2009 USA Tour : March 16th, Saluda Theatre

Lazy Morning

We both awoke late, must be the time zone change and lazed around. The rain continued as it must have done all night. None of the Irish rain for a couple of hours and then go away here. Comfy cozy temperature, though, and there is still a lovely vista over the lake. Wish I had not left my camera in Saluda.

I was going to design some literature for printing in Saluda but internet service is very weak here and essential online work took ages to do. Time to get ready for Saluda came around quickly as we are spending the afternoon setting up the stage with decor, lights and backdrop.

Lunch Then Theatre Work

Lunch

Cindy Willis, our host in Saluda took us to lunch with her former school teacher, Beala, and what an incredible lady she is. It reminded me being in the presence of a woman version of Goodbye Mr Chips. Beala was a well loved school teacher of English who has inspired hundreds of lives and many look back to her as their life guide with joy.

The lunch she prepared for us also well and truly demonstrated her culinary skills.

Beals’s home is full of scholarly books and after lunch she pulled down a book of Yeats poems, complete with her old school teaching notes in the margin. She read to us Lake Isle Of Inishfree, The Wandering Aengus and one other, so beautifully. What a lovely sojourned visit. Thank you so much Beala.

Saluda Theatre

Returning to Saluda theatre in the afternoon for sound and lighting checks I was memorised by the dedicated work of Tommy and Cindy Willis and their friend Sandra, plus others for bringing the theatre back to life and maintaining it. Tommy, the inspiration, is a truly remarkable man, and very humble about his achievements. He did so much for Claire and I to ensure a good show, quite a perfectionist.

Claire had an exceptional wireless mic system for both herself and harp. The PA sound was one of the best I have ever heard. Many thanks to the lighting people who instinctively knew how to keep and vary moods along the show.

About 150 people turned up. Though it was hard to get the audience to loosen up and join in the show, there was an incredible pouring of gratitude with a standing ovation, at the reception after, and I think half of our CD stock was sold.

Claire performed

Sitting In A Green Field

Dedication

Fields Of Fasseroe

Brigit’s Song

Suil A Rhuin

Medley of O’Carolan tunes

Star Of The County Down

Flower Of Maharally

Aileen A Rhuin

Brian Boru’s March

Isle Of Inishfree (from the Quiet Man)

Galway Bay

He Wishes For The Clothes of Heaven

Irish Lullaby with Cynthia Willis

Cockles And Mussels

Danny Boy

Parting Glass

I performed “X Marks The Spot”

and Sandra, one of the theatre founders sung a beautiful song from Finnian’s Rainbow.

Reception after was busy and fun, lovely catering too. It was hard leaving this gig, like the other wonderful gigs of this tour. But it was also lovely returning to the peace of our lakeside campsite