A stage full of talent and an audience full of steadfast Charles Portis fans made for lots of laughs the night of July 31 at South on Main, where Oxford American magazine wound down its Charles Portis Weekend with a 75-minute show that lauded Portis' literary genius.
The performance starred humorist Roy Blount Jr., sound effects artist Fred Newman of National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion, singer-guitarist Tift Merritt, comedian and writer Harrison Scott Key and Oxford American senior writer Jay Jennings, who served as a narrator of sorts.
The weekend -- which also included a Southern dinner at the Capital Hotel the night before -- was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Portis' first book, the 190-page Norwood. In the novel, the namesake character had been raised "along U.S. Highway 82 in the oil fields and cotton patches between Stamps, Arkansas, and Hooks, Texas."
Portis lives in Little Rock but was unable to attend the weekend's events.
A highlight of the show was Key's reading of his own Norwood-inspired story "Fifty Shades of Greyhound." While the protagonist in Norwood, Norwood Pratt, takes an eventful journey from his home "just the other side of" Ralph, Texas, to New York City -- and returns on the bus -- Key told of his own adventure from his hometown Jackson, Miss., to West Yellowstone, Mont., on a Greyhound bus.
"One of the great things about Greyhound is that there are many toilets in which one can die. What to call this on-board bathroom? Not a restroom, for it is not restful. Not a water closet, for there is no water. Perhaps asphyxiation nook? Death slot?" Key read from his essay.
Some other memorable moments from the tribute: Jennings shared the letter of encouragement he had received from Blount in 1986 when Jennings was a young, aspiring humorist; Merritt's version of the Kitty Wells tune "Making Believe"; and a closing singalong, led by Merritt, of " Goodnight, Irene."
"This event was incredibly inspiring to produce and present," said Oxford American Executive Director Ryan Harris. "It allowed the Oxford American to show our appreciation for a longtime contributor to the magazine while collaboratively synthesizing the essence of Norwood into a fun live reading, music and food experience."
New Yorker magazine once called Portis "America's greatest living writer." While Norwood is arguably the cult classic that launched his career as a writer, he's also well known as the writer of True Grit, along with Dog of the South, Masters of Atlantis and Gringos. About 160 people attended last weekend's show. Many agreed afterward that it was the kind of event that was perfect for the South on Main venue.
High Profile on 08/07/2016