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I, Too: A Reflection of Stage Time and Wine 86
I, Too: A Reflection of Stage Time and Wine 86
Stomach churning, I put my name on the performers’ list of Stage Time & Wine (STW) LXXXVI. Although it would be my second time to read at STW, I had reasons to dread. Located near the top of the list, I thought my trial would soon come and be over. As time went by, however, I realized that the host had shuffled the performances to give the show a better flow. That unexpected unpredictability only worsened my stage fright.
Finally my name was called, and I dragged myself up front. My nervousness was transparent. I prefaced my reading with Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too” as my backhanded apology. In this poem, the African American poet pays tribute to an earlier literary giant, Walt Whitman, and his poem “I Hear America Singing.” This “darker brother” stresses that in addition to the people of different genders and occupations whom Whitman praises for forming the multi-faceted American identity, African Americans, “too, sing America.” He laughs at the discrimination he suffers from and asserts that one day, people will see how “beautiful” he is. Just as the two poets reflected and celebrated the American-ness from their view points, so I wanted to maintain that “I, too, am America.” Despite being neither black nor white, or even American, having neither the English language as my mother tongue nor the Anglo-American literature as my inheritance, I’ve written a thesis which surfaces the little-noticed positive sides in one of the gloomier poets, Philip Larkin, and I wish to ascend from academic writing to poetry or prose, writings that may one day be included in the literary canon.
It was with this ambition I attended STW that evening—to test the waters as a writer for the first time. Like Hughes, I resorted to an earlier American writer, Raymond Carver, for inspiration and based my narration on his short story “Popular Mechanics,” a story about a couple fighting over their child. Beginning by borrowing elements from a famous writer and retelling his story from a different character’s perspective, I hope that one day I, too, an outsider of this language and this culture, will have unique tales to offer.
Ever so nervously, I started my reading. My whole body was tense, my legs trembling. So was my voice, I believe. A couple of times I paused, to catch my breath and for dramatic effect. During those moments, I found myself embraced by an attentive silence. I peeked over the edge of my script. No one was checking their phone or checking out the bar. Instead, I was greeted by faces with eager anticipation. Feeling encouraged, in a steadier voice I read on. After I finished reading, the audience’ warm applause thawed my stiff muscles, enabling me to bow and resume my seat.
Earlier that evening, I joked with friends that with Red Room’s renowned supportive crowd, “I wouldn’t know how badly I suck.” I was wrong. The audience’s feedback was genuine. They shared with me how they were moved (“I knew the cameraman was taking my pictures and I looked stupid, but I was jaw-dropped and couldn’t control my face”), and which parts of my story resonated with them (“I’m a mother, so I know what the woman in the story chooses to do at the end”). That night, I left STW, eyes brimming with tears, heart full of joy. Like many others, I, too, look forward to returning to STW, where several successful artists have been cradled. Uplifted by the warm air current at Red Room, a fledgling writer is gathering up momentum, ready to fly.
By Li-Chieh Lily Yen
18 February 2017, Stage Time & Wine LXXXVI 紅緣寄詩酒 86
Stage Time & Wine Lxxxvi 紅緣寄詩酒 86Saturday, February 18 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
https://www.facebook.com/events/232651640478360/
Please join us at Stage Time & Wine on the 18th of February 2017. Red Room will be hosting the 86th Stage Time and Wine and the first in the year of the rooster!
We welcome everyone to share the space as we revisit some familiar performances and be wowed by the new. Performers may sign up on the day of the event (open mic format).
6:30pm: Doors Open
7:30pm-8:45pm: 1st Half
9:00pm- 10:30pm: 2nd Half
Your Patronage 開支攤提費: 300 NTD
提示 Our usual reminders:
Performers have 5 minutes to share (unless you have made a request for a special performance beforehand)
各位表演者有5分鐘的分享機會（除非您事先提出為了特殊表演，延長時間的申請）。
The Red Room promotes the culture of listening. We ask you to honour performers by actively listening and remaining quiet and respectful while they are on stage.
