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Post by joem on Sept 9, 2018 20:12:24 GMT
One-man show by Gail Louw about the great poet but curmudgeonly human Philip Larkin - the best Poet Laureate that never was and, for me, the second best UK poet of the twentieth century - in a short run at Above the Gate Theatre in Highgate which finished today. Plenty of semi-quotes from his poems incorporated into the text although no snatches of poetry are recited - no doubt due to copyright reasons. An old Larkin reminisces about his life and loves.
Pleasant enough but, like most monologues, not very dramatic and we learn nothing new about the protagonist.
Have to say I am getting increasingly fond of this theatre though; good food and drink in the pub AND it has performances on Sundays.
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Post by harrietcraig on Sept 9, 2018 21:59:27 GMT
One-man show by Gail Louw about the great poet but curmudgeonly human Philip Larkin - the best Poet Laureate that never was and, for me, the second best UK poet of the twentieth century OK, I'll bite: joem, who's your choice for best UK poet of the twentieth century? |
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Post by joem on Sept 9, 2018 22:04:53 GMT
Sorry, didn't mean it like that but, for me, it was TS Eliot. My favourite living poet, for what it's worth, is Wendy Cope.
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Post by harrietcraig on Sept 10, 2018 2:22:17 GMT
No need to apologize, I was just curious about what you left unsaid in your first post.
I don't know Wendy Cope, I'll go look her up now.
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Post by lynette on Sept 10, 2018 9:04:38 GMT
There is nothing wrong with Wendy Cope, very entertaining at her best. But there are so many other poets writing now I don’t believe you don’t like any of them or consider them very good indeed.
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Post by Jan on Sept 10, 2018 9:08:42 GMT
My favourite living poet. Tony Harrison |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 10, 2018 9:25:19 GMT
Wait, what? How have you gone from "TS Eliot and Philip Larkin are the best UK poets of the twentieth century and Wendy Cope is my favourite one who's still alive" and conclude that joem neither knows nor cares for any other poet ever? That's a helluva leap! |
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Post by lynette on Sept 10, 2018 11:20:31 GMT
I was trying to say, as nicely as I could, that as far as Living poets go, Wendy Cope is an unusual choice. But I see that she can be a favourite without being considered the best. Thank you B for pulling me up on this.
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Post by joem on Sept 10, 2018 11:55:41 GMT
There is nothing wrong with Wendy Cope, very entertaining at her best. But there are so many other poets writing now I don’t believe you don’t like any of them or consider them very good indeed. I do like other poets, I just find Wendy Cope makes me smile - unusual in poetry, just think of her Larkin parodies as "Strugnell" - and find her to be deeper than the surface cheeriness and bantery style she adopts. Andrew Motion has good moments as does Tony Harrison. Carol Ann Duffy. Jackie Kay when she's not being earnest. Which others did you have in mind? Or should that be in a separate thread? |
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Post by Jan on Sept 10, 2018 18:03:26 GMT
Under the “greatest living” banner Harrison stands alone. His verse versions of Oresteia and The Mysteries for NT were monumental achievements and stand alongside the late Seamus Heaney’s Version of Beowulf. His version of Moliere’s Misanthrope was also excellent. Of course as is the way of things these masterpieces have been used as sticks with which to beat his later lesser theatre works.
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