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By Joe Gouveia
capepoet@yahoo.com
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING PHOTO
LOFTY LOCATION - The Poetry and Politics Conference was
held at the University of Stirling, nestled in the mountains of
Scotland.
UNIVERSITY OF STIRLING PHOTO
WHITHER POETRY? These visitors to Stirling in
Scotlandseemtobechoosinga direction,atask similar
to that of the recent Poetry and Politics Conference
at the university here.
Stirling, Scotland - 1didn't know what to expect as
I boarded the plane to Scotland, to attend the Univer-
sity of Stirling's Poetry & Politics Conference. Their
Qebsite listed poets attending from Palestine, Israel,
India, China, the good old US of A, France, Russia,
and several other countries across the globe. So many
differing perspectives on the poetry of polemics. And
knowing the temperament of poets, especially politi-
cal voices of dissent, I wasn't sure if this would turn
out to be a peace-loving orgy of words or metaphoric
WWIII.
Neither happened. What happened here wasequality.
Voices entering in healthy debate over many issues of
poetics, literature and politics. Interestingly enough,
I haven't encountered a single poet in support of the
US war on Iraq. Every nationality here opposes it. The
Israelites, the Palestinians, the Chinese, the British ...
all oppose American Imperialism. They see the war as
an American military presence in the Middle East to
secure capitalistic investments in the oil industry.
I find little to argue with them about. After all, most
of the oil consumed in the US comes from Venezuela
and Canada. But OPEC is probably the most power-
ful oil cartel in the world. With increasing globaliza-
tion, and the spreading of a world economy, America
wouldn't want to lose power in the New World Order
of the global superstructure. Oil is the world'sbiggest
empire. Having control over it is to nearly have control
over the world, as oil is in every product we consume,
from gasoline to Styrofoam cups to plastic.
But nothing is plastic about the voices of protest
here. In a day and age where America seems to be
dancing the "Right Wing Swing,"it is refreshing to see
international delegates of the poetry community, from
academics to performers , in the words of John Lennon,
"come together, right now, stop the war."
But that doesn't mean that stopping the war means
peace. There is, apparently, a reason why Plato leaves
poets out of the Utopian society. A poet can always
stir up trouble , because we are idealists, and nothing
is ever good enough.Poets will always find something
not quite perfect enough to protest against. And typi-
cally, at this conference , it again centered around the
performance vs. academic poets. Althoughroom exists
for both , especially at this conference , the argument
prevailed. I told one poet they needed to march in the
streets for some cause, any cause, because obviously
he had enough energy to expend. Putting that energy
to waste by saying a performance piece about riding
my Harley Davidson Low Rider up the highway to
Laconia Bike Week, criticizing the yuppiefication of
the sport isn't poetry. Well, that is energy that could
be used saying Bush isn't a real president after all.
Nonetheless, there he sits in the Whitest House in U.S.
history, and what is being done? Complaining about
the rise of performance poets? Please
Ironically,it appears that the performance poets here
have presented the most action being taken against the
politics of the day. Presentations were given of poets
busting out in verse spontaneously on the streets of
Philadelphia,getting the Word in the ears of those who
would probably never pick up a book or go to a read-
ing. And in Virginia and D.C., poets take short poems
that speak out against the Bush administration and
its Bushy ways, and paint them on plywood sheets
and nail them to 2x4s, and stake them into the ground
along the sides of roads leading to military bases. The
signs are taken down pretty quickly -the record is 17
days staying up - but the message is getting across to
those who wouldn't see it otherwise.
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
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S Strong acting, singing
feed a bloomin good time
By Bethany Gibbons
arts@barnstablepatriot.com
ROBERT TUCKER/FOCALPOINT STUDIO PHOTO
GROWING INTEREST- Seymour (Kevin Quill) and Audrey
(Meghan Prypin) cultivate a blossoming romance in the
Academy Playhouse's LittleShop of Horrors.
S
kid Row never looked so good. With a
tight band rocking the pit and sweet
voices filling the air, Little Shop of Hor-
rors is a night of entertainment guaranteed.
The Academy Playhouse in Orleans provides
a cool evening of be-bopping. bouncy fun. bol-
stered by the vocal talent of its finger-snap-
ping cast.
This show is not recommended for children,
as it involves mature themes, but adults can
enjoy zesty musical numbers and the unique
dark humor of this unusual piece.
The story follows sweet and dorky Seymour,
employed at a suffering dive of a low-rent
florist shop, on his JK§
misadventures with Mr
a very strange JT*
plant. His co- -<^
mini-skirts , l^^^' ii^
every order of her ^
"semi-sadist" motorcycle-
dentist boyfriend , Orin. The two
plant-shop employees awkwardly
nurture a budding romance , under
the scrutiny of the stern business
owner Mushnik . The characters
are a collection of down-on-
their-luck losers, but the M ^
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
Little Shop rocks
and bops in
Orleans show
WHAT production
tells a tragic tale
By Melora B. North
melora@barnstablepatnot com
If
you've ever had a one-night
stand you will easily be able
to relate to Adam Rapp 's Red
Light Winter , now playing at the
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater.
It's the story of a classic one-time
experience , though this tale has
far-reaching ramifications that
pick at the heart and soul like
Dylan on a bad day.
Tyson Kaup is Matt, the some-
what nerdy author stuck with a
bad case of writer 's block and a
long untested libido: his college
buddy Davis , played by Todd Geb-
hard. a cocky editor riding on a
fluky recent professional high; and
a French prostitute , Allison Jean
White , living off her good looks
and a long list of failed attempts
at success, This production is not
a comedy, rather a Greek tragedy
set partly in the red light district
of Am-
sterdam ,
then later
in New
York City.
The
guys are
on vaca-
tion in
the sinful
city where
anything
goes.
staying at a seedy hotel in the red
light district boasting show win-
dows occupied by a bevy of beau-
ties daring to share their bodies
with anyone who is willing to pay
for favors.
In an attempt to cheer up his
buddy Davis hires Christina and
brings her back to the hotel for
Matt , but not before trying out
the goods. Unfortunately , this
little gesture of questionable
good will
backfires
and Chris-
tina falls
for Davis '
good looks
and win-
ning charm.
However ,
she takes
on the as-
signment
and goes
back to the hotel where she and
Matt share some intimate musings
as well as a speedy rendezvous
under the covers. Another unfor-
tunate move, as Matt, starved for
affection and love , naturally falls
Christina is confronted by yet
anotherof life'
sdisappointments
whensheisintroducedto Davis'
true colors, a chart of hues so
vivid one is reminded of the
Devil's heated reds.
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
Red lig ht Winter takes a chilly look at sex