Sample Chapter
A small sample from the book Throwing Parties - A Guide to Being a Great Host
The Lost Art of the Party Piece
Simply put, a party piece is a poem, song, ballad, dance, medley, story, performance or trick someone performs to entertain others.
There are examples of party pieces from as far back as diarist Samuel Pepys. Indeed, poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s party piece was reciting his long narrative ballad, Christabel, while novelist D.H. Lawrence was rumoured to recite the poetry of A.C. Swinburne as his party piece. The art of the party piece has fallen out of fashion in recent years, although it remains an integral feature of parties in parts of Ireland, Scotland and Australia.
There is something special about the Irish, a nation of gifted talkers, writers and performers, and the party piece may even stem from their incredible pub culture – impromptu performances from fiddlers and storytellers are commonplace. In the past, travellers would pass through, regaling the locals with stories in return for a bowl of stew or a pint. The excellent film Michael Collins by Irish director Neil Jordan features many evocative party pieces. Fast forward to modern times, and it was interesting to hear on a recent podcast by Adam Buxton, Hollywood actor – and recent author – Tom Hanks mention his staple party piece as being the hit country song the Green, Green Grass of Home.
More raucous party pieces might be a striptease or a passionate tango. Certain characters like to perform a comedy routine or tell a favourite anecdote. The academic Alan Warren Friedman defined the party piece as ‘a peculiar kind of public self-representation’. I’ve always liked this phrase. Party pieces are not formal recitals. Instead, the best are spontaneous and reminiscent of the theme and atmosphere of the party. They act as an oral bridge. I can only ever remember party pieces performed at my father’s many parties forty-odd years ago. Generally, it would be a short verse from a poem or play delivered in a burst that stopped everyone in their tracks. Even the hardiest journalists and literary critics – mainstay guests at these parties – were roused with emotion from such open displays.
Nowadays, I guess the only way you might hear one is to come to one of my parties!
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