The Impressive: Minton Sparks

A phone call from a friend recently brought up old laughs, old memories and a smile to my face. Who knew that losing my iPhone could reconnect me with so many folks that for some reason or another I had gotten out of touch with. Life is busy for me and before I know it one month ends and it is on to the next, and the list of people in my mind that I can't wait to talk to goes from one page on the calendar to another - they'll understand. Right? And then there is Facebook, which keeps me from calling so many people because I feel as if I have already talked to them. After all, I have seen their faces in photos from their latest post, clicked "like" on so many comments and wished them Happy Birthday's on their wall's. However, no matter what Facebook does to help us network with one another, there is nothing like hearing that friend's voice. Sometimes it helps you to remember why you are friends in the first place. Regardless, my friend Molly and I had a good enough excuse for our hiatus from phone chats. We had taken a break from long phone talks over a glass of red wine earlier in the year as she was leaving Nashville on an international music tour in Europe for three months. We had our bases covered and I was thrilled to keep up with her travels via Facebook as well.


Nevertheless, we laughed, caught up and reminisced a couple of nights ago for an hour or two. During that time she brought to light a name of an artist that has since intrigued me. I am a storyteller. I love to listen to a good story and I love to tell them. My Papaw and my Step-Grandfather Buddy are and were storytellers, among many other members of my family, friends, and mentors. I have been intrigued by this art all my life and this is precisely why I was so interested in the work of Minton Sparks. Ms. Sparks is a storyteller too, a poet, a character actor, author, songwriter - among other things. After looking over her website and viewing some of the videos posted there of her performances I was completely wowed by her art form. Sparks unique art is different from anything that I have ever seen. Although different, it could only be comparable to some of the few great "one-man/one-woman" shows I have seen. Including "Elaine Stritch at Liberty," Bea Arthur, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, Carrie Fisher and others have done these sort of theatrical numbers…but not like this.

Minton Sparks reaches into her mind and pulls out a part of the South that only the true Southerner has seen. She knows the combination to that safe and when she reels into her music backed soliloquies she takes you down the street, around the corner, and into whatever room she is describing. You feel as if you were right on her heels. Using phrases and language that are all too familiar to me made me eager to hear more of her twangy charm. Minton Sparks' diction and syntax, aligned with impeccable timing are not only intense, but moving, realistic and often hilarious. Honestly, I could not get enough. I am eager to see if and when Ms. Sparks will be performing around Austin anytime in the future, if so I am sure to be in the audience!

Check out her work at:

http://www.mintonsparks.com/