TRIPLE TREAT: From left, Lee Hodson, Mary-Jane Duffy and Jim Perkins. Photo: Liz Wylie
WHAT do Whitireia Polytech arts faculty members do on their days off? They perform poetry and music at the Ballroom Café in Newtown.
The writer, an administrator and a musician performed for the second time last night.
Writing program coordinator Mary-Jane Duffy recited poems from her series of works Sigh after Sigh, interspersed by visual arts administrator Lee Hodson singing, accompanied by Jim Perkins on guitar.
The collaboration came about when Mary-Jane heard Lee sing with a band one night and knew that was the voice she needed to add to her own.
When a previous guitarist was no longer available, Jim, who teaches guitar and band workshops, stepped in.
Sigh after Sigh is a work in progress consisting of 15 poems so far. They are based on the lives of expatriate American and British women who were part of the Left Bank society in Paris during the 1920s and 30s.
“I learned about them while doing my art history degree” says Mary-Jane.
“They went there for the freedom and cheap living. When you’re in your 20s that life style sounds really attractive.”
The poems intersperses Left Bank scenes with modern life – a description of novelist Collette’s antics in Paris in the 20s can leap to a fafafini singing We are Family at a recent Pacifica festival in Wellington.
The list of songs, chosen by Mary-Jane, is comprised of tunes by composers such as George Gershwin and Harry Warren. Lee has added That Old Devil Called Love to the set, which she says is a personal favorite that fits well with the other songs.
Mary- Jane plans to submit the work for publication when she’s added more poems to the collection.
“I would need to have about 60 for a book,” she says.
The Whitireia association has been fortuitous. “The personal connections are more important than the qualifications,” says Lee.
Jim, who enjoys playing a wide range of genres, is also enjoying the experience.
“I enjoy playing these songs and I enjoy playing loud, thrashy stuff too.” he said.
So is a tour a possibility? “Well, a man from Auckland just handed me his card,” says Mary-Jane.
She says they are unsure when they would perform again.
