Diane di Prima -- Taking Dictation

The Excelsior Branch of the San Francisco Public Library presents Diane diPrima on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 from 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Poems come into being in many ways. Some are deliberately composed, often from an idea or experience. Others, however, seem to arrive whole " what is required of the poet is to get out of the way and let the poem "write itself."

The great San Francisco poet, Robert Duncan, called this "obedience to the poem" and Jack Spicer, his colleague, called it "taking dictation" and left it an open question as to who or what was dictating.

Join us for a very special evening with poet Diane di Prima, who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by PEN Oakland in 2008, and is San Francisco's new Poet Laureate.

In this informal talk/reading, Diane will discuss various ways the poem may be "received" and read poems that have arrived as if dictated. Dialogue with the audience will be invited and encouraged throughout the presentation. 4400 Mission St. (at Cotter) (415) 355-2868

You told your best friend a deep sacred secret that you held inside your heart for years. Then, she told everyone. Even wrote about it. How would you feel? There is a reason why she did it. A reason you never thought of. What in the world would that be?
Go see Collected Stories by Donald Margulies (a Yale professor and New York playwright) playing at the Cinnabar Theatre in Petaluma. It involves such a dilemma between two writers. An aging brilliant published short story writer (Carol Mayo Jenkins) takes young protégée (Anna Bullard) under her wing and they both begin a personal as well professional journey that ends in a surprise. Both actresses are members of the Actors Equity Association which brings a high quality of performance that is riveting to watch.
Carol May Jenkins commands the stage with a strength and wit that is refreshing. Her vulnerability comes across in intimate moments giving her character depth and variety of color. Anna Bullard portrays a quirky, skittish and endearing quality (reminding me of a Meg Ryan persona) that evokes laughter and dismay from the audience. How she changes in the end is thought-provoking.
Both actresses perform beautifully together. The chemistry is evident. Delivery of lines are sharp, quick, funny and intense. Director Elizabeth Craven is a pro in placing her actresses in unique positions creating variety on a one set design which is beautifully designed by David R. Wright. One enters the theatre not only seeing a living room setting, but painted images of women posed in the background. Intriguing to the eye!
I especially loved the theme of the play because it involves writing, friendship and its projections, moral choices, loyalty, secret ambitions. What amazes me is how incredible community theatre is. We don't have to drive all the way to the City to see quality work. It's here-in our backyard, waiting for us to attend, absorb, go home feeling full and contemplative.

Collected Stories runs through to June 13, 2009
8:00 pm May 23, 29, 30/ June 5, 6, 11, 12 & 13
2:00pm May 31 & June 7 $20-22 a ticket
Cinnabar Theatre
3333 Petaluma Blvd. North
Petaluma

707-763-8920
www.cinnabartheatre.org

Review by Nancy Long
May 2009

The Phoenix Theater has been a solid friend of the Petaluma Poetry Walk. Tom Gaffee and the Foundation have been generous in letting us use the facility each yeat. That it is indispensible to the community life of Petaluma is a fact. That's why we are pleased to mention their upcoming concert--

I will be reading at:

Coffee Catz, 6761 Sebastopol Ave
Sebastopol, CA 95472

on May 17th, 12:30-1:30 pm

No cover. Donations accepted.

(707) 829 6600