CAUGHT AT LAST

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXX, Issue 189, 19 August 1935, Page 3

CAUGHT AT LAST

TRAPPED INTO SINGING

MR “MACSULLIVAN’S” DEBUT

There never was a success like the

community singing session in the Civic Theatre, Christchurch, one day last week. More than £l4O was taken for the Mayor’s Fund, establishing a new record, the previous best being £74. Mr. W. McNair, the song leader, and Mr. Bert. Goodland, the pianist, appeared as Highlanders, complete with kilts. The Mayor (Mr. D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) sang, and foreswore his nationality sufficiently also to don glengarry and plaid (but no kilts). The Civic Theatre was packed. Hundreds were turned away. Hundreds waited to get into the theatre from 8 a.m. till 12 o’clock. Messrs. McNair and Goodland appeared from the wings of the theatre, were piped round the aisles, and then treated the waiting hundreds ouside the building to the spectacle of their bare knees. The Mayor thought he would slip quitely backstage and make a dramatic entry, but the crowd caught him sneaking down a side aisle and shrieked with mirth. Mr. McNair introduced Mr. MacSullivan who, after inspecting the knees of the song leader and pianist, bowed to the frenzied crowd.

Trapped Into Singing.

“No criminal going to execution could feel as I do,” he said feelingly. “I will try in a moment or two to sing that darned song. For five years I have been dodging it, but the Scotsmen trapped me.”

The Mayor then told the audience how he had practised and practised at his song. He used to try it out in the Mayor's room, but one day he was heard by the Town Clerk, who dashed off and returned with Dr Guthrie and Dr Thacker.

Like a pack of ravening wolves the crowd demanded the song.

The Mayor launched out on “The Isle of Capri,” but just as he was getting into his stride, a slide on the screen begged: “Please! Don’t shoot the singer. He’s doing his best.” This was followed by a shadowy revolver pointed at the unhappy performer.

Giving the rest of the song up as a bad job, the Mayor lead a chorus, occasionally casting apprehensive glances behind him.

The chorus ended, the Mayor was warmly congratulated by Mr. McNair and Mr. Goodland, and backed, blushing, off the stage.