Final re:VERSES show set for Tuesday
TravisT photo
Hawaii’s longest-running monthly poetry slam will hold its final installment on Tuesday, when “re:VERSES” bids goodbye to Chinatown after more than five years of spoken word showcases.
“Over the last five years, it’s slowly turned into … I don’t want to say work, but it’s taken a backburner to other things we’re involved in,” said Travis “TravisT” Thompson (pictured), who has organized the event with fellow slam poets Lyz Soto and Brenda Kwon since its inception. “It takes a lot of work … and we would see what happens if you don’t promote.”
At 28 years old, Thompson realized he’s not getting any younger, and the others involved in “re:VERSES” had also seen drastic lifestyle changes over the last few years. Kwon is more interested in starting a writing group for local authors, while Soto now serves as director of Youth Speaks Hawaii.
“Back then, the only other poetry venue was ‘First Thursdays,’ which was already on a different level when we started,” he said. “What we wanted to do was provide an atmposphere that was not a competition.
“That all helped start Youth Speaks … (and) now there’s a first Tuesday poetry night at Anna’s, last Fridays at Pauahi Gallery in Chinatown; there’s all these poetry nights and open mics that are more favorable to poetry.”
Tomorrow’s final “re:VERSES” is billed as a summer solstice team slam, with doors opening at 7 p.m. and a $5 cover charge for all ages (BYOB). The 2008 Youth Speaks Hawaii and HawaiiSlam teams will also be there to perform.
“Now that other people are providing the service, kudos to them,” said Thompson. “It’s time for us to get on other things … (but) we’re not stepping away from the spoken word poetry.”
