THE EASTER CONCERT

The Easter Concert was held in the Village Hall which was, once again. packed to capacity with performers, ranging in age from four years old to those who don't like to admit their age...

The primary school children opened the evening with a delightful performance of 'The Tiny Bird'. In celebration of Spring the youngsters sang the story of a small bird (Laura Oliphant) as she discovered the joys of new life in springtime. The pre-five group joined the older children on stage for the first time, performing excellently as ducks (Ross Henderson, Sam Rutherford and Shaun Anderson) whilst Rhona Smith was a beautiful daffodil.

Ali Anderson took the floor next for a recitation of the now familiar MacSpartan and this was followed by a musical trio, Ron Davies, Ron Thewlis and Julianna Nicholls, playing a set of reels and a set of jigs. The Highland Dancers (Helena Porrelli, Laura Oliphant, Faye Munro, Amy Mitchell, Lawrie Neil Porrelli, Sophie Buchan and Jamie Henderson) were next on stage, dancing the Highland Fling.

Ron Davies, more frequently seen drumming in the background, took centre stage in the next act, proving himself to be a man of many talents, singing 'Maria' from West Side Story with a passion that belies his usual quiet demeanour. Lavinia Bristol accompanied him of the keyboard.

The Highland Dancers were next: Helena Porrelli, Laura Oliphant, Faye Munro and Amy Mitchell danced the Sword Dance and then it was time for Peter Smalley to encourage a bit of audience participation in the singing of 'On Ilkley Moor Bah't'At'.

Helena Porrelli, Laura Oliphant and Faye Munro all performed the Seinn Trubhos which was followed by tunes from the Malin Ceilidh Band. Two younger Highland Dancers joined the older ones for the Virginia Reel and the Haymakers Jig: debut performances from four year old Ross Henderson and five year old Finlay John Porrelli.

As always the imagination of the concert organisers had sucessfully found an act that would amuse the audience by its' very absurdity. Mrs Pam Garnett, much the wrong side of forty, was the star, delighting all as she appeared on stage, improbably dressed in a short pink skirt and wielding a wand, to sing, 'No One Loves a Fairy When She's Forty.'

Ron Davies returned to the stage with his harmonica to play a tune that had everyone in the hall clapping enthusiastically to the beat.

The next act was a first for Coll as teenagers John Allan MacRae and Sandy Munro took centre stage: John Allan, playing guitar sang the song 'Tender' accompanied by Sandy on the guitar and a very receptive audience responded with a huge round of applause.

The theme of petrol, the lack of it and the possibility that it might soon be available has been ongoing for some time in Coll's dramatic productions and this was to be no exception. Lesley Allan and Julianna Nicholls captured the last opportunity for ribaldry on the subject in a short and witty sketch advertising the forthcoming availability of fuel, with an emphasis on the many different varieties, but oh, at what price!

Peter Smalley was next with a roof raising rendition of 'Mud Glorious Mud' to be followed by a complete change of tempo and mood when professional cellist, Jonathan Tunnell came up on the stage to play a Vivaldi duet accompanied by Ron Thewlis on the keyboard.

The newly formed choir (Julianna Nicholls, Esther MacRae, Esther Houchen, John Fraser, Pam Garnett, Lesley Allan and Andrew) sang 'Blue Moon' beautifully to be joined in a grand finale by the schoolchildren singing a Scottish Medley.

ACM