紅房提倡傾聽的美德。我們邀請您積極聆聽，保持安靜，並且尊重空間與表演者。
Red Room is a community space and we welcome sharing.
紅房是一個社群空間，歡迎大家分享。
Stage Time & Wine is a performance-centric event and announcements are not encouraged. If you have an announcement to make, you may inform the MC and you are also welcome to leave your promotional material at the door.
紅緣寄詩酒是一個以表演為主的活動，因此不鼓勵您在活動上公開宣傳。倘若您有需要，請告知MC您的需求，並同時歡迎您將宣傳文宣留在入口處。
Credits & Sponsors 特別感謝與贊助
Tremendous gratitude to all our volunteers. Thank you to all who transform the space of the venue into the Red Room, prepare the food and drinks, greet everyone at the door, fill all who thirst till their cups near runneth over…and especially to all who help clean up. Stage Time & Wine would not be possible without your support and the beautiful spirit in which it is given!
Co-Founder | Ping Chu 朱平
Co-Founder | Ayesha Mehta
Reeves & Curator | Manav Mehta
Keeper of the Faith | Roma Mehta
ST&J Coordinators | Carol Yao & Jennifer Chau
ST&J Host | Brian Quentin Webb
R4 Director | Ruth Giordano
Visual Arts Director | Constance Woods
Operations | Sharon Landon
MoC | Charles Haines
Editor | Whitney Zahar
Sound | Addison
The Red Room is an ever-expanding community, exploring and extending the boundaries between audience and performer; a not-for-profit platform for events developing a culture of learning to listen to each other, what is around us, and our selves.
紅房是一個持續擴大延展的社群，不斷地將在聽眾與表演者之間的分界線上探索和延伸。一個非營利平台，藉由活動來發展學習聆聽別人、圍繞著我們以及我們自己的文化。
21 January 2017, Stage Time & Wine LXXXV 紅緣寄詩酒 85
Stage Time & Wine LXXXV 紅緣寄詩酒 85
Saturday, January 21 at 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Please join us at Stage Time & Wine on the 21st of January 2016. Red Room will be hosting the 85th Stage Time and Wine
We welcome everyone to share the space as we revisit some familiar performances and be wowed by the new. Performers may sign up on the day of the event (open mic format).
6:30pm: Doors Open
7:30pm-8:45pm: 1st Half
9:00pm- 10:30pm: 2nd Half
Your Patronage 開支攤提費: 300 NTD
提示 Our usual reminders:
Performers have 5 minutes to share (unless you have made a request for a special performance beforehand)
各位表演者有5分鐘的分享機會（除非您事先提出為了特殊表演，延長時間的申請）。
The Red Room promotes the culture of listening. We ask you to honour performers by actively listening and remaining quiet and respectful while they are on stage.
紅房提倡傾聽的美德。我們邀請您積極聆聽，保持安靜，並且尊重空間與表演者。
Red Room is a community space and we welcome sharing.
紅房是一個社群空間，歡迎大家分享。
Stage Time & Wine is a performance-centric event and announcements are not encouraged. If you have an announcement to make, you may inform the MC and you are also welcome to leave your promotional material at the door.
紅緣寄詩酒是一個以表演為主的活動，因此不鼓勵您在活動上公開宣傳。倘若您有需要，請告知MC您的需求，並同時歡迎您將宣傳文宣留在入口處。
Credits & Sponsors 特別感謝與贊助
Tremendous gratitude to all our volunteers. Thank you to all who transform the space of the venue into the Red Room, prepare the food and drinks, greet everyone at the door, fill all who thirst till their cups near runneth over…and especially to all who help clean up. Stage Time & Wine would not be possible without your support and the beautiful spirit in which it is given!
The Red Room is an ever-expanding community, exploring and extending the boundaries between audience and performer; a not-for-profit platform for events developing a culture of learning to listen to each other, what is around us, and our selves.
