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| October 13, 2006 Barnstable Patriot |  |
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B
ack in the '60s, political poet and activist ex-
traordinaire Allen Ginsberg said that a title
of "World Poet" ought be invented and given
to Bob Dylan. So a tradition exists in America of a
marriage between poetry and music, between poets
and musicians. Often the line separating the two is
blurred , and we end up with poetic lyrics that can
move institutions, as in the poetical lyrics of Bob
Dylan.At that point the age-old arguments of "what
is poetry?" becomes meaningless, and how those
words move society and its citizens, meaningful.
Hyannis birthed poetic lyricist/singer/songwriter
Sara Leketa, a phenomenal young woman in her
'20s, already gaining recognition and getting gigs
not only across Cape Cod, but in New York City
and Chicago as well. The girl is on a roll, a rock and
roll, a modern day female version of Dylan. Her
voice reaches deep within herself, and to watch her
perform on stage is incredible. She goes to another
planet, almost as if she isn't even there. She is in a
trance with her jam, just exposing her soul and cut-
ting loose. In a day and age of hype and glitter, it is
refreshing to see someone so honestly into their art.
The guitar seems to be strummed effortlessly, as the
Muse truly channels itself through the Cape's most
incredible poetic lyricist to hit the scene in recent
years.
Ms. Leketa first took to the stage five years ago, at
a venue formerly known as The Prodigal Son on 10
Ocean St. in Hyannis. She signed up for the weekly
Wednesday open mic, and with voice and hands and
knees all trembling, still managed to wow the audi-
ence. Hoots and howls filled the room. That venue,
now The Island Merchant under new ownership, has
Ms. Leketa hosting the weekly Wednesday open mic,
and doing weekend shows here and there. She has
become a permanent fixture of the place, but prob-
ably not for long. If she continues rocking the crowd
with her message, like she did this past Saturday at
Pufferbellies' Battle of the Bands, then this girl has
a long, successful career ahead of her.
And thank goodness for her getting ahead! Her
poetic lyrics are filled with Truth. As in The Truth.
These lyrics are socially pertinent and personally rel-
evant. This is why so many can are attracted to her
poetic music, because it draws one in on a personal
level. This explains why she was so well received in
Chicago, at the Women With Guitars concert series.
The lyrics to "Narcissistic Fool" were inspired
by her brother, who she was very close to grow-
ing up. After he moved south to Georgia and then
returned to New England , his language was full of
homophobic and racial slurs. Her brother attributed
the change in his diction to it being, "just the way
it is down there." Being a lesbian, Ms. Leketa was
crushed, and created the Kerouacian lines, "I've
been driving 95/Just to clear my head/and the road
looks like glass in the rain/It's too bad you lost your
tread." She goes on letting the brother know she's
been wondering about him and what went wrong
with him. In times when priests in, of all places,
Provincetown are fighting against gay marriage ,
these lines become socially imperative.
Ms. Leketa says she writes and sings because
she hasn't a choice, that she loves and hates it, but
mostly ioves it. Seeing this pain explains the hating
it. Being a voice of social concern is no easy job for a
poet, one who writes or performs.
In other pieces, she uses strong imagery, as in
"Blood Moon" where "the water takes away my
sunshine/takes away my blue skies." The song is one
of intimacy, two walking hand in hand, with indeci-
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
The girl next door:
a world-class poet?
&«:
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S
Performers '
sparkle can't save
ill-conceived
production
By Melora B. North
arts@barnstablepatnot.com
DON'T CAST MEOFF - Martha Whatley implores Christopher Allen
to take her along when he jumps ship in Pirates of Penzanceat
the Academy Playhouse.
H
ere on Cape Cod
we are fortunate
to have a variety of
community theaters and
a selection of lively pro-
ductions. Sometimes the
choices are avant-garde ,
edge-of-the-seat thrillers;
other times old chestnuts
that simply refuse to burn
out, but perhaps should.
Such is the case with
Gilbert and Sullivan's
Pirates of Penzance , on
stage at the Academy of
Performing Arts in Or-
leans. It just doesn't work
this time 'round.
The music is upbeat
and well presented by
an orchestra of four, the
performances by the
actors enthusiastic , but
the players are ill cast,
the show dated and the
story line vague. While we
wholeheartedly support
community theater, this
time we just can't tout
anything but the talents of
the cast and that must be
done out of context with
the performance.
As always Rick Smith,
Christopher Allen and
Dennis Byrne are on top
of their game but they are
decades too old for their
roles and as such they
leave the audience won-
dering what Peter Earle
was thinking when he cast
forty- and fiftysomethings
for roles that should be
played by twentysome-
things.
And Ralph Earle as the
Major General... well, he
was wonderful and en-
dearing in the role, but to
believe an 84-year-old man
could have a bevy of teen-
age daughters, all approxi-
mately the same age, was
stretching the imagination
just too far.
Ageism aside, there
were some wonderful
highlights and surprises in
this production where the
chorus of young girls did a
superb job of dancing and
singing. But we could not
understand what anyone
was saying when they were
singing ensemble.
