This next story remembers simpler times and the joy of watching performances by family members.
On the evenings of Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th and Friday 27th February 1896, a popular school operetta called ‘Playmates’ was performed by Blantyre Established Church Juvenile choir at the High Blantyre Parish Halls.
The singing performances of 60 children in this choir was a delight to hear due to the amount of effort put into their training. Any previous performance in the village by this choir was eclipsed by this excellent rendition. The children were under the training of Mr John Marshall who had excelled in his training. Their precision was noticed, their harmonious chorus causing widespread applause at every number.
This performance was really a mixture of various stories including Dick Whittington and Jack and the Beanstalk. Before the signing, two fine performances of maypole dances was given, so on the whole, the audience, comprising mostly of family and friends of the children, were thoroughly entertained. The children were dressed in fine dresses and suits.
Adding to the scene in the upstairs hall (which some of you may have been familiar with at the corner of Hunthill Road and Main Street) was some beautiful lighting once it had become dark outside. The stage was illuminated by limelight by Mr Ferguson of High Blantyre, providing a very atmospheric and professional setting. It’s easy to forget that there was no electronic musical backup in those days. Mr Gavin Fleming played the piano, providing the music. The Rev Turnbull, upon closing remarks said everybody had been given a real treat.
AI using prompts from these descriptions, sketches out an illustration of what it may have looked like.
