you, Farage’, … the audience joined in. Then, the ‘Ragged Trousers Philanthropist Anthem’: “Will they publish photos of Prince Harry with no clothes on…”
Then a song about cats, encouraged by his wife Robina knowing Leah loves them - “There was this dead cat lying flat out, in those bushes and has mag-gat!”

Attila created an entire ‘blues’ number from this poor neglected cat.

He ended with a poem for his mum helping her remember the memories she forgot when she got Alzheimer’s. A very moving piece, highly emotional, intelligent and honest. She wanted to explain how her brain felt. “If my memory is gone, how come I remember how to understand?”, “My brain feels like a big sponge with big holes in it”, “I love you, my son. You’re my rock” - “I love you too, mum. I’m your punk rock!”

Attila’s mum accompanied him on many of his tours. He didn’t need a carer to tell him how to approach her, when her brain stopped functioning normally. He knew her well enough to handle it without instruction.

He then read from his latest book, ‘UK Gin Dependence Party’. His repertoire is endless. But then, someone performing all over Europe and the UK for 35 years, is bound to have accumulated a lot!

Open mikers included Greg Harper, (March 2016 guest), great guitarist and singer, (coincidentally taught by Attila’s mum) did ‘Gossimer Wings’. He then brought Christmas spirit in the room with everyone singing ‘Silent Night’. Dedicated to Attila - but no matter how familiar the song, it lent a spiritual feel!

Sam Cosmo did ‘chain restaurants’ - “Feeling guilty about eating in an Italian restaurant without Italians running it”.
Dave Allen, a wonderfully creative story/poem about a ferry trip, two young lovers, salt peanuts and a massive, mutant squid.

Bruce Parry performed a poem for Leah and Jake about New York. He captured the colours and sounds, including the NY accent ‘we don’t understand’.

Phyllida Carr did a poem about Fez, after having won the raffle for two free meals there. She loved it.

Barry Smith’s chav’s visit to the gallery followed by “A good old noshup in the caff’!

David Roberts did a tribute to Woody Allen ‘Magic in the Moonlight’, while G Rimes did a poem for Attila.

The Christmas food went fast and the evening was a smashing success. The raffle prize was a meal for two at Petersfield’s Thai restaurant, Lemongrass.

Ash Dickinson will be the special guest when Write Angle returns on Tuesday 20 January Upstairs @ The Square Brewery.

Petersfield Write Angle, petersfieldwriteangle.co.uk