Tue 25th Feb 2016

DOMINIC BERRY – VEGAN OVERTAKES WRITE ANGLE STAGE

Dominic's got a voice, confidence and powerful stage presence you won't forget. He's quick moving and energetic. His eclectic repertoire varies from childrens' poems like meeting a dragon on the way to school (who ends up swallowing the water in the pool), to sexual tales where five men are trapped behind toilet doors – each with his own horrific story including one 14 year old afraid to come out as he's tormented by some guys outside – he also faces the stigma of mental illness, where you can't take off work because you suffer agrophobia, stress or depression', but you can if you have a twisted ankle'.

He speaks of having had a tough childhood as the only child of a single parent. 'Single mums weren't looked upon favourably in those days' – he was bulllied a lot, had to wear second hand clothes, and learn beans on toast cost money - but somehow knowing 'everything changes', he got on with it. 'I drowned that dream but I never drowned!' A moving poem about 'Insomnia', describing every detail that goes on in one's mind, so sleep becomes impossible – 'till just before morning, when she flies away.'

His feelings about Cameron 'You'll never clean toilets for cash', to Valentine's day where his love is turned from that of a woman to being a vegan. Then admitting he's gay, ('as if you'd never guess it'). Dominic talks about how easy to escape one's real self, to games, where you take less chances. 'I'll obey. Let's invent a reality'.

He involves the audience and had them change his Valentine wish (you have to counter with the loss of love) from 'Oh, l'amour' to 'Au- bergine'.

He'a now working on 'Mindcraft', the transference from dealing with real emotions to game playing. Dom has a natural theatrical flow and his words seem to come naturally and easily to him. He's a strong poet with a flair for theatrics which enhances his performance to top level. He was working on 'Wizard' when with Write Angle', last, and has since received five grants to carry the play from location to location. He may not be 'everyone's taste' with his references to sex but, if you can stand the heat, you soon realise his poetry goes beyond the words to the emotions we experience universally, which control us and which we, in turn, must learn to control and put to positive use. Dominic is an example of someone who's made it – however hard and impossible it may have seemed and he's loved by many, both poets and audiences, and gives one heck of a performance!

At the Open Mic, Chris Sangster, read a dedication to Pam Ayres, he and his partner Jackie were fortunate enough to see – her kids off to school, and her new life starting, she had the audience rolling in the aisles. Having won the raffle, Chris dedicated a Valentine's day visit to Fez where the intimacy at each table was soon disrupted by 'Sally Shout' and her mum who filled the room with the 'rattle' of Sally's day; appropriately called, 'The Ear Acher'. Chris then sang his song, 'Estima' with his ukelele, inspired by 32,000 people from all parts of Estonia and other countries, all holding hands forming a chain, inviting the audience to join in. A lovely rendition.

Jilly Funnell went on with 'He was the Tops', followed by guitar and song, 'Hymn for Him', about people in a relationship getting older. 'We had so much in common' Holly Rose Thomas, newcomer, sang Al Capella, 'In the Arc of your Mallet', an Irish melody - lilting voice. She works at spiritual retreats and read a poem called, 'I am Everything', which evoked her experience with nature, in particular, a palm tree in Spain. Two inspiring pieces. We hope she comes back -with her guitar.

John Smith spoke of the weather limiting his time at the golf course, followed by some short poems, 'The Moving Hand' – 'the best poems are the ones left in your head', his shortest poem about The Tortoise and the Pie'. 'The tortoise was dormant but his pie crawled away'. A love poem for Valentine's day, ''The Downfall of a poor soul'.

David Roberts did 'Alice', '..a nice girl but her husband was having an affair. 'Deconstructing Harry', a complex character who ends up unable to 'reconstruct'! 'Black Hole' about loneliness in a black hole in your soul'. The poem was well received with compliments from several people. Finally, David did 'Love and Death'. You fall in love many times but only die once. (Fortunately, Woody Allen makes a film every year which should keep David going for a while)! Tim Dawes read a very clever poem which written, appeared as smoke soaring upward. 'War is just not what it used to be. There can be no smoke with no fire. We must learn to read from bottom up'. He, too, had a David Cameron poem, emphasising his annoyance that Muslim women must learn English within two years or be sent back to their native country, adding that law doesn't apply to any other people coming over.

Audi Maserati did his shortest love poem, 'Hand in hand they walked out of this song like a love affair'. Then, three songs on his uke, about dogs. 'Roxie's got a dog'. 'It's imaginary. It's only ever there when she wants it there'. His last poem was about Jesse, (when she was a puppy) his dog who died last year. 'My dog chased a squirrel up a tree. The squirrel got away. My dog runs in circles chasing her tail'. No matter what Audi does, he has the audience laughing. - even if it's choosing the right chair to sit on.

Phyllida Carr played harmonica to the background of a portable organ-piano. and came up with some added music, 'When the Saints Go Marching On'. 'Alphabet song' and a classical piece, all of which the audience joined in to sing. Colin Eveleigh read a sad poem 'Beautiful Bird', where the built-in wardrobe in his bedroom has mirrors that face toward the window. 'Thump – the sound of the birds hitting the glass very fast. 'Should I put up drab drapes'...Then, 'Stillness'…. Stillness is here.. No reason. No purpose. Enough to make one think! Bruce Parry played 'Both Tides Now' on his hammer dulcimer – lovely melody – a joy to hear. Followed by a poem 'Palace of Dreams'. Will old picture houses ever be the same as they were - (will the same be said about today's cinemas in 20 years time)?

The raffle, a Thai meal at Chichester's 'Thai House', was won again by- you guessed it, one of our regulars – who was almost 'forced' into taking it. You can't point the way luck falls! It just does!

Not a large crowd at 'Folly Upstairs' this evening but the intimacy lent itself well to the kind of evening it was. Every Write Angle creates its own ambience.

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