Arts Diary: Poetry: John Hegley, Everyman.

Byline: PETER GRANT

JOHN HEGLEY opened the first of his two nights at the Everyman with a couple of visionary songs with a theme close to his heart - eyesight.

The first, a celebration of spectacles called Glasses, was followed by a musical ode to contact lenses.

Hegley makes the ordinary seem magical. He's on a large UK tour which kicked off in his native Luton and it ends there. He will, however, be calling into Chester's Gateway on February 24.

His slick mix of poetry, word play and song is engaging from start to finish. He may look like Elvis Costello but he sounds like nobody else.

With nine books to his credit Hegley is one of life's great observers who uses his own experiences to maximum effect. He talked of his recent times in New Zealand and relayed his thoughts on family life with scathing remarks about his brother-in-law while receiving warm applause for some poignant references to his daughter.

Hegley brought along a guitar and not his ukelele. He also confiscated bags of sweets for those guilty of rustling.

He can effortlessly deal with hecklers. And this versatile man is also a ventriloquist with a canine puppet to hand fluent in American and Bristol accents.

Hegley also enjoys a Q and A session on tour where he tackles such subjects as his inspirations and whether or not he believes in an after life.

Before the interval he asked the audience to write a poem on either the themes of love, a sponge or the difference between God and a potato.

The winner's work was read out after the break and received a CD of his work. Simple yet real audience-participation with fun stamped all over it.

Hegley is a like able Luton word smith - mad as a hatter but always welcome in Liverpool.