A while back a friend's daughter saw me playing the (English) concertina and asked if she could try. She spent the rest of the evening working out a couple of tunes, so I loaned her a leaky old Lachenal. She found it difficult to work with, but didn't lose her enthusiasm, so when I got my Jackies, she got one of them and once more started practicing seriously.

On Wednesday I got to see her school theater's production of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream... in Swedish. Agnes played Puck. She also played a traditional Swedish flute... and the concertina!
A middle school cast (Agnes is 15), but the performing was professional quality. I was pleased and proud! (Quite rightly, so was the director.)

... Agnes has given me permission to post a couple of pictures I took.

And here's a closeup of Agnes with the concertina.
... That's right, the hair was not done specially for the play.
....... (She also plays in a punk band.)

Go Agnes!! Concertina and Shakespeare- two of my favorites. What a wonderful combination- and what a cool, creative kid Agnes appears to be.
Thanks for sharing the photos, Jim!

I agree! Shakespeare and Concertina! Great combo! I could probably live withoutthe hairdoo though.

Wow, that would be an interesting show. Think I'd have to try it in English, though!

Congrats to Agnes!

My daughter played the part of Christopher in the comedy 'On The Razzle' this past semester at UMASS. It was a pretty big role, and it all went well. The show was hilarious...AND...


I HEARD ACCORDION MUSIC PLAYED BEFORE THE SHOW! A recording, not live, but, HEY!!!! That's something.

(Anyway, my daughter thought the theatre was fun but she prefers her (UMASS) band 'family' over the drama guild.)

I think the concertina would be so perfect for the stage...Agnes, do some more!

I had fun writing little plays that my daughter and I performed (years ago) and I used the accordion for 'leit-motif' intros of the puppets and so on, and composed short songs. I think I had more fun with it than my daughter, Rainy, did, but...

...when I have a grandkid, I think I'll do some and use the concertina!