When Ashley Gaughran,
Elizabeth Silvia and Jaime
Guyon sang their solos,
however, it was pure heav-
en. Young sprites, they all
have surprisingly strong
and vibrant voices and we
hope to hear more from
them. They were the little
nuggets of gold that made
the foray to the theater a
refreshing experience.
Martha Whatley was in
strong voice as usual and
a ray of sunshine, though
unfortunately she too was
cast too old for the part .
Sergeant of police James
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
Academy's
Pirates buries
I
treasures in
creaky vessel
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
PULLING OUT
ALL THE STOPS
- "Hymnfest" might
serve as shorthand
for the day English
organist and Royal
Academy of Music
professor Peter Lea-
Cox has in store
for singers "from
all backgrounds
and levels of
experience " Oct. 28
at First Lutheran Church on Route 6A in West Barnstable. He will
direct a choral workshop (10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and concert (7
p.m., accompanied by West Barnstable violinist Yoko Haynen) on
"Celebrating Hymns." Music will range from Bach to gospel. The
fee for the workshop is $25 and includes lunch and use of musical
scores. A collection will be received at the concert. Call the Rev.
Ronald T. Englund at 508-495-1621 to register.
Spirituality at the Guyer
The sixth annual Baha'I Art Show at the Guyer
Barn, which opens Oct. 15,h and runs through the 21s',
is based on the theme of "the essence of spirituality
in today 's world." For the first time, organizers have
opened the show to non-Baha 'is. See it at 290 South
St. in Hyannis.
The language of love, in song
St. Peter 's Lutheran Church on Route 137 in East
Harwich hosts arecital of French songs and duets by con-
tralto Carole Buttner Maloof and baritone John Murelle
Sunday at 4 p.m. Admission is $15 at the door.
Come back Tuesday
Cape Cod Museum of Art will be closed Mondays
through Memorial Day 2007.
Comedy Club will keep you in stitches
The theater 's straw-hat season is a memory, but
Barnstable Comedy Club's 85'" season will keep you
warm with laughter.
CONTINUED ON PAGE C:2
ARTS NOTEBOOK —
Needlework enchants
at Centerville
Historical Museum
By Kathleen Szmit
kszmit@barnstablepatnot.com
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
NICE THREADS - Patricia Adduci' s "Tidepool" captures the
simple yet enchanting beauty of its namesake inan amazing
combination of needlework and seashells. See it and more
at Centerville Historical Museum.
Some create art with a brush and
canvas, while others use clay or blown
glass. Then there are those whose art
emerges through the eye of a needle.
Cross-stitching is a centuries-old
medium that utilizes thread to create
words, images, or even objects. The
diversity and beauty of needlework can
be seen in the NeedleArt sexhibit at the
Centerville Historical Museum.
The exhibit features 37 variations of
the craft, from intricate samplers to
stunning thread paintings, and even
three-dimensional works.
Provided by the Cape Cod Chapter
of the Embroiderers Guild of America ,
the pieces evoke both times gone by
and today 's modernity.
A selection of sam-
plers callsto mind those
created as schoolwork
by maidens new to this
country using needle-
work as a means of
learning their letters.
While these samplers,
by artists Ina Mish ,
Scott Daniels and Carla
Zavorskas , bear an an-
tique feel, closer inspec-
tion reveals surprising
touches made possible
by contemporary ma-
terials such as beading
and quality threads.
Much more than
mere stitches meant
to hold together fabrics,
these threads blend in
complex patterns and
shades to form stun-
ning creations using
Assisi, Blackwork , Nee-
dlepoint , or Hardanger
embroidery.
m
Colors simply leap and dance upon
the cloths serving as canvas. From pal-
est green to bright emerald, bold corals
and vibrant plums, the silken strands
are as lively, if not more so, than oils,
acrylics or watercolors.
The endless possibilities of needle art
are seen in the Crewel embroidery and
Stumpwork used by artists Karen Dug-
gan and Judy Witherhalter in making
threaded pieces in three dimensions.
In Witherhalter 's "Fantasy Remem-
bered ,"a tiny spider weaves a delicate
web while a dragonfly hovers with
iridescent wings over a stem bearing
berries in ripened glory.
Duggan's "Lily and Ladybug" is a
striking masterpiece that requires a
double take to realize it's not a real
orange day lily with avividred ladybug
ambling along a long green leaf.
Patricia Adduci's"Tidepool" captures
the simple yet enchanting beauty of its
namesakeinthe amazingcombinations of
needlework and seashells in the piece.
Finally, thread paintings by Zavor-
skas prove that timeless art does not
require a brush. After taking in the
painstaking detail of "Pink Orchid and
DaylilyCrazy Quilt,"it ismind-blowing
to realize that they were done with the
deft maneuvering of skilled hands and
a precisely guided needle.
If you think sewing on a button is
impressive, then seeing this exhibit
is a must.
The Centerville Historical Museum is open
Tuesday through Saturday trom noon until 4 p.m.
at 513 Main St. The Needle'Art exhibit will be on
display through Nov. 4.
Making their point, beautifully