[ccfic caption-text format="plaintext"]
On February 24, Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse will be celebrating its second birthday. As a treat, three past features will be returning: slam poet Amy Mevorach, singer/songwriter Jacob Haller, and singer/songwriter Cheryl "Melody" Baskin. The whole evening will be a party, complete with favors and birthday cake.
“We wanted to really celebrate this milestone," says Co-Host Thea Iberall. "I didn’t think we could top the first year, but we did. Our audiences are larger as more and more people find us.”
As a monthly event, the coffeehouse is an opportunity for spoken word artists to share their poetry, stories, and songs. Co-host Shirley Riga says, “Anyone can participate in the open mic, and we get lots of very talented people to stand up and share. We’re hoping for a full slate at the celebration.”
February 2017. The theme is “Dancing with our Demons.” One open mic reader tells a story of a little girl in a hospital. Another tells an immigrant’s story. Feature Elisa Pearmain, a professional storyteller with over 30-years experience, shares an Egyptian folk tale about the fear monster that grew small. Then a Tibetan story, and a Sufi one. Quoting the words of Leonard Cohen who had recently passed away, she has the audience mesmerized. Everyone is feeling their demons. And learning to face them.
Once a month, the aging vestry of the 228-year old First Parish of Medfield is transformed into a Parisian café. Purple and yellow tablecloths cover the small round tables. During intermission, people chat, sipping coffee and eating brownies and lemon tarts. When asked why this coffeehouse has staying power, Riga says, “First Parish wanted to build community through sharing thoughts, feelings, and music. People are responding because it is the essence of human experience.”
“There’s lots of church coffeehouses — Needham, Franklin, Dedham, Sharon, Mansfield,” Iberall says. “But they focus on music. We do it all and especially the spoken word. At half the price.” A former slam poet, Iberall has been performing poetry and storytelling since 1998 when she represented Los Angeles at the National Poetry Slams.
The music features could blow the roof off the church. In March, Blues in the Corner, an electrifying blues trio of local musicians Eddie Love, Rudy Barajas, and Stephen Stern brings the temperature in the room to new dimensions. The audience is floating on the music. In October, another local musical trio featured. The Millis Berfield Band consisting of Ken Porter, Bo Veaner, and John Zaia, has the people in the audience one breath from swooning. The trio’s magical harmonies are beyond worldly.
The year saw two special highlights. One was in April when the “Shakespeare to Hip Hop Show” came to Medfield. Regie Gibson, a National Poetry Slam Champion, and Marlon Carey combined their talents for an inspirational, informative, and intriguing poetry performance that demonstrated to kids and adults that Shakespeare is not boring. The other highlight was in August when “We Did It For You! Women’s Journey Through History” was performed on Women’s Equality Day for overflowing audiences.
The rules of the open mic are simple: five-minute limit, original or non-original material, sticking to the theme is encouraged, teenagers and adults welcome. People come from all over the Metrowest area, even Worcester, Boston, and Cambridge to perform or to just soak it all in. Features are selected from around New England, trying to get a balance across genres.
At the end of the evening, Iberall always has a big smile. “When people leave, they say it's the best entertainment anywhere. I have to agree. It’s never boring.”
Expresso Yourself Coffeehouse is held the last Saturday of every month at 7 p.m. at First Parish Unitarian Universalist, 26 North Street, Medfield. Open mic readers have five minutes to share. Original or non-original poetry, stories, performance art, music or songs are welcome. Sticking to theme encouraged. Teens and adults welcome. Refreshments are served. Medfield TV films the event and posts to YouTube. There is a $5 suggested donation ($3 students). For more information, contact Thea Iberall at (562-243-0191).
