Speakeasy Undergraduate Showcase

It was my second Speakeasy at the Wheaty, and I was glad to see that it was going to be a warm spring evening. As people were finding seats, settling in and catching up with friends, Hawking entertained us with their folk rock sounds. It was a full house, and I was glad to see not only Flinders students and teachers, but their friends and family as well, coming out to see this deliciously gifted group of people. There was no headlining act this time around as, according to Speakeasy Director Threasa Meads, “there’s just so much undergraduate creative writing talent at Flinders”. Because of this, it was also the first Speakeasy since its inception to have an entirely undergraduate line-up. Mario Pilla was the MC, and he kicked off the night with his trademark humour, showing us the “fifty shades of grey” in his clothes, eyes, and underwear.

The first set consisted of five people, and Jack McEntee was brave enough to go first, with his emotional short story titled ‘I Remember You’. Next up was Lauren Fuge with her story ‘Questioning Mortality’, self-described as “Frankenstein in space”. Sean Stockham read us a poem he had written to God, “on the off chance that He exists”. Chris Williss read two stories: ‘Joyce and Aquarius’ and ‘Flotsam’. Justina Ashman closed the first set with her short story ‘Palette’ – a life and a relationship described through colours.

I don’t remember much about the first interval, as I was too busy stuffing my face with pizza and trying not to talk with food in my mouth, but soon enough it was time for the second set to begin.

Determined not to be outdone by the first set, the second lot of writers began with award winning poet Carmel Williams and her poem ‘The Lemon Tree’, all about suffering and survival. Luke Bartholemew told a story set to music and an awkward Cockney accent that was partly a recreation of Jack and Jill, and partly a creation of his own quirky imagination. Melanie Manson treated us to two stories, ‘Dialogie’ and ‘Clayton’s Drink’. Miranda Richardson went one better to give us three poems, one of which was eerily spooky, especially as it was getting darker outside ... Dominiek Neall’s story ‘Carlos is a Black Sheep’ got a lot of laughs. Told through a child’s eyes, her story was sweet and memorable. Then Mario took us into the next interval with more groan-worthy jokes.

Hawking played during the interval as I checked out the scenery. The Christmas lights set against the black backdrop created a feeling of being under a starry sky, an effect mitigated only slightly by the occasional plane flying overheard.

The final set began with Samuel Williams, who gave us five short poems, each better than the last. Alicia Carter, who claimed to be nervous but was professional enough not to show it, read her story ‘South Pacific’ about the masks people wear and the ghosts we surround ourselves with. Peter Beaglehole gave us an excerpt of his story ‘The Watchmaker’s Children’, a gritty, realistic story that made me want more. And finally, Piri Eddy finished up with his chilling excerpt from a longer story about people trapped in a manor while a war waged outside.

After the immensely talented writers and poets had finished, and once Mario stopped hogging the microphone, Threasa stepped up to give her thanks. Peter Gill, Head of Media in the Marketing and Communications Office at Flinders University, took to the stage to discuss Flinders Indaily, which will be hosting some stories and poems by Speakeasy readers in its summer editions. After some more thanks, it was time for the door prizes. Books and DVDs were handed out, as well as a packet of pink desiccated coconut to one of my friends, who quickly passed it on to me (he doesn’t like coconut, or the colour pink).

Reviewed by Kristie Buchanan, a first year Creative Writing student who dreams of being an author, or possibly a koala.

more various pics here soon...