Laughs for poet
John Cooper Clarke, at the Sandridge Hotel last evening. Reviewed by David Swift. . I haven’t held a grin for so long for ages. ► The quick-fire beanpole poet, Jqhn Cooper Clarke, seemed to ' win over just about everyone last eveniJ’he.fpmbus humour, which. had previously, only been available on record, to .us,' adapted easily to a crowded, uncomfortable, bar . at. the Sandridge’Hotel.’ -*• ' Surprisingly, th'e ; audience. seemed .to know most, of his classics; * such ' as ’"Beasley Street;” and “Health FanafieA I was pleased, -and Mr 'T: • • ■
Clarke seemed pleased, that the' - well known poems •i -received. an ovation • before he began to, recite themi The poems were done two ‘ ways. Housed ' backing tapes . > for. some,’and they produced pregnant "pauses which Mr ? Clarke . traversed / grimly, hanging,? tjghtly, on to 1 the i microphone stand. Others, he ! -recited,' with no music, Very ■ quickly. . ; , Visually he was splendid. : Like a pipe-cleaner with a frayed end, and I mean it. I.l.kindly, he swayed at centre- ; stage, sometimes smiling be- ■ no hecklers as his repartee is -
almost legendary. • The material was a mixture of the familiar and the new. The backing tapes were well organised, although Mr . Clarke did have to wait a little for “Beasley Street” to reach the right volume. ' Id each poem, a. gem. How - about, “Bronze Adonis” — “He makes love like a foot- ; bailer, he dribbles before he ’shoots” \ . Mr Clarke is touring Australasia with New Order, but lam sure, after: hearing 'other reports, that Christ.church got the best part of .the package. . A >• John Cooper Clarke.. You « had to be there. ' •
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19821210.2.43
Bibliographic details
Press, 10 December 1982, Page 6
Word Count
261Laughs for poet Press, 10 December 1982, Page 6
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.