Making Up Stories Based on ECD Dance and Tune Titles
donwfbell
Given the interesting collection of English country dance and tune titles, it's fun to create a short story by simply stringing some of the titles together. My wife Diane has sometimes promoted a dance event (and amused herself) by making up stories based on the titles of the dances in a dance program. In my recent quest to downsize our many boxes of memorabilia, I uncovered a dramatic little story Diane created from the dance titles on a Stockade Assembly dance program (December 2012). Another story created by Kathy Talvitie and her husband, Bob Pasquarello, comes from a skit night at Pinewoods Camp (August 2002).
The Tuneful Tale of Astoria and Jack
Long ago on a chilly Autumn (day) in Amherst, a young Lass named Astoria was sitting with the Old Wife Behind the Fire. Astoria was very sad because her sweetheart, Jack, had gone across the sea to Tripoli and she had had no News from him for a long, long time. Astoria wept quietly saying: "There is None Such as he." She feared for Jack's Health and asked the old woman if there was any way to Banish Misfortune. The old woman said: "Why yes. Go to the old farmer with the many Whiskers at Hudson Barn and ask him for a potion called Bar a Bar. Then go down to the Kelsterne Gardens where the great Estofus birds are gathering for their fall migration to Africa. Find the biggest, strongest bird. Ask him to carry the potion to Tripoli and there find Jack and spike his beer with the Bar a Bar. Astoria did what the old woman advised and felt much better as she watched the great bird take flight. But time went by and as these things go, she began to think less often of Jack. She made Fast Friends with another fellow in town. One day in late November he invited her to a holiday ball. She, of course, accepted The Invitation. On the day of the ball, she donned her golden gown, took her friend's arm and set off In the Bleak Midwinter weather. The hall was aglow as the happy crowd assembled. Astoria put on her slippers and was about to Take a Dance with her new friend when she saw at the door her long lost love, Jack. You can imagine her confusion. "Oh dear! Wa' is Me!", she cried and flew from the room. Moral of the tale: Best to bar the Bar a Bar.
A Romantic Tale from “The Books of Barnes”
At Pinewoods Dance Camp there is a tradition during English Week of campers and staff presenting an evening of entertainment (music, songs, skits, etc.) for each other. I unearthed an old video shot in August, 2002 of such an evening during which Kathy Talvitie and her husband, Bob Pasquarello, presented a romantic tale that incorporates ECD tune titles from "The Books of Barnes". The audience seemed to think it was hilarious; maybe you will, too. To fully appreciate the text, turn on subtitles (closed captions).