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<\/p>\nPortobello\u2019s most famous son, Sir Harry Lauder, will be celebrated as Scottish Opera\u2019s acclaimed one-man show Lauder is performed at the seaside suburb\u2019s Town Hall on 4 and 5 August.<\/p>\n
Born just a stone\u2019s throw from the venue \u2013 a plaque marks the cottage at 3 Bridge Street \u2013\u00a0 Lauder\u2019s Porty legacy remains strong and is commemorated with a memorial garden at the Town Hall and the local ring-road is named after the international performer.<\/p>\n
Tenor and broadcaster Jamie MacDougall is reviving the much loved show \u2013 written by another legendary Scottish artist, Jimmy Logan \u2013 with performances in London, Derbyshire and Portobello, and proceeds will go to the Erskine Veterans Charity, for which MacDougall is an ambassador.<\/p>\n
Lauder was much affected by the death of his son, Captain John Lauder, at the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and raised huge sums of money for injured servicemen, donating his musical royalties to Erskine.<\/p>\n
Famously performing in full Highland regalia \u2013 kilt, sporran, Tam o\u2019 Shanter, and walking stick \u2013 Lauder\u2019s global influence led Winston Churchill to call him \u201cScotland\u2019s greatest ever ambassador\u201d, and acknowledged the comfort his songs provided during WW2.<\/p>\n
Jamie MacDougall\u00a0said: \u201cI was 10 when I was taken twice to see Jimmy Logan in\u00a0Lauder\u00a0at the King\u2019s Theatre Glasgow. That was the start of my life-long association with these wonderful songs and Sir Harry, an entertainer who was the first truly global star. I am honoured to be an Ambassador for Erskine, and hope audiences can come along to see this special show and raise money for an incredible charity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adapted by MacDougall and director Kally LloydJones from the original script by Jimmy Logan, it features well-known songs such as \u201cI Love a Lassie\u201d, composed for the 1905 Glasgow pantomime Aladdin, and \u201cRoamin\u2019 in the Gloamin\u2019\u201d and \u201cEnd of the Road\u201d. The performance also includes footage of Lauder\u2019s funeral and trenchera visuals, transporting audience members through his life.<\/p>\n
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Stephen Rafferty is a former crime correspondent at The Scotsman and was a staff reporter for the Daily Record and Edinburgh Evening News. He has freelanced for many of the Scottish and UK national newspaper titles. Got a story? Get in touch – [email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n