Brigadoon - the Musical

[McConnachy]

I would be interested in learning more about the history of this musical/ movie/ show.

I am particularly interested because of the song "Down on McConnachy Square" and where it comes from eg could there be such a place?

Any thoughts?

[Anne H]

Hi McConnachy,

Have you had a look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigadoon

Regards,
Anne H

[paddyscar]

Although the Brig o' Doon does exist in Alloway, Ayr, the play itself was a fantasy. Until someone on TS who knows the area can confirm one way or the other, perhaps these sites for Ayr may have a reference to whether the Square exists or not:

www.ayrshirescotland.com/towns/alloway.html

www.scotlandmag.com/directory/local/alloway.ayr

http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/ ... y_doonfoot


For info on Allan Jay Lerner and the play/musical:

http://musicals.net/cgi-bin/songlist?sn ... =Brigadoon

www.britannica.com/eb/article-9047884/Alan-Jay-Lerner

http://www.songwritershalloffame.org/ex ... hibitId=42

Hope this helps,

Frances

[Davie]

Hi
The DVD was on sale in Argyle Street over the Christmas period in the three for £20 promotions.
I would doubt if Lerner and Lowe would know much about Scotland but possibly knew a big polis cawd McConnachy and used the name.
On the really useless information front:
Alan Freed (stayed in Drymen) came over to Scotland to find a good location for the film.
Decided that there was nowhere which looked “Scottish enough” , so they filmed the musical in a back lot in the studio.
Davie

[ninatoo]

Ohhhh I have always wanted to be in a production of Brigadoon (having been in a few amatuer muscials in my time). The ones here in Australia need someone who can REALLY put on a good Scottish accent!

[DavidWW]

As an "Honest Man", - Google it , - never mind someone who spent 7 years at primary school in Alloway, about half a mile from the real Brig o' Doon, I can't recall a McConnachy Square in Ayr, but that's not to say that there wasn't/isn't such an address in the town of the first two decades of my life .............

I seem to recall that there was a McCoonachies Garage, - quite upmarket in terms of BMWs or similar ............

David

[DavidWW]

Hi
....snipped.................
I would doubt if Lerner and Lowe would know much about Scotland but possibly knew a big polis cawd McConnachy and used the name.
....snipped .........
Davie

Now that I can believe

BTW, for those amongst our members wha dinnae unnerstaun the term, - "a big polis", - sometimes expressed as "a big polisman", - this equates to a member of the Glasgow constabularly of such impressive physical proportions who widnae be afraid to patrol on his own near Maryhill Barracks after pub throwing out time on a Saturday night.

David


Footnote #1: Despite frequent claims to the contrary by the London police force, the Glasgow police force were the first in the UK to be set up by Act of Parliament, and there were something like another 10 Scottish polices forces set up before the Metropolitain Police force in London came into existence.

Footnote #2: Maryhill Barracks was the home of the 71st of Foot, the Highland Light Infantry, aka "Glasgow's Own" and "The Glesca Keelies", .....

"they ca'd us Glesca keelies yince,
an ither names beside,
maybe we are, maybe we're no,
but in oor wee bit pride,
whate'er they ca' us disna hurt,
for weel we a' dae ken,
the HLI were kent,
as rael guid fechtin' men! "

In the rougher areas of Glasgow, around pub chucking out time of a Saturday night, police would patrol in pairs, except in the vicinity of Maryhill Barracks, where it was a question of patrolling in fours

dww

[StewL]

David

Your wee message reminded my of my grannies boarder in Clydebank, he was a Glesga Polisman. As a wee boy I thocht he wis aboot ten foot tall and twice the size of mere mortals. I sometimes had to go upstairs to chap on his door to tell him his tea was ready. As a wee boy I couldnt understand why he was having his tea at that time of the day. Now I realise he was on the evening shift and having his tea before he went to work. I believe he became a superintendant later on. But I cant for the life of me remember his name (Mr something ) He did prevent me from doing a heider doon the stairs once, he caught me by the breeks as I was lunging forward, so big and quick too Though that act is something my big sister would dispute was a good thing

[emanday]

Well, you know what they say Stewie when the polis start to look younger, your getting old. Maybe they start to look wee-er as well. I certainly remember them as being a lot bigger! I also remember that a lot of the Glasgow ones were big braw hielanders!

[StewL]

Mary

You should see some of the polis over here. I am taller than some of them now And I am only 5ft 7in or 170cm though according to my GP I am 5ft 7and a hauf