紅房是一個持續擴大延展的社群，不斷地將在聽眾與表演者之間的分界線上探索和延伸。一個非營利平台，藉由活動來發展學習聆聽別人、圍繞著我們以及我們自己的文化。
20 February 2016, Stage Time & Wine LXXV
Stage Time & Wine @ the Red Room LXXV 紅緣寄詩酒
Saturday, February 20 2016
at 6:30pm – 10:30pm in UTC+08
Sing! Shout! Dance! Laugh! Bring in the Year of the Monkey!
At Stage Time and Wine…75th Edition!
We welcome everyone to share the space with us as we revisit some familiar performances and be wowed by the new. Performers may sign up on the day of the event (open mic format).
We invite guests to please contribute to the Community Bar with a beverage of their choice so that nobody has to go thirsty. (Pssst… we hear wine’s a good choice!) Join us for Stage Time & Wine LXXV , on Saturday February 20 2016!
at Taiwan Air Force Base (TAF) LIBRARY 空軍總部 「圖書館」
No. 177, Sec. 1, Jianguo S. Rd (Intersection of Jianguo S. Rd. and Jinan Rd.)
台北市大安區建國南路一段177號(濟南路與建國南路交叉口)
On the 3rd Saturday of every month, Red Room welcomes everyone to share the space with us as we revisit some familiar performances and be wowed by the new. Performers may sign up on the day of the event (open mic format).
每個月的第三個星期六，紅房帶給你在有限的時間內，帶給你無限的聆聽體驗，歡迎攜伴參加。在每次活動開始前可以在名額限制內登記上台分享，先寫先贏！
6:30pm: Doors Open
7:30pm-9:00pm: 1st Half
9:20pm- 10:45pm: 2nd Half
Entrance Fee 入場費: 300 NTD and please bring 1 Beverage of Choice!
如果可以的話，帶任何飲料與大家分享吧！
We also encourage you to bring a beverage of your choice (we love wine, tea, juice, anything that you prefer) and share at the Community Bar, so that nobody has to go thirsty.
從交流飲料開始，紅房希望你們帶著最喜歡喝的東西，與即將認識的人一起共同組成我們專屬的「社群飲料吧」（不管是茶、果汁、汽水、酒精飲料，這樣就沒有人會口渴拉！）
把自己最喜歡的文章或是你剛寫出來的歌曲，透過朗讀甚至歌唱的方式和大夥們分享，一同體驗文化的交流以及內心的喜悅。說故事、聽音樂、感受生活，與舊朋友和新朋友們一同分享只屬於你獨特的體驗。不管你說哪國語言，我們都非常歡迎！
提示 Our usual reminders for newcomers and old timers:
-Those who wish to share may sign up at the door. No previous signups required. Stage time 5 minutes each.
-每個表演者有5分鐘的分享機會。
-The Red Room cultivates a culture of listening. We ask you to honor performers by actively listening and remaining respectful and quiet while they are on stage
-紅房是一種由參與者一同打造的聆聽社群，請尊重空間與表演者。
Credits & Sponsors 特別感謝與贊助
Tremendous gratitude to all our volunteers. Thank you to all who transform the space of the venue into the Red Room, prepare the food and drinks, greet everyone at the door, fill all who thirst till their cups near runneth over…and especially to all who help clean up. Stage Time & Wine would not be possible without your support and the beautiful spirit in which it is given!
The Red Room is an ever-expanding community, exploring and extending the boundaries between audience and performer; a not-for-profit platform for events developing a culture of learning to listen to each other, what is around us, and our selves.
Co-Founders | Ping Chu 朱平 and Ayesha Mehta
www.redroomtaipei.com
www.redroomtaipei.tumblr.com
Celebration time!
Red Room is celebrating its fourth year of Stage Time & Wine this Saturday, 16th November 2013!
Come and join the celebration of the Spoken Word, the Listening Culture of the Red Room, and all of you, our friends, our community. It will be wonderful to see you there.
Same time, same place.
See you there!
Red Room Team
