Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-18
"Tam O. Shanter"
Pleases Patrons of
Entertainment Course


the hall felt that they must rush out
and get seat in the waiting electric
car, the rest of the very much inter-
ested audience was denied the pleas
ure of hearing that last and maybe
to the hears of many, the sweetest
song of all those old Scotch favor
ties, AUD Lang Syne." when Tam
O. Shanter," a one-act sketch based
on Burns poem was presented by
clever band of players. calling them
selves The Scottish Musical Comedy
company. The hall was crowded and
up to the next to the last song, every
body was all attention. Many
Scotchman on Thursday night chuck
led and drew UP his shoulders over
the wee bits of wit and even 10 the
less educated mind, the droll humor
leaked through.
Only the best Of performers could
have kept the close attention of such
a mixed audience as did the Scottish
players Thursday evening when that
unique arrangement of Bobbie Burns
poem unfolded itself. The short ex-
PLANTATION of the sketch is: The scene
of the sketch is supposed to be In
room in the now famous Tam O.
Shanter Inn in the town of Ayr, Scot
land, the room in which the cronies
met the night of Tam's awful ride.
Tam was a farmer. although much of
his time was given to smuggling and
registering His farm was called
Z. CLo 70, ~
His boon companion was the scout
err" the village cobbler. The poem
was used as a basis and portrays
such an evening as Burns may have
spent in the jovial and congenial So
ciety Of the two cronies. The little
play was made doubly enjoyable by
the very frequent insertion Of quo
tations from Burns poem.
And now for the folks in the show.
Geordie Tamson, the landlord was
played by Leverett B. Merrill. And
jolly landlord he proved to be. He
had all the chara cteristics which q
Scotch one should have and all the
lines and such. John e. Daniels IN
the role of Souter Johnnie, the cob
bier, proved to be the comedian OF
the company. His droll mannerisms
and his clever limitations provoked a
side laugh from the most stolid of
them. He was little and rather bent
but his eyes were bright and neither
did his voice reach his form in years.
Tam O. Shanter was the share Of
Daniel Ross and his make up was
complete. He was hlustery and he
was loud but he could sing with the
rest of them.
Victor Gilbert in the role OF Robert
Burns was splendid. portraying In
realistic manner the characteristics
of the beloved Scotch poet. John Fl.
Smith played the bag pipes like
veteran and last. but not least, We're
the Irvine sisters who We're the pip
er's daughters. They were dainty lit
tie misses with flowing locks. nimble
legs and twinkling toes that pranced
through the intricate steps of the
sword dance, the quick steps Of the
sailors hornppe and the good old
Irish jig. each to itself complete.
A medley of Scotch tunes was the
overture and it sort of paved the way
for the treats in wit and song from
the Heatherland that followed.
4 low c, at least. was a mere trif1e
for Geordie to go down and get. He
was a basso- profoundo and he reach
ed depths such as City hall audiences
had never before heard. His "My
Name is Geordie Tamson" was a roll
licking song. The Souter was a tenor
and his voice displayed sweetness for
tn old songs and gained power on his
higher notes. MARY Of Argyle" was
a clever example of this
oh. those deep rumbling tones when
Geordie sang "A Mans a man for a
that"
Character is what man is when
nobody is looking at him." were the
wise words which fell from the Sout-
er's lips and then the fun began.
If some kind fairy would wave her
magic wand over the humble scribe
and say thusly. Il now thee endow
with Scotch wit and the power to
speak Scotch dialect" then the h. s.
could ramble on and tell the folks
lots of funny stories in their proper
way. But here is the common
Yankee of them, such stories of rare
Scottish wit as passed among the
old cronies-the landlord, the cob
bier. the farmer and the gentleman
in Tam O. Shanter."
great lord was advertised as 60
Ing to speak in the Glasgow town
hall. All the folks were much in
terested and the hall was crowded
Then word was received that the
lord was Ill and could not speak.
Rather than disappoint the big
crowd. the managers persuaded a
lord, perhaps not so we'll known, but
a lord who happened to be in town.
to speak to the crowd. The lord of
lesser note VAS Just SOLDERING off
after a several days spree. He got
up on the platform and after several
attempts addressed the people. Aft
er he had gene just so far some one
in the rear Of the hall would yell out,
Louder" Then the lord would
start anew. Finally after several
requests. "Louder" he went on
thusly. your city is the fair
est in all the world and on that
grand and glorious day, when the
heavens shall open and the roll shall
be called. and when Gabriel shall
sound his horn, calling together the
nultitudes of the earth to their re-
ward, some D. fool from Glasgow
will yell Louder"
Mcintosh was driven about the
town on sight seeing tour and at
{ the end Of the trip he thought the