Folksinger Christine Lavin played to a sold-out Pamlico Musical Society crowd at Oriental’s Old Theatre April 30. The NY folksinger’s show included a lobbying session -- that Pluto keep its status as the 9th planet, -- and an ode of less-than-joy to the Windchime. Lavin also made numerous knowing references to the suspicion that many in the Oriental audience were in the Witness Protection Program.

Lavin is known for not only working her audiences, but also for working them in to the act. , In Oriental she found some willing participants. There was a game-show-like quiz (which Pat Dallas won with the answer “Uranus”, even though he’d been dunned a point for ‘sucking up to the folksinger’ for mentioning that he’d hung a poster for her show in his store). There was also a tables-turning male beauty contest in which Lavin prowled the audience with a miner’s light on her forehead looking for “Mr. Pamlico County”. (Bill Arndt won that contest)

Christine Lavin, on guitar and lead vocals, and the Pamlico County Men’s Chorus about to sing "Sensitive New Age Guy".

And it’s likely that “Sentimental New Age Guy” was ringing in the ears of many in the audience long after several Pamlico County men joined Lavin on stage to sing the chorus of her tribute to guys who are ultimately just too in touch with their feelings.

The boundaries of performer and audience however, blurred before the show even began.

As she does before every show, Lavin had invited knitters to join her backstage for a half hour.

Lavin told TownDock that she started holding these pre-show knitting circles last fall when she was just learning to work with the needles and skeins. Characteristically, she had brought her knitting on stage back then and asked for help. The knitting circles evolved from there.
In Oriental Wednesday night, half a dozen Pamlico County women turned out, knitting and crocheting and talking with the folksinger.

Christine Lavin and her knitting circle backstage at the Pamlico Cultural Center. Some knitted, some crocheted, Mary Ann Parham showed up to chat without needles, but was allowed to stay when it was noted that she was carrying a crocheted purse.

These backstage interactions with her audience are not new for Lavin. She says she used to offer pre-show “sparkle manicures for people,” until she developed an allergy to the glittery nail polish.

And before that, she says, “I just used to get nervous,” prior to shows.

Backstage Wednesday night Lavin was working on green-blue cotton throw blanket. a project she had begun before a concert just five days earlier. “It’s for this guy I really like.”

Lavin shows her work so far on a blanket. “If nothing happens” after I give it to him, “I’m moving on.”

While the pre-show knitting circles gives her a chance to pick up tips on knitting, the relaxed conversation that flows there also helps Lavin gain some local knowledge and material for her shows. In talking with the women who had showed up to knit with her, it emerged that none of them had been born in Oriental. The Oriental joke about people being in the Witness Protection Program came up, and later in her show, Lavin agilely worked in mention of the WPP.

Speaking of working in a mention...

Christine Lavin’s performance was the second to last of the current Pamlico Musical Society season.

The Paul Tardif Jazz Quintet comes to the theatre in Oriental on May 17th. The Pamlico Musical Society next season starts in September, with a concert by Solazo, a band fusing the music of Cuba, Chile and Argentina,. Also on the lineup for next season is the Borromeo String Quartet, : D’Vine: and a Folk Festival Weekend with Molasses Creek and Canadian folksinger, James Gordon.

The Pamlico Musical Society has enjoyed great support, in part by lining up acts that would otherwise not travel to the county. Many of the shows were sold out this season, The ticket prices were kept to an affordable $12 in part by the money the Musical Society received from the State.

But that could change. Roy Penchansky of the PMS warns of rougher sailing ahead because of cuts being made in state government.

“The grants program that funds organizations such as the PMS is slated for the largest cutback in state spending,” says Penchansky. “It is clear that less and less of our budget will be coming from the State."

This is happening, Penchansky says, just as “our audience is requesting more concerts - and more variety in types of music and performers. This means that we face increasing performance costs and an even larger shortfall.”

“In order to maintain quality programming and amazingly low ticket prices, ” Penchansky says, “the PMS will have to add more members to defray the costs.” Memberships start at $25 and give members priority in buying season tickets as well as invitations to meet-the-artist receptions.

To help support the Pamlico Musical Society, and continue to bring artists who otherwise wouldn’t be coming to Pamlico County, you may join via this membership form.