Cherries Jubilee
In the late 70's the Last Chance String Band, an old timey group for which
I played fiddle, often played for theme dinners put on at the University
of New Hampshire through the hotel administration department. If they wanted
"international" music we'd play Irish jigs, Scottish reels, Mexican
waltzes, Italian Tarantella, and whatever else we could come up with. For
"country western," we'd do an old time square dance, etc. If they
could come up with a theme, we could could come up with a band.
On this particular ocassion we were in country western mode and playing
"back ground" music on stage while dinner was being served to
a large crowd of well dressed attendees. The hotel administration students
would go all out with fancy meals and this multi-course meal included Cherries
Jubilee as the grand finale.
As I stood on stage with my fiddle under my chin, playing Leather Britches
or some such fiddle tune, I watched an interesting drama unfold. The "chefs"
in their starched white uniforms and caps, wheeled a shiny cart laden with
a huge bowl of cherries into the center of the room. All eyes were on them.
With a dramatic flourish they poured alcohol over the cherries and lit them
aflame.....A stray elbow suddenly bumped the alcohol flask. It fell to the
floor spashing alcohol in a long stream... directly toward the seated diners,
and disappearing under a table.
There was a collective gasp in the room but the band played on. In seemingly
slow motion everyone watched the flames jump from the cherries, down to
the floor, working their way toward the seated diners. No one moved until
the flames ran under the table and up an unfortunate gentleman's pant leg.
As the band played on, this poor soul leaped into the air. He momentarily
froze in place, and glanced wildly around the room. His glance finally settled
upon the fiddler and he made a mad dash with arms flailing, straight towards
the stage. The band played on, but the fiddler backed away from the front
of the stage.
He didn't make it all the way to the stage as the other attendees reflexes
finally kicked in and he was followed by other guests who quickly put out
the flames with table clothes, coats, and other available materials.Fortunately
he received no serious injury.....and the band played on.
Return to List of Favorite Gigs............Return
to Ryan Thomson's Home Page
copyright 1997, Captain Fiddle Publications
send me mail