(Yesterday, I talked with Ed Skoog about the Triggering Town Review, a reading/play/musical performance happening at the Hugo House tonight and tomorrow night. Here's an interview with local poet and Stranger writer Sarah Galvin about her role in the Review.)
- This is not Sarah Galvin. ( Georgios Kollidas/Shutterstock)
Yes, but I did play Christopher Columbus in elementary school once. Perhaps I have a militant, colonial side that I haven't explored? Hopefully it's just that I look good in wigs.
How do you get into character?
I get in character by imagining bronze busts, Grandpa from the Simpsons, and by having faux-angry text exchanges with Willie Fitzgerald (who is cast as Lincoln) in faux-old timey language.
Did you do a lot of research for your role?
I did no research—the character is kind of an exaggeration of my vague ideas about Washington. I don't want to give anything away, but I think you'll see why.
The name of the show comes from Richard Hugo, but promotional materials indicate that there is no theme. Does Richard Hugo at all influence your role in Triggering Town?
Not at all, but there's a part of the performance about how he's not in it!
In addition to your writing for The Stranger, you've got a book of poetry titled The Three Einsteins coming out this October and you're deep into a book about same-sex weddings. Are you currently hiding any other upcoming books from us?
No other books right now, but I'll have three new poems in Sierra Stinson's "Intimate Vignettes LxWxH Box" this September. They're kind of like broadsides!
Does life as the author of two upcoming books feel any different than life as an MFA student who reads around town a lot?
Right now I have no idea what anything feels like! The past four years have felt like being shot out of a cannon every morning. I guess the difference between two books and grad school is like two different models of cannons.
