The Improvised History of the World, Aug 2014

Original text by Isley Lynn Music by Toni Mairata March Performed in Madrid on the 3rd of February 2014 Conductor - Bernat Quetglas Torelló Vocal (soprano) - Marga Rodriguez Vocal (baritone) - Hector Rodriguez Piano - Alba Herraiz Piano - Pablo Garcia Vico Clarinet - Ignacio Durán Saxophone - Raúl García Flute - Katia Perera Tornes Trumpet - Felix Perez God bless electric light Not only can we now really see in the dark And pressure fussy plants to grow when they should be sleeping But with electric light, man has transformed his landscape Mountains now are sprinkled with tiny bodies of brightness And the oceans are host to a thousand bobbing bulbs, all snailing over the water alone Every sea shore shines. It's garish sea-side attractions slicing out each country's quivering silhouette into some translated film negative And over every landmass light drizzles it's route across like honey skims the skin of a drum Rivers are reborn Transubstantiated angelically by the heavenly glow they reflect (A trick taught to them by the moon) And our invention, while brash and revealing, comforts too And women feel safer as they walk home alone, now cloaked by the street lamps in a distilled dazzle But Also God bless the desert Where wires cannot reach for the distance And poles cannot stand for the sand And man sees nothing to illuminate So the stars So solitary in their luminosity Swell for pride And break And mist us with their dissipating brilliance

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WINNER: IdeasTap's Editor's Briefs:
LAID - with Sweetbread
HEART - with The Body But Hides The Heart
HEATWAVE - with The Heat

Two time Literary Death Match Champion

Live Performances

THANK (on privilege) - part of A NIGHT FOR SYRIA at Theatre503, Sept 2015

THANK (on privilege) - part of A NIGHT FOR SYRIA at Theatre503, Sept 2015

Responses

In classic Lynn style, all was not as it first appeared
– Joe Hooper, IdeasTap

Isley Lynn's amazing poetry show was as close to a perfect performance as I've seen: open, funny, clever, truthful, moving, touching. Isley is a wonderful writer and a great performer that draws you in rather than shouting at you. Look out for it in the future. 
– David Lockwood, Bike Shed Theatre

It’s adult, it’s very clever, and it will have you splitting your sides
– Jeremy Child

I was hooked
– Gina Sherman, Apples and Snakes

It blew me away
– Emily Williams, Barbican Theatre Plymouth

Very honest and sincere… I feel moved and changed. 
– Monique Luckman, Wide Awake Devon

It is very refreshing to read work which explores love in such a frank and honest way. There are not many people brave enough to do it. 
- Kayo Chingonyi

Some of the most amusing, powerful and intensely personal pieces of work I have ever seen
– Tom Angell, SourDough Theatre

Her stuff is fantastic - moving, arousing, humorous, technically brilliant and achingly honest
– Andrew Bate

Gritty, raw and passionate writing
– TrailBlaze Theatre

Captivating... such honesty and humility, yet a definite confidence. Wicked work. 
– Matthew Cummins

Hilarious, moving
– Carla Lever 

Fantastic, warm, honest and amusing
– Sebastian Constantine

Sharp tongued yet sweetly sincere words from Isley Lynn
- Apples and Snakes

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