Performance Poetry: Big Talk: Poems For Four Voices

Bibliography:

Fleischman, Paul. 2000. Big Talk: Poems For Four Voices. Ill. Giacobbe, Beppe. Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0763606367

Review:

Big Talk: Poems for Four Voices written by Paul Fleischman is a collection of three poems written to be performed by four voices. The beginning of the book contains a two-page spread that explains how to read the book and a table of contents. Each reader chooses a color (green, yellow, orange or purple) and that is the line that they read throughout the book. The poems seem simple but the coordination it will take to perform them will take a lot of practice! Rhythm abounds in these three poems. They are carefully arranged and spaced on the page-reminding me of a musical score and a band or orchestra. Indeed, Fleischman makes a quick statement on the back jacket flap that he wrote these poems to have the feel of a string quartet. The three poems illustrate three humorous scenarios. “The Quiet Evenings Here” is about a family of homebodies who claim to like nice quiet evenings-that may not turn out to be so quiet after all. The next poem, “Seventh Grade Soap Opera” delves into the gossip and drama of junior high. (Does anyone want to go back and live through that stage again?) “Ghost’s Grace” describes a big family dinner from the point of view of a dead family member (the ghost) who longs to taste the delicious food on the table. The illustrations are bright and fun and are helpful to understanding the poems.

Poem Selection:

This is an excellent book of poems to read when teaching performance. Very similar to a reader’s theater-but with the voices sometimes reading together a bit more challenging. Drama teachers will have a blast helping students create costumes and actions to accompany the poems. It might be helpful to draft three other teachers to practice and perform for the students prior to having them perform the poems. As stated earlier, the poems feel like music and seem to be on a musical score so band and orchestra students will likely have a blast and even better feel for performing these poems. Here is a snippet from “Seventh-Grade Soap Opera.” The formatting did not quite work as well as I would have like it to!

Brenda calls Gregory

Derek snubs Catherine

Ingrid tells Beverly

Jason eyes Jacqueline

Rick gives his e-mail address to Penelope

Faith invites Gwendolyn

Faith invites Gwendolyn

Faith invites Gwendolyn Chelsea lets Brad read her

answers in history…..

The drama goes on from there! Great fun and a great read for students.