I am sure that Gareth Calway was a wonderful teacher for all of his 27 years, perhaps he even wrote a very touching book of poetry and stories (a medium he calls "verse poetry") inspired by that experience, but then I would much rather see this one-man-act toned down and eased into either a relaxed story-telling or book-reading-affair. There is obviously a rich breadth of character and scenarios that could have been drawn upon, but instead the audience is treated only to a sea of similes in which the half-limericks flounder.The staged readings are broken up by ridiculous performances of the bewigged teacher enthusiastically playing air-guitar to classic rock school-related themes. The message of the show is spelled out only in the last 6 or so lines of the performance, and it is a blunt instrument of elucidation on what a more “pure” teaching moment really is.
Hi Tatyana
ReplyDeleteThis was a negative review that gave me a sleepless night - but you did at least allow me the credit of acknowledging what I was trying to do and researching your comments. There were no limericks (or even semi-limericks) in my show, however, though there were some villanelles, which take considerable skill, time and effort to write.
Mr. Calway,
ReplyDeleteI am quite sorry to have caused you any loss of sleep.
Thank you for the correction, villanelles they were indeed. Glad to see you're still taking the opportunity to teach : )
cheers!