By Jessica Wind (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: February 20, 2013
There is a fine line between written word and spoken word. At the English Students’ Association (ESA) first open mic night of the semester, this line was blurred even further.
English enthusiasts took to the AfterMath stage on February 6 to perform their original poems, short stories and songs. Fittingly titled “Poems, Pints and Prose,” it was a night filled with liquor, laughter and literary trivia.
The event itself was not a competition, but rather a coming together of other like-minded individuals eager to share or receive original pieces constructed by the UFV community.
ESA treasurer Michelle Giesbrecht explained the structure of the event, saying that there is no way to judge one piece against another in such a setting.
“We have prizes, but it’s not a competition. It’s apples and oranges. It’s art,” she said.
To open the floor, ESA president Scott Sparrow recited Steve Colman’s “I wanna hear a poem.” He was followed by a steady stream of poets and musicians reciting their original work. Many readers took advantage of the opportunity to take the stage more than once and recited multiple pieces. In response to the addition of music to the Poems, Pints and Prose lineup, Tristan Smith accompanied himself on guitar and performed some original songs.
A microphone malfunction early in the evening forced all speakers to project across the pub, but as the evening continued guests crept closer to the stage, making for a more intimate atmosphere.
Writer-in-residence Rex Weyler took the stage and entertained with an improvised limerick before jumping into “How do I love you.” The room was silent as he shared his poem before erupting in acclaim.
He expressed his love for open mic events in the face of a society reliant on commercialized entertainment.
“It’s really refreshing to see people standing up on stage in a local pub and doing poetry and music and songs and stories,” he said. “To me it’s the heart of what real entertainment should be – where art and entertainment merge.”
The final reading of the evening went to Sparrow, accompanied by Giesbrecht and a typewriter. They mirrored each other in clothing and actions; Sparrow read from a music stand and Giesbrecht served as a prop in the performance, clacking away on the typewriter for added sound effect to Sparrow’s piece.
SUS VP finance Ryan Petersen emceed the event and doled out candy prizes for correct answers to questions like, “Where is William Shakespeare buried?” and “How many languages has Harry Potter been translated into?”
Another chance to win prizes took the form of paper distributed to every audience member with instructions to create a limerick or haiku. This gave contestants a chance to win one of three classic leather-bound books.
To close out the evening Petersen called all limerick and haiku poets to the stage for recitation. Many guests collected on the stage, including CIVL station manager Aaron Levy disguised as the ESA mascot, George Owl (a pun on the name of author George Orwell). The leather-bound books went to James Linde for a haiku and Beau O’Niell for a limerick as voted by cheers from the audience.
This was the third open mic event hosted by ESA, and the second open to musical numbers.
Sparrow commented on his fear of English enthusiasts missing out on the opportunity to get behind the microphone.
“The biggest thing I’m worried about are the few people that don’t show up that are the lovers of poetry and prose,” he said. “They are out there, I guarantee it.”
Before the end of the semester they hope to host another event and see more English lovers come out. Giesbrecht summed up the spirit of the event and of the ESA board, which will be holding elections for the 2013/2014 executive board at the end of the semester and wants to see all English-lovers get involved.
“We love what we do, we hope other people love what they do and we can all do it together.”
