Reviews :Lawrence & Gibson book launch - Mighty Mighty, Thursday 18th October

Thursday night saw my old bones hoisted up the stairs of Mighty Mighty on a pulley made of cling film . . .

Despite last week’s bad bout of old woman syndrome I was too intrigued to ignore the sweet dulcet tones of a Facebook (yes it's cool) invitation to the launch of Ulrich Haarburste's Novel of Roy Orbison in Cling Film, by Michael Kelly. So I put down my mint julep and my tub of foot lotion, gave myself a quick blue rinse, and donned my compression stockings.  I was slightly confused about the event – mention of Roy Orbison, multiple authors and pseudonyms, books, world records, cling film, Jägermeister, and music, had captured my imagination but left me puzzled - but all soon became beautifully cling film clear.

Kelly’s novel was released by Lawrence & Gibson - a non-profit publishing collective formed in 2005. The young and vibrant collective is most usually interested in New Zealand related authors or subjects, but apparently this latest book was just too damn funny to pass up. The book table also presented recent editions of some of Richard Meros’ work. Meros is founder and spokesperson of Lawrence & Gibson, and author of Richard Meros salutes The Southern Man, I know someone who knows someone who knows Kevin Roberts quite well, and On the Condition and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as her Young Lover (OTCAPOHCTMAHY), a theatrical version of this ode to a PM will grace Bats theatre next year.

The book release was coordinated with a successful attempt to break the Guinness World Record for simultaneously wrapping as many people as possible in cling film/glad wrap. The previous unofficial record of its kind was for twelve people at a private gathering in San Francisco in 1997.  This record was well surpassed on Thursday with the wrapping of forty-one enthusiastic individuals. It’s official.

The event was indicative of how Wellington creatives come together - and its success an example of how this should happen even more! – the mix included Lawrence & Gibson (and their host of talent), The VBC (Victoria Broadcasting Club), White Fungus and sponsor Jägermeister, bands The Sunshine Suite and The Dukes of Leisure, supporters, and happy-go-lucky-spotlight-craving-I-once-helped-set-a-world-record-in-the-most-people-ever-to-be-simultaneously-wrapped-in-cling film-er-ers.

Now we just have to wait, with breath that is bated, for the cling film sculpture of Orbison made from the recycled melted down wrapping . . .

Have a look at some photos from the event – more of the cling film session will be available soon.

- Lily

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2007 9:23 AM

Tagged as: review, Mighty Mighty, book

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