Some of the bright bits, as January shuffles out...

There seems no limit to the ingenuity of creatives and communicators when finding ways to wriggle under the wire of isolation. Terminus, created by Frome Drama Club, is a brilliant example: a drama auditioned, cast, & rehearsed on zoom, then recorded on zoom in the actors' own homes against a virtual background. The entire project from concept to realisation is superb: acting, production, every aspect of design, and the complex interwoven script co-written by director John Palmer. The setting is a fast train to Norwich. 

On board are seven of the cast - including the driver - with one waiting for the stop at Diss, one at the the end of the line, and another slowly reading the letter that will explains all.  It's clear from early on that these peoples' lives will all be revealed as intertwined by the time the journey terminates - and it becomes increasingly clear that this will not be Love-Actually style.  To keep the unravelling saga fast-moving, many of the screens show multiple images of the travellers, each immersed in their own dialogues. All the cast were convincing in their roles but one whose performance was particularly memorable is Tabitha Lamb as the little girl travelling in the cab to join her mother.

Poetry now, in another Zoomed 'Speakeasy' night, this time promoted by Theatre Orchard in Weston-super-Mare and hosted by Bob Walton, with an open mic session and Rebecca Tantony as guest. 

Bob was a popular visitor to Frome Poetry Cafe shortly after the publication of his first collection, Sax Burglar Blues, and he opened this Speakeasy with a powerful poem in response to a retaliation attack after the toppling of Colston's statue in Bristol. The gravestone of Scipio Africanus, a slave who died aged 18 in 1720, had become a Grade II listed monument: it was discovered hammered apart with a scrawled warning 'NOW LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO - PUT COLSTON'S STATUE  BACK' beside it. Bob didn't show this shocking image but he evoked it so strongly it seems relevant to share here.

The 15 open-mic poets also offered plenty to contemplate, plus a good splash of humour and, thanks to the internationality of zoom, transatlantic contributions too: Sunshine Lombre, calling in from 2pm Chicago, was simply fabulous.   And referencing American performers leads neatly to The Bijou Theatre in Tennessee which has a fascinating history dating from 1801 including vaudeville & cinema, and was narrowly saved for posterity as a theatre in 2005, so I was keen to see The Enid performed there on Saturday night. This was streamed on Youtube and actually turned out to be not a show but a British prog-rock band - a good one, though, with an enthusiastic international audience and exciting lighting effects. 

The Poetry Place is a monthly Sunday afternoon show on West Wilts Radio which is introduced and co-ordinated by Dawn Gorman who, when life allowed, ran the excellent 'Words & Ears' regular sessions in Bradford on Avon. This month's radio show features Dawn & Rosie Jackson discussing their new pamphlet, a strong open mic - including Frome's Moira Andrew on losing her sight (rather more good-humouredly than Milton) - and a splendid set from Martin Malone who lives in NE Scotland but is trapped in Hartlepool by current regulations. The programme will remain available, apparently forever, on the station's Play-Again page. 

And another in my 'occasional' series of random FB music recommendations: Postmodern Jukebox offers 'a vintage filter on today's hits' as performed with 'the style and craftsmanship of another era.' They promise a new video every Friday - try this one: Don't stop believing - a mini-movie with a glamorous old-movie feel.

 

As this week ushers out a long January with a flurry of snow,  flooded river banks and paths, and unsympathetic developments inching closer to the fringes and the heart of our town despite the best efforts of our hard-working representatives, Frome enjoyed a visitation of smiling snowmen, all 2 metres apart.  

Finally, a catching-on initiative created by Rare Species Theatre Company - Dress Up Fridays. Strut your stuff & post a pic on the facebook page, free fun for all.  Anything quirky to lift our lock-down spirits has to be worth a try!