Preview: Lauder
This is Jamie MacDougall’s story of how he came to revive Jimmy Logan’s one-man show based on the life of Sir Harry Lauder. Jamie’s revival will be broadcast on the 150th anniversary of Harry Lauder’s birth on August 4th, 2020. When we have details of the platform on which the performance will be available, we will publish details on the Edinburgh Music Review social media.
‘Lauder’, Jamie MacDougall’s revival of Jimmy Logan’s one-man show, to be streamed from The Kings Theatre, Edinburgh on August 4th, 2020
On the 4th of August this year, if you were able to walk down the high street in Portobello you’d find there are no flags or bunting, no banners to celebrate perhaps Scotland’s most famous and successful of performers, Sir Harry Lauder. It was in Portobello in 1870, into a poor working class family, that Harry was born. The oldest of seven siblings, he would go on to become the world’s highest paid entertainer, the favourite of Presidents and Royalty. But how did I, a so called ‘classically trained opera singer’, become so interested in this Scottish Minstrel that I find myself appearing as Sir Harry?
My journey on that very ‘long road’ with Harry began when I was 10 years old. I was taken by my grandpa, and family friends Uncle Willie and Aunt Elsie, to the King’s Theatre in Glasgow to hear Jimmy Logan in ‘Lauder’. Jimmy wrote and starred in the one-man play, based on the life of his hero, at the Lyceum in Edinburgh. This was 1976.
It was a Monday night, very quiet in the theatre; even for a star like Logan the start of the week was quiet. But the lack of numbers didn’t stop the audience from joining in with the many catchy songs. This is where I felt a bit left out. I didn’t know these songs, I didn’t know anything about Harry Lauder, but I was swept up in the spectacle, the costumes, and the upbeat numbers. It was funny, it was sad, and it made its mark. I was a new convert to this remarkable Scottish entertainer, Harry Lauder.
At the end of that night an LP of Lauder songs from the show, sung by Logan, was bought for me. I had it on my grandpa’s phonogram for hours over the next few days. So much so that by the Saturday night when my parents took me back to see Lauder I didn’t feel left out. I sang along and I’ve been singing them since.
That’s how it all started. I’ve had the pleasure of singing these songs from Australia to the States to English-speaking audiences and to non-English speaking audiences. No matter where I sing them the reaction is always the same, they bring smiles to faces. As Harry says in the play, “I always knew a good tune when I heard one. You need a few essentials, the right ingredients, and the most important one is the beat!”
I got to know Jimmy Logan towards the end of his life, just as he was diagnosed with cancer. At the time he was performing Lauder at the Pitlochry Theatre. I had been asked to present the RSNO Last Night of the Summer Proms. When I was asked what I wanted to perform with the orchestra I immediately asked for a medley of Harry Lauder songs. They agreed and the wonderful Stephen Adams orchestrated them for orchestra and RSNO Chorus. A double whammy! It was fantastic.
What I needed were some new Lauder stories, so I managed to get in touch with Jimmy. I called him and introduced myself telling him all about my experiences as a 10-year old at the King’s. I could hear him think “Oh aye! Is that right?”
“Yes,” I said… “I was bought the record and I learnt all the songs…”
“Well,” said Jimmy, “I’m doing it just now at Pitlochry. Come along!”
I said I’d be there.
Now, I need to explain that the only date that was available coincided with my wedding anniversary. I can still remember my beautiful Mexican wife saying in the car on our way to Pitlochry. “Where are we going? Who is Jimmy Logan and who is Harry Lauder?”
Of course, I needn’t have worried. By the end of the night she had fallen for Jimmy’s performance and Harry’s story. I never forgot the impact the play had on my wife. As I said Harry Lauder isn’t well known, or known at all in Chihuahua, yet the story of this remarkable wee man, his heartbreak at the loss of his only son killed in the Great War and his determination to do good for those around him are themes that resonate universally.
Sadly, I didn’t have long to get to know Jimmy Logan. He died of his illness soon after we met.
Fast forward a few years and a conversation with Billy Differ. For many years Billy ran the King’s Theatre in Glasgow. He knew everyone in the business. He asked me if there was something I really wanted to do. I told him that I’d love to revive Jimmy Logan’s play, ‘Lauder’.
He then told me that Jimmy’s widow was herself gravely ill and that I should contact her. I did and she graciously agreed to see me at her home in Helensburgh. I was able to tell her my dream of bringing Jimmy’s play back and she not only gave me her blessing to do so, but she gave me Jimmy’s script as I left.
What happened next I would describe as my wilderness years. I’m a singer, worse than that, a tenor. Not suited to anything else really but sing highish notes! I didn’t have a clue how I should go about putting on a play. At the time I took it to a producer at the newly formed National Theatre for Scotland. They looked at it but with productions like Black Watch going all over the world a revival of Logan’s play would appear to be too old-fashioned. I wandered blindly for a few years thinking what to do with this.
Given the story of the play centres around Harry’s son and his death at the Somme, I was keen to get this play on stage around the WW1 centenary commemorations. 2014 came and went, so did 2015 and 2016. In desperation I posted on Facebook that I had this play and that I needed help to get it on. The feedback was terrific, if not a bit daunting.
I had gotten to know the CEO of Scottish Opera, Alex Reedijk, over the years and I had the honour of presenting the re-opening of the Theatre Royal Glasgow after its magnificent new foyer was completed. I approached Alex, told him all about my dream of putting this play on. After patiently listening to me he calmly asked, “Jamie, what do you want from us?” I lamely replied that some rehearsal space would be nice and help with costumes. He then proposed the following, “This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Theatre Royal, the home of Scottish Opera. Since this was the place Harry had his first Pantomime triumph how do you feel about putting on Lauder in the Foyer this November?” I almost fell off my seat.
What I've rarely shared is what happened to me that night. Alex had suggested I have a think about it. It was the end of May and I already had a busy calendar through the autumn into the Christmas festivities. Always a busy time for singers! Not this year though. I had to think if I could fit it in. A brand new production of a one man show in 5 months?
That night I was MC’ing the North Lanarkshire School’s Concert for children with special needs. It’s one of my favourite, most inspiring nights of the year. The kids were putting on a play based around ‘Desert Island Discs’. The guest in the hot chair was none other than Paw Broon from the Sunday Post. In case some of you don’t know that’s a Sunday publication. Kirsty Young asked Paw Broon. “If there was one piece of advice you’d give the youngsters what would it be?”
“That’s easy” said Paw Broon. “If you get an opportunity to do something, don’t turn it down”. Well talk about from the mouth of babes! Before the event was over, I called Alex and said I’d do it!
