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The Speak Easy
Locals share their stories
(Published October 6, 2003)

By COTILYA K. BROWN
Staff Writer

Outbursts of laughter and applause permeate the room.

The laugher is prompted by Amy Saidman’s satiric performance about self-defense tactics that are designed to protect women from an attacker. A petite woman, Saidman is standing on the stage with her right arm outstretched and a key held between her index and ring fingers. As the story reaches its crest, Saidman yells: "I will poke you with this key if you come any closer!"

Saidman was among performers as the Washington Storytellers Theatre began its 2003 season of "Speak Easy," a monthly open mike series of themed storytelling. The opening session in September focused on "Red Handed: Stories About Getting Caught." The Oct. 14 session is billed as "A Liar’s Contest."

"The Speak Easy breaks the stereotype that storytelling is only for children," said Diane Macklin, a professional storyteller for the past three years who said she enjoys participating in the Speak Easy sessions and just listening during them. "It affirms the value in every person’s story – we are all stories. Storytelling has been around for years."

Washington Storytellers Theatre, the sponsor of The Speak Easy and the sole storytelling theatre in the Washington metropolitan area, originated in 1990 with four storytellers performing at the Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church in a program entitled "Some Enchanted Evening."

Saidman, the program manager/artistic director for Washington Storytellers Theatre, said she became involved with the organization three years ago. She said she feels storytelling is the most basic form of shaping life’s experiences.

"It provides down-to-earth connection to its audience," she said. "It’s a common human experience that is nourishing. Storytelling is the most basic form of communication-entertainment."

An informal monthly gathering where an assortment of stories are told complementing a particular theme, each installment of the Speak easy features two or three professional storytellers followed by an open microphone hour. During this time, any member of the audience has the opportunity to participate in the show.

Retired government worker Virginia Keeping of Columbia, Md., said she began storytelling as a second career. Involved in this profession for the last six years, Keeping said the Speak Easy gives its audience "an opportunity to know what storytelling is all about." Performing for all age groups, Keeping’s array of stories range from historical stories to folktales.

Each component of the series is held on the second Tuesday of the month at HR-57, 1610 14th St. NW. The show begins at 8 p.m., but doors open at 7:30 to allow time for performers to sign up for the open mike. Saidman advises individuals who want to perform to arrive early, as the sign-up sheet fills up quickly. Admission for the Speak Easy is $5.

Schedules Speak Easy themes for the year are "Fibs, Stretchers, Falsehoods, & Prevarications: A Liar’s Contest" in October, "Won’t You Be My Neighbor: Stories About The People We Live Near" in November, "All Wrapped Up: Stories About The Giving And Receiving Of Gifts" in December, "In The Eye Of The Beholder: Stories About Beauty" in January, "Taking The Bull By The Horns: Stories About Getting Your Way" in February, "Below The Mason Dixon: Stories From And About The South" in March, "Cutting The Cord: Stories About Passing Into Adulthood" in April, "Counterculture: Stories About Defying Convention" in May, Story Slam: A Storytelling Contest Near Misses: Stories About What Might Have Been" in June and "Punchlines: WST’S Second Annual Joke Swap" in August.