Oxford Improvisers: Sound Words is a collection of improvised music set to poetry. Equipment including electric and acoustic instruments is set up in front of the venue's altar. Giles Goodland delivers a poem. Musicians react to it with frantic, unnerving sounds which suit the words. Sabita Banerji reads four poems with topics ranging from Thai Chi instructors to what happens when typing 'Is there a?' into Google. Unfortunately, the music sometimes overwhelms these poems which makes them difficult to follow. When the two complement each other it is very successful, particularly in Sleep Train - with the oboe player conjuring up the disturbing feelings associated with insomnia. By the end of the fourth poem the music starts to feel very similar and a little wearing.

Jill Elliot gives a violin solo - it's hard to believe that it is improvised, although it almost certainly is. The heart-wrenching music is captivating as well as technically brilliant and speaks to the soul in the way that only the best music does. Sinibaldo Gerbasi recites two poems which are not only too long, but delivered in a monotonous way which makes them difficult to engage with. And the music seems to capture the mood of them less successfully. At the end of the first half all the musicians and poets come on stage and start saying lists of words over each other - presumably the Sound Words. It's imaginative and effective as well as a welcome break from the music. The use of seemingly random pauses and volume changes adds to the fascinating enjoyment.

In part two, Martin Hackett energises with an excellent use of voice as he fires words like machine-gun bullets at the audience - a poet with a lot of anger and passion. His expressive, articulate reading is reflected by the apocalyptic musical soundscape - but again it goes on too long. Double-bassist Dominic Lash is particularly impressive, his playing hypnotic to watch; and it becomes clear as the show progresses that he is exceptionally talented. Vahni Capildeo recites with some welcome relaxing music after the relentlessness of the previous poem. Her ethereal voice and dream-like poems are intriguingly complemented by an inventive use of sticks, rice, water, pots and pans to create music by Miles Doubleday. He demonstrates an amazing use of vocals including yelping, rasping and spluttering: a very funny backdrop to the darkly comic poem.

Very talented poet Stewart Kalton entertains with a fervid and strangely funny poem about situations that may or may not occur with pizza. There is no music, but that works well - letting the poet shine on his own. Giles Goodland returns with poems that are relentlessly dull and often incoherent. At times it feels as if they will never end. Martin Hackett is joined by the full orchestra conducted by Dominic Lash. Music is very appropriate to the poem and at times it feels as if the poet and musicians are one, with the sounds created reflecting and adding to the words. Overall, it's a show of mixed abilities but plenty of enthusiasm - creative and innovative.

Cast Credits: (alpha order): Musicians (alpha order): Malcolm Atkins. Chris Brown. Miles Doubleday. Jill Elliot. Trish Elphinstone. John Grieve. Dominic Lash. Paul Medley. David Stint. Poets (alpha order): Sabita Banerji. Vahni Capildo. Sinibaldo Gerbasi. Giles Goodland. Martin Hackett. Keston Sutherland.

Company Credits: Technical Operator - uncredited. Producer - uncredited. Company - Oxford Improvisers. Website - www.oxfordimprovisers.com

END

(c) Matthew Rose 2009

reviewed Friday 3 April 2009 / St Michael at The Northgate, Oxford UK

Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2010

www.fringereport.com