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| 6/16/2010 11:43:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| The Noiseguy made fun out of ordinary everyday objects; he just added sound.
PACER/DARLA WELCHEL |
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| Noises can be very funny, especially for children.
PACER/DARLA WELCHEL |
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Water can be noisy?
The Noiseguy made a splash at the summer reading program
by Darla Welchel
Staff Reporter
Sound impressionist Charlie Williams, a.k.a. the Noiseguy, had the children rolling in the floor with laughter at last Wednesday's summer program entitled Catch the Sound Wave.
Children were able to "participate in this noisy nautical nonsense in a shower of splashy stories and slobbery sounds" - part of the library's summer reading program for "little squirts" this summer.
Williams who can imitate just about any sound, focused on water sounds like bubbles, flushes, ocean waves, motorboats, submarines and much more since the theme this year is Make a Splash, Read. He even taught the children how to have fun making sounds like water drops and motorboats, but stressed to only do them outside or in the bathtub.
Not only is Williams a sound impressionist and children's comedian, but he is also an author. He read his own book, complete with awesome sound effects, "Flush! An Ode to Toilets" to the group. Who knew the flushing of toilets could be so funny? But funny it was judging by the reaction of the children and adults alike in the room.
Williams also showed the crowd a new way to say their A B C's - using sound effects instead of phonetics. He then proceeded to explain how everyday objects could spark their imagination for some creative and noisy play.
Using an ordinary tennis racket, Williams demonstrated dozens of ways to use it just by adding fun sounds.
His and the children's favorite "tennis racket toy" was a light saber from Star Wars. Williams sound was so authentic, that one felt they were actually watching him wave the weapon around. This led to many other Star Wars' sounds and impersonation of Star Wars' characters.
Williams told the children that he was a noisy kid who especially loved loud noises. He loved to get truckers to blow their air horns, and he just naturally started imitating not only the sound of the horn, but also the trucks. His panache for noises landed him in a lot of trouble both at home and at school, which is why he stressed for the children to only practice outside.
And speaking of practice, Williams said it takes lots of practice to perfect each sound. In fact, he is constantly practicing his craft to the point that his sounds show up in everyday conversation - many times without him even realizing it. He said that sounds are like punctuations for him.
Williams, who lives in Issaquah, Washington and works all over the country, is an Ambassador For Reading Aloud. He travels all over the U.S. performing for public libraries teaching that reading is fun when you read out loud and add fun sounds.
He especially loves onomatopoeias, like splash, boom, flush, moo and pop. Onomatopoeias are words that sound like they are said. Williams embellishes these words, making them even more realistic. He encourages parents to "present" stories to their children and read to them with sounds.
He got his start as a librarian in Wyoming. When he would read to a room full of children, it was only natural for him to add silly noises. One thing led to another, and before long, a peculiar talent turned into a career.
"I'm living proof that you can make a career out of anything," he said. "There is nothing better than working at something you love."
And considering he pulls in $350 per show, and that he has 43 shows scheduled in June alone - performing in South Dakota, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York and Maryland at their respective public libraries - it's not a bad living.
Besides his Flush book, Williams also has several CDs full of noisy stories including his latest album, Sugar Frosted Noisy Tales. The CD and book can be purchased on Williams's web site noiseguy.com for $10 each or at amazon.com.
What’s Next At The Library?
June 18
10 a.m. - Chidren, learn to read with Snuffie
2 p.m. - Teens, Watercolor and Origami Art - Award-winning Malaysian artist Kristie Ming Tan Ngo is coming to the Newcastle Public Library to teach teens to create her artwork, which combines Japanese origami with Chinese watercolor painting.
Her program is at 2 p.m. Friday, June 18. Registration is required by visiting the library or calling 387-5076.
June 23
2 p.m. - Children, Wild Goose Chase Theater - Wild Goose Chase Theater brings its array of shadow puppets and stories to the Newcastle Public Library at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 23.
Their performance "Poet's Café" is a 45-minute program of puppetry vignettes designed to teach the elements of poetry and literary awareness.
The program combines such characters as dancing pants, lovesick witches, mischievous spaceships and many more interesting images.
The group has been touring schools and libraries nationwide since March, starting in its home state of Tennessee and wrapping up in New York, New Hampshire and Ohio in early August.
6 p.m. - Adults, The Secret Lives of Paranormal Romance Authors - Take a combination of the paranormal, the romance novel and a good portion of humor, and you find a winning recipe for authors Michele Bardsley and Dakota Cassidy.
And they're coming to Newcastle to give readers an inside look into their novels. The pair will appear at 6 p.m. Wednesday,
June 23, at the Newcastle Public Library.
They'll give readers the inside scoop on some of the topics they write about, such as undead dating, life with shape-shifters, demon "no-nos" and other secrets about their paranormal characters.
Their books would have appeal to readers of series like "Twilight," with themes and storylines focusing on creatures from the paranormal world.
Bardsley, a Tulsa native, published her first book in 1998, a romantic comedy "Daddy in Training." She has achieved fame since for her "Broken Heart" series, set in the fictional town of Broken Heart, Okla.
She has won several awards, including the 2007 Crème de la Crème award from the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc., for "A Demon Is a Girl's Best Friend" and grand prize in the national Writers Digest Writing Competition in 2003 for her short story "A Mother Scorned."
Cassidy began writing e-books in 2004 and since has published more than a dozen books, including "The Accidental Werewolf," the first in her "Accidental Friends" series, which continues with her latest book, "Accidentally Demonic."
She describes herself as an "author of romances funny side up."
June 25
10 a.m. - Chidren, learn to read with Snuffie
2 p.m. - Teens, Hydro Bracelets
June 26
All Day - All ages, library day at the Sam Nobel Museum; flash your library card and get free admission.
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