HALLOWE'EN CONCERT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23952, 30 October 1939, Page 12

HALLOWE'EN CONCERT

INFORMAL PRESENTATION BRIGHT AND VARIED PROGRAMME The annual presentation by the Burns Club to celebrate Hallowe’en, the night of traditional revelry among Scottish people, is one of the most keenly anticipated entertainments of the year, and an enviable reputation for bright programmes has been built up. This year the club maintains that reputation with “ Hallowe’en at Arbroath,” which was first presented on Saturday night to an audience which filled His Majesty’s Theatre and expressed its satisfaction with the entertainment in a hearty manner. The quality that distinguishes this concert is its informality. There is no barrier between audience and performer—they are all “ brither Scots ” together. It is not easy to create this atmosphere of intimacy, but on Saturday night there was a complete accord. Everyone seemed to have gone along in happy mood and relaxed to spend close on three hours of music, dancing, and humour. The lives of the hardy fisher folk of the east coast of Scotland was the theme of ” Hallowe’en at Arbroath.” which was skilfully arranged by Messrs Arthur Macdonald and James Paterson. The continuity was very effective. The curtain rose for the first half of the entertainment to show “the fit of the toon, on the pier." The scene was cleverly staged, and the various “ props’’—nets, fishing boats, etc.—assisted the illusion. Round the steps of the pier were grouped a typical crowd of sailors, lassies and laddies, bairns, and their parents—homely folk In the rough dress of their trades. Men and women came and went: they were greeted in characteristic fashion, added their contribution to the gossip and the entertainment, and then mingled with the crowd. Leaders in the fun were Tam Legg (Daft Tam), Jock Spink, Muckle Meg his wife. Cadger Davie and the other town characters. And this was the entertainment presented on the pier steps:— Band selections. Dunedin Highland Pipe Band: song, “ The Bellman,” Mr James Paterson: part songs, “ Weel may the Boatie Row ’’ and “ Turn Ye to Me.” the Castalian Singers; song, “ Caller Herrin,’ ’’ Miss Jess McMillan; dance, " Sailors' Hornpipe,” Messrs Jim Flett and Keith Cameron: chorus. "What Shall We Do With the Drunken Sailor? ” the company: song, " Flow Gently Sweet Afton,” Mr Archie Jones: comic song, " The Lassie I Left on the Shore,” Mr. James Paterson; recitation, " The Inchcape Rock,” Miss Leonore Mackenzie; chorus, “ Hame, Hame." the company: song. “ The Stoker.” Mr Arthur Macdonald: song, “ Sail My Ships,” Miss Dora Drake: accordion trio, “Don't Give up the Ship.” the Dixon Campbell Trio; chorus. “ Songs of the Sea ” and “ Lads in Navy Blue,” the company: comic song, “ On the Isle of Hootclia Kootcha.” Mr Rex Wilson Brown: song, “ There’s nae Luck aboot the Hoose,” Miss Nellie Mlnnock; chorus, “ Skye Boat Song,” the company. For the second half of the entertainment, the scene changed to the home of Adam Cargill for an evening’s jollification. The company were gathered “ ben the hoose ’’ and the stout old fisherman made a first-class host. It was a scene such as Burns and Fergusson loved to assist in and to write about, and to the older members of the audience at least, it must have brought back memories of the times when such an occasion was typical pf family life. This time the programme was as follows;—Band selections, Dunedin Highland Pipe Band: song, “ The Lowland Sea,’.’ Mr Roy McDougall; song, “ The Glory of the Sea,” Miss Jess McMillan; dance, Highland Fling Misses Norma Marshall, Nancy Stewart, Jim Flett, Keith Cameron: comic duet, “ The Village Firemen,’’ Messrs Rex Wilson Brown, James Paterson; song,

"The Scottish Blue Bells,” Miss Dora Drake; recitation, “ The Wee Wally Dug,” Mrs Oliver; song, " Gae Bring to me a Pint o’ Wine,” Mr Archie Jones; comic song and chorus, “ The Good Ship Yakie Hikle Dula,” Mr R. Wilson Brown; accor. dion trio, ” Misty Islands of the Highlands,” the Dixon Campbell Trio; song, “ Happy We Are a' thegither,” Miss Nellie Minnock; recitation, Miss Leonore Mackenzie: song. “ The Kilted Men,” Mr Arthur Macdonald: comic song, “ The Lighthouse Keeper,’’ Mr James Paterson; dance, '* Boomps a Daisy,” the company. The accompaniments were played by Mr Stewart Brlngins and Miss Mavis Macdonald. The programme will be repeated this evening.