As I write this, we are in the midst of one of the California Revels' liveliest Spring seasons ever. The Solstice Ensemble highlighted a very fine St. Patrick's Day program at the Scottish Rite Theatre. Appearing at a fundraiser for our home performance space, we performed a bill of traditional Irish and Scottish songs that anticipated the coming Vernal Equinox and "drove the cold winter away".
Coming up, as you will read elsewhere in this newsletter, are two Mayday Celebrations and a gala Festival on the Summer Solstice. The Fall will herald Street Fair season and the opportunity to present yet another repertoire of harvest and autumn-themed material. Under the expert guidance of Dave Watt and Helen Wills Brown, the Solstice Ensemble now offers Revelers the opportunity to revel year 'round.
In the midst of all this gaiety and celebration, we are also looking forward to the Winter Solstice. Plans for the 2007 Christmas show are rapidly falling into place, and it is shaping up to be a classic. Fred Goff, Shira Kammen and I have been cooking up an exciting potpourri of musical possibilities. While I can't tell you all of the details, nor can I name all of the players just yet, I can spin out a rough outline of the festivities:
We will be touring the English countryside in the mid to late nineteenth century, following in the footsteps of a "Songcatcher" as he goes about collecting music, dance and folk traditions. With a working title of "Nineteenth Century English Rustic", the show will include large helpings of pub songs, village carols, country dancing, mumming, Morris, and even music hall.
Of course the Revels standards will all be front and center. The Abbots Bromley Dance and Sussex Mummers Carol will never look more at home. I have been talking to several featured performers and tradition-bearers, and while I can't divulge any names just yet, I think Revelers will be pleased to welcome back some familiar faces. And one more thing - gentlemen and ladies, dust off your dancing shoes because heys will be cast and capers cut!
- David Parr, Artistic Director
