Computer software writer Charles Johnson was at Disneyland when he saw a strolling entertainer and had an epiphany.
"He was playing a fiddle, singing songs, making kids laugh," Johnson said Friday. "I said to myself, 'That's what I want to do.'"
The encounter prompted Johnson, who lives in Escondido, to buy a ukulele and start visiting area parks and libraries,
where he entertained young audiences as a musical storyteller. Several years later, he has honed his mix of songs and
music to the point where he gets paid to perform when he's not doing his day job.
The public will get a chance to witness Johnson's storytelling skills Monday, when he performs at a Poway Folk Circle gathering.
A special guest at the free event, where Folk Circle members entertain listeners with music and stories, Johnson will relate
part of one of his favorite stories: a retelling of the classic movie "King Kong."
Many people may wonder what such an old story has to offer compared to modern-day movies and video games filled with special
effects and computer-generated graphics.
But Johnson, 40, said "King Kong" has all the power, drama and other elements that make a really good story.
"It's got chase scenes, it's got action, there's explosions, there's airplanes diving out of the sky shooting at a gorilla on
top of the Empire State Building," he said, his voice building with excitement as he laid out "King Kong's" attributes.
"What's better than that? It's got dinosaurs; it's got everything."
Johnson, who has a grown stepdaughter but no children of his own, is also a strong believer in the educational value of storytelling,
which he said teaches kids all kinds of language skills and fosters a sense of adventure. And the medium is not just for children, he said.
"Way back before we had TV, that's how people entertained each other," Johnson said about storytelling. "It's just fantastic."
He found kindred spirits in the Poway Folk Circle. Started a year ago, the 147-member group meets in Old Poway Park on the second Tuesday of every month.
Sitting in a circle, participants take turns entertaining each other with songs or stories. Altering one's voice to fit different characters,
adding dramatic pauses, and startling listeners with loud "booms," hand claps and other sound effects that add to the story are all encouraged.
Poway Folk Circle leader Jeff Bertino said the group is one of many trying to keep a traditional art alive. Individual Folk Circle members may
have a single talent, multiple ones or none, he said.
"We have storytellers, we have musicians, we have people that are audience (members)," Bertino said. "We basically want people to get out of their
living rooms and away from their computers and electronics and go to a common place where they can interact with each other. ... It's by the public,
it's for the public, (and) it's all free."
Folk Circle members' talents will be on display June 5 when the group hosts the annual Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival in Old Poway Park.
Go to
www.powayfolkcircle.org for information.
Call staff writer Andrea Moss at 760-739-6654.
North County Times, May 7th 2010