Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Literature: Can't Face it.

It's as I was saying: it's a great shame that people can't take literature undiluted and have this urge to know about the author and see him or her in the flesh. And as I've said before, and as Alyssa McDonald says on the Guardian books blog, publishers ought to take note of the fact that too many author readings can put you right off a book. I can't agree with her about Simon Armitage, though, whom she thinks a terrible reader: like several of the commenters I find that the 'flatness' of which she complains in his reading allows him to avoid the melodramatics of which she also complains in other readers, and allows the work to breathe separate from his person. MacDonald advocates the use of actors, but I can never abide the readings of actors - they always privilege the 'characters' over the narrative voice - and some of them have such pretentious narrative voices - and as a performer myself I'm always worried that I'll do this too.

Some of the commenters suggest the Guardian uses a less unflattering photo of Armitage - but no one so far, I notice, has suggested taking it off altogether...

4 comments:

Vanessa Gebbie said...

Aaaagh.

A reading in Brighton earlier in the year reminded me uncomfortably of my five minutes of fame at the age of six, playing The Virgin Mary in the local church hall nativity play.

My dear mother, convinced that she must have the next Sarah Bernhardt in her care, persuaded a local drama teacher to give me a little voice coaching.

"Pretend the audience are cabbages," the said lady advised. "Make sure the cabbages in the very back row can hear your every word."

That year The Virgin Mary bellowed The Magnificat at 100 decibels, and caused the Angel Gabriel to cover his ears with his wings.

Back to Brighton. During the run-through, the organisers couldn't hear me at the back.... even with the mike on. So I raised my voice during the reading. After they had adjusted the sound.

I will allow you to imagine the rest.

I have since had coaching in annunciation using a wine cork, (er... wasnt that what Gabriel was doing???)and tuition in raising my voice to optimum pitch. I sound just like Larry Grayson. This is not a good thing when you are reading a gently sad piece.

Maybe, after all, actors are best.

Vanessa

Elizabeth Baines said...

I don't believe you!! Very funny though about the poor cabbages.

Pants said...

Hi FB

I've no interest whatever in hearing a novelist read from her/his work. As long as am able to read, that's what I prefer to do; quietly and in my own time. If I should become enfeebled then any and all novelists will be welcome to read at my bedside.

xxx

Pants

Elizabeth Baines said...

Hi Pants

Well said.