Grey Borders Reading Series @ Mahtay Cafe by Amanda Ann

Guests trickled into St. Catharines’ newest addition, a quaint and colourful café on St. Paul Street. After equipping themselves with a variety of hot and cold beverages, eats and treats, the audience quieted for the commencement of Grey Borders Reading Series’ third event of the season at Mahtay Café and Lounge.

The night began with a powerful performance by Liz Worth, author of Treat Me Like Dirt: An Oral History of Punk in Toronto and Beyond and Eleven: Eleven. Reading from a selection of works from her new book, and first poetry collection, Amphetamine Heart, she presented them in a strange, haunting and sexual persona with strong intensity and passion.

Tim Conley, author of Whatever Happens and Nothing Could Be Further and teacher English and Comparative Literature at Brock University, provided a second performance.

“The publisher of this book calls these things stories,” Conley began. “I’m not always entirely comfortable with that term, but I don’t know what else to call these things, so, you can decide.”

And with that, he dove into a humorous, sarcastic and enthralling presentation of one of these “stories”, called “It Is Hard To Be Different”, beginning and ending with the wail of a pocket whistle and often drawing the audience into a chorus of laughter.

After a brief intermission, rob mclennan, author of more than twenty books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, and editor and publisher multiple publications in his home city of Ottawa, approached the microphone for the final of three performances, and started by describing his last performance in the Niagara Region.

“I like coming here to read. Although, the last time I was through town, I read in Welland,” he said. “Imagine how that could’ve gone, and then lower that, and imagine – it was still fun – imagine it weirder, with fewer people.”

Once the laughter died down, he began his performance. He presented selections from his most recent poetry collections, A (short) history of l, and C, among others, with captivating voice and tempo and obvious fervor.

With a few final words and a round of thanks, the Grey Borders Reading Series’ third show of the season came to a close and, with one of the best turn-outs this season, proved to be a great success.

Photos and coverage courtesy of Amanda Ann.

Thanks to Mahtay Cafe for their generosity and allowing us to use their space for the evening.

Thanks to Jeremy Colangelo, Timur Inceoglu and & Indoor Shoes, The League of Canadian Poets, our readers, and our friends.