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Here John Cairney tells the Burns story with an exciting
modern score. Original songs were commissioned from
Scottish singer/composer, Geoff Davidson, to match the
Cairney book and the result is a new look at an old
concept: Burns - The Musical. It was given its first
professional performances in a Scottish tour during
1988 and was repeated for a series of concert performances
in Glasgow at the time of that city's being elected
European City of Culture in 1990.
The story is strong. John Cairney knows it well, having
performed it as a solo for a large part of his career,
and Davidson's music is wonderfully tuneful. There are
two good romantic singing leads, half-a-dozen principals,
and a superb comedy character in 'Holy Willie' plus
the whole chorus of villagers in the first act and society
ladies and gentlemen in the second. Music is provided
by a small string ensemble. All production rights rest
with John Cairney and Geoff Davidson.
The following scripts are two-handers written for
the Burns Festival between 1976 and 1979:
The Lingering Star
Burns and the Highland Mary Campbell mystery. (With
songs)
The Thomson Correspondence
Burns and George Thomson and their arguments about Scots
song. (With Songs)
The Clarinda Correspondence
Burns and Mrs Agnes McIlhose in the Sylvander and Clarinda
letters. Original songs.
A Drunk Man Looks At Robert Burns
Burns and Hugh MacDiarmid - a playful debate for two
actors.
As Others Saw Him
Burns and his contemporaries. What they thought of him
at the time.
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