A Night to Remember - Italian Style
On Friday 23rd March at 7.30pm, Mike Maran productions will pay tribute to all Italian families who emigrated to Scotland over the years by telling his own family story in The Victoria Hall in the form of a short play. Mike and his friend Philip Contini wrote the play some time ago but the demand to see it again was so strong they are touring Scotland for the second time to perform this popular show which was originally performed in one of Philip’s family businesses, Valvolla and Crolla, in the heart of Edinburgh.
The showing of the play in Campbeltown is particularly relevant as due to the much loved exhibition produced last year by Alba Heritage Trust and The Libraries Service with help from local artists. So, in order to celebrate Italian culture in Scotland and particularly Campbeltown’s contribution, we are going to have a follow up celebration to sing Italian and Scottish songs led by Campbeltown born singer/songwriter, Paul Johnson, from well known local band, The Twisted Melons. Paul will host an Open Mike session in the Masonic Hall after the performance when local singers along with the very talented Eleanor McKay, who sang at the opening of the Italia in Scotzia exhibition will perform Italian and Scottish songs to mark the bond between the two cultures which have integrated so well both in Scotland and parts of Italy, especially in Barga where most West of Scotland Italian Scots hailed from. Mike has added some information in the dialogue to the play to mention the Argyll Italians who came here during the war from information sent to him via Pamela Galbraith from Alba Heritage Trust which was kindly given to the overall project by Ronald Togneri.
This after show party, like last time at the launch event, has Italian anti-pasta to sample before listening to the music and singing along to well known tunes. The evening will be varied with old and new songs from Italy and Scotland from some of the old classics like Amore sung by various artists to Charlene Spiteri of Texas who was one of the talented Scots/Italians mentioned in the exhibition last August. Bag pipe and accordion music will kick the celebrations off and like the launch evening in August, it has all the right ingredients to be a night to remember!
To attend the after show party; just keep your ticket for the play which can be purchased at the door on the night or from reception in The Aqualibrium on 01586551212. Ticket prices are £7.00 and £5.00 concession. The exhibition shown in the Library about the life of the Grumoli family in Campbeltown last year will be on display before the play and during the interval for those of you who missed it the first time and those who want to see it again.
