Her Voice is powerful
by Christopher Key

Singer/songwriter Christine Lavin once recorded a wonderfully funny number called “Sensitive New-Age Guys.” There weren’t many of them in evidence at an International Women’s Day celebration called Her Voice and that’s a shame. They might have learned a lot and would have at least been well entertained. Lavin’s playful presence was very much in evidence, however, along with a couple of her songs.

Sponsored by the Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Her Voice is described as “…a live collage of a capella and poetry.” It is all of that and more. Anchored by the three celestial voices of the vocal group Mockingbird, the program is a delightful celebration of the power and pain, the joy and wisdom of womanhood. Mockingbird, consisting of Robin Wallbridge, Sherrie Lutsch and Lesley Rigg, is joined by poet Lois Holub and writer/actor Karen Edland.

Holub’s poetry weaves throughout the program and is refreshingly honest, earthy and unpretentious. She captures everything from first blood to last breath in language that is vivid and straightforward. “Period Piece,” “Lament of the Fisherman’s Wife,” and “On Mothers Day” are particularly memorable.

Highlighting the vocal numbers is Lavin’s “Time Bomb,” the wildly funny John Forster song “Co-Dependent with You,” and the perfect finale “Away Ye Merry Lasses,” by Georje Holper. Along the way, there are a few originals by Mockingbird’s Robin Wallbridge and Sherrie Lutsch.

Edland, well-known to local theatrical audiences, contributes a brief, but moving verbal portrait of the bond between mother and child that few artists have ever been able to capture.

Together, this ensemble thoroughly discredits the old saw that feminism lacks joy and humor. Not to mention the idea that some very pointed political protest has to be painful. It is an entertaining and educational two hours that will evoke laughter, tears, and a few well-deserved squirms from the guys in the audience, be they sensitive, new-age or not.

Along with the words and music, there is an enchanting art exhibit, much of which comes from students at Mt. Baker High School. Sunday’s performance was recorded and will be available on CD at some point in the future. This is a performance that should be experienced live, however, and your next chance will come on Saturday, April 25, at the Van Zandt Community Center. Keep an eye on ENNW for future bookings of Her Voice.

# # #