Off with the kilt on with the nightshirt

**Jimmy** · 28th January 11, 02:40 AM

Last night in Glasgow at a Burns Night, I recited Holy Willie's Prayer, i was told that i could change in the cellar, so around about 10pm I made my way down the very steep stairs into the cellar and what a wee place it was, i could not stand up straight in it, The height being about 5 feet and I'm over 6 feet.
Anyway off with the kilt and on with the nightshirt, slippers and wee willie winkie hat, really looking ridiculous with my lit candle and bible in hand but all good fun
Nevertheless the recitation turned out well, the only thing was that the audience were not interested in learning the background to the poem and someone shouted out 'get on with the poem'.
So I've learned cut out the patter and just get down to the poem.
Its only the second time I have done Holy Willie, normally its Tam o'Shanter, so would you agree that its best not to prelude the poem but just get on with it?

**Pleater** · 28th January 11, 03:02 AM

If you are in costume then act in character - even ham it up a bit. Giving a lecture on your party piece before starting it really takes the gloss off even the best performance.

Burn's night suppers are an entertainment, not an educational experience, and those attending might not need the information anyway.

Rather like going on about a song only to find that the fellow in the audience with the pained expression is the writer.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**Jimmy** · 28th January 11, 03:15 AM

you are absolutely right, perhaps the gloss did come of the performance because i made the mistake of trying to lecture the crowd, although in costume i did ham it up quite a bit and was fairly successful but I will know better next time, thanks for your advice

**Arlen** · 28th January 11, 08:34 AM

I have to say, I disagree with Anne on this one.
For me, I cannot stand a Burns supper where they just randomly ready out poetry and expect to be entertained.
The suppers are in his honour and we'd do well to respect the man and his works enough that we can take 5 minutes to find out what inspired him to write the thing.

IMO, Burns suppers are not a spectator sport. I'd have pulled the heckler out of the audience, reminded him of the above facts and then asked him to perfectly recite and explain at least one Burns poem in front of everyone. If he couldn't take the heat and do a performance, as I'm guessing, then he deserves the dressing down.

**auld argonian** · 28th January 11, 08:55 AM

Frankly, I'd think that they'd show a little more courtesy to someone who has obviously gone to the trouble to do costume and perform the poem.

...not like you were cuttin' into their drinkin' time, was it?

Best

AA

**Jimmy** · 28th January 11, 09:09 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

I have to say, I disagree with Anne on this one.
For me, I cannot stand a Burns supper where they just randomly ready out poetry and expect to be entertained.
The suppers are in his honour and we'd do well to respect the man and his works enough that we can take 5 minutes to find out what inspired him to write the thing.

IMO, Burns suppers are not a spectator sport. I'd have pulled the heckler out of the audience, reminded him of the above facts and then asked him to perfectly recite and explain at least one Burns poem in front of everyone. If he couldn't take the heat and do a performance, as I'm guessing, then he deserves the dressing down.

Thanks Arlen, it was a pub setting in the west end of Glasgow, you probably know the area in partick, i agree with you as most people would not know what i was reciting and would fail to understand the words, but it seems all they wanted was someone in costume and hamming it up, nevertheless it was a good experience and enjoyable, it was'nt a bad experience

**macwilkin** · 28th January 11, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by Pleater

If you are in costume then act in character - even ham it up a bit. Giving a lecture on your party piece before starting it really takes the gloss off even the best performance.

Burn's night suppers are an entertainment, not an educational experience, and those attending might not need the information anyway.

Rather like going on about a song only to find that the fellow in the audience with the pained expression is the writer.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I'm not so sure I agree with Anne that Burns Nights are not an educational experience, because they really are, especially if the majority attending are not familiar with Burns & his works -- the Immortal Memory certainly should be both informative and enjoyable, and while I wouldn't drone on for 20 minutes about a particular piece I was reciting, a 2 minute introduction setting the stage is fine INMHO.

The noted Burnsian John Cairney and his wife once presented a "tag-team" Address to a Haggis where she recited and he provided narration and translation, much of it tounge-in-cheek, but also telling why Burns wrote the poem. I've seen Tam O'Shanter "magic lantern" slides from the turn of the 20th century that certainly would aide in any recitation of the poem -- and I've also been part of the action, playing a "ghostie" chasing Tam around the room whilst a friend recited the poem!

T.

**MacRobert's Reply** · 28th January 11, 10:18 AM

Well done Jimmy. When all said and done, it is reciting the poems that matters. They all speak for themselves even if some background information can make them a richer experience for the audience. Not all audiences are the same and what will work well with one, will not have the same impact on the other. I have seen outstanding professional performers go down like a led balloon because they have misjudged their audience. Burns suppers and celebrations are not immune. IMHO, if possible spend some time observing the audience's response to other performers. When performing yourself, watch your audience for their reactions, especially the non-verbal clues. Are they getting restless or looking bored or do you have their undivided attention? Modify your performance accordingly. Most of Burns' poems work for people at more than one level, part of the man's genius. So Holy Willie's Prayer is a bit of good entertainment and a lesson on hypocrisy even if the audience is not familiar with Calvinistic theology or that the poem is biographical.

Keep reciting.

**Pleater** · 28th January 11, 07:26 PM

If you were getting an introduction from someone not in costume then they might get away with a bit of information, but I don't think that many audiences would take the same from someone in costume.

As a general rule, if you are in costume then you are the entertainment and should behave accordingly.

I have a long experience of folk clubs and there are lines drawn, believe me.

I also read 'Glasgow', the time of 10pm and assumed that the cellar used for changing was in a pub or club and that there would have been alcohol imbibed.

It would have been one memorable performance to have got away with doing a learned introduction in those circumstances - in my opinion.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

**SteveB** · 28th January 11, 08:37 PM

On this side of the pond, using an announcer in appropriate costume, to introduce the production and performers, does work as a way to educate a little before the "scene" is played. This even works well in tiny pubs that have a broom closet as a changing room.
I have gone from full piping kit to a robed shepherd, to a rancher and back to full piping kit at the end in one of these shows. The announcer is the key to cues and keeping the audience while "scene" changes are happening without the advantage of a stage with curtains. This also helps the pub as the patrons know which is a change of scene, and which is intermission.

Slainte