(Click on any of the photos below for a larger view)
Take five easy-going, fun-loving, musicians known as The Jolly Rogues. Add two enthusiastic, talented women, The Ladies Remembered. Toss in a hand-puppet, "The Duck," dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. Fly this unlikely group 14 hours to The People's Republic of China, and you have the ingredients for an international happening of a lifetime.
This story really began in 2000, when several local volunteer musicians/re-enactors decided to form a musical group to interpret 18th- and 19th-century music for visitors to Minute Man National Historical Park. They called themselves The Hartwell Players since they performed initially at the Hartwell Tavern in Lincoln. The originals were Jim, Al, Mike, Joyce, Margie, and Park Ranger Jessica Liptak; they always appeared in colonial clothing. In 2002, Jim, Al, and Mike formed a professional group, which was augmented by the great musical knowledge and talents of Paul and Herb. And so The Jolly Rogues were born.
The Jolly Rogues' plan was to present 18th- and 19th-century New England tavern, popular, political, children's, maritime and sea shanty music later adding Irish tunes and dressing the role of whichever period music they played. Historical interpretation, education, entertainment and lots of fun were the goals. The group quickly gained popularity in the northeast US. By their second year (2004), The Jolly Rogues were traveling internationally, including England, Wales and Germany.
Jim loves the challenge of scheduling gigs for the band, but when the gauntlet of The People's Republic of China was thrown down, everyone thought he had met his match. However, eight months from the time of the invite, plans were being solidified with invitations from the Chinese Embassy and The Cultural Ministry. In late April, 2006, the Rogues went to China to perform as part of The Third People's Pop Cultural Festival within the larger event, The Sixth Meet in Beijing Performing Arts Festival. Our main points of contact there were Ms. Zhao "Phoenix" Dongfeng, and Mr. Wang "Winston" Xiuqin. Both of them were warm, welcoming and fun.
Following a 14-hour, nonstop flight from Newark to Beijing and a 12-hour sleeper-car train ride from Beijing to Shanghai, the Rogues began an 11-day, 8-performance interactive experience with the Chinese. It started with a two-hour sold-out event at Shanghai University that was attended by administrators, faculty, and students inside the hall and more students outside listening to speakers. The show ended with an encore "demanded" by the audience -- and they had specific requests: John Denver, who has been a huge hit in China for over 20 years. Being the versatile musicians that we are, the band went right into "Country Roads" and the placed rocked with every person singing every word, cheering and clapping. A tremendous standing ovation was followed with a dozen roses from students to each performer.
Fortunately, a short plane ride was arranged after a day's stay at the University, and on Monday, 1 May -- a major Chinese holiday, Labor Day... actually Labor Week -- we arrived in Beijing in time to change into "colonials" and to rush to Chaoyang Park. We were the featured act of Festival opening night under the lights to many thousands of enthusiastic Chinese. For the first time, we became used to what would be the usual presence of security guards keeping the crowds back from the stage. Being culturally wise, we changed the name of one song, The Rights of Man, to The Ode to the People, and it was an instant holiday hit: The Rogues were on a roll!
Over the next six days and nights, we performed four more times on the main stage at the Cultural Festival, including a live one-hour event on state TV and one extended show. Hundreds of people arrived just to catch our sound check and practice before the usual crowds in the thousands came to see the Americans' full show. On two nights, we played two-hour gigs of Celtic music at Beijng's Irish pub Durty Nellie's, before international crowds. A huge poster of the band as "The Celtic Jolly Rogues" was hung outside the pub! We were staying alive and awake purely on adrenaline!
Most amazing was that the crowds included families, teens, elders, children and college students. People clapped, sang (English is becoming a second language, especially with the young), tapped their feet and had real fun. Groupies came to every performance. Even the security guards -- when not being watched by superiors -- tapped their feet and "grooved". It seemed that Americans were pretty cool, fun and exciting after all. We became colonial music stars in the 21st century!
The sounds, rhythms, instruments, movements of the band, plus our historic clothing, seemed to catch the imagination and attention of the people. Two other activities also made major connections with the Chinese. Al purchased and played in several shows a Chinese string instrument called a juang
ruan. He became really popular! I, on the other hand, had a hand puppet duck that became dressed in traditional Chinese clothes. The Duck and I spent lots of time before, between and after shows, in the streets, and in the airport entertaining kids. Even the elders, police and security liked the Duck, and he made the media everywhere. Amazing how "quack" is a universally known expression. One young boy in a wheel chair became so moved by the strangely dressed American and his Duck that for the first time in some 5 years, he showed emotion and smiled while his mother wept in disbelief and joy!
We also had the opportunity to watch and interact with performers from many countries, including South Africa, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Mexico and the Bahamas. We made contacts to perform in those countries along with prior offers for future performances in Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, England and Japan. Jim wasted no time in discussing a return of the Rogues to China for the 2008 Olympics with Cultural Ministry officials.
The Chinese government was very impressed that The Jolly Rogues were the only international group that was not subsidized by its home government. The fact that we paid our own way was seen as a sign of respect and of a real desire as individuals to travel to China and perform for the people. We were not paid for our performances, but throughout our visit the government picked up every cost except for our personal shopping. This was a cultural exchange and appreciated by everyone.
Our trip was not all work. Our translator, guide, host, "sister," and on-site manager, Phoenix, was a 24 year old college graduate who made sure that we made every performance and saw all the tourist attractions... on their list and ours. So we toured Shanghai and Beijing, shopped at the Chinese version of a mall (an unbelievable experience of being attacked by vendors), attended a four-hour Beijing Opera dress rehearsal, climbed the Great Wall, walked the Forbidden City, and viewed the National Museum and the Great Hall of the People. We were amazed at Tiananmen Square and the Mao Mausoleum, and honored the Monument to the People's Heroes. We even learned how to properly brew and drink tea, and to perform a Chinese Tea Ceremony. As I mentioned, this was a cultural exchange. Oh, and for one Irish pub show, we had Phoenix dressed as an 18th-century colonial Massachusetts woman...she loved it!
Two weeks went by very quickly, and all too soon it was May and we were flying back to the USA. The most difficult task was saying goodbye to our driver and most especially to Phoenix, who became a Rogue. In fact, we decided to form a new country Roguania, and she was elected our ambassador to the UN. Tears, hugs and words of endearment flowed freely, showing how close we had become to the Chinese and they to us. Even the Duck was distraught. In keeping with our theme, "Peace Through Music," the band had awed huge crowds with our historic, American songs while developing a deep, caring relationship with the people -- especially the young -- wherever we appeared, even when not performing.
The Rogues returned home to bad weather in Boston, the daily routines of regular jobs, and occasional weekend performances throughout New England. We have been in the studio working on our third CD, "14 Miles to Boston," and reprinting CD #2, "Captain Billy's Privateers." Jim also has been working with Phoenix and the authorities in China to receive approval to have our music for sale on the net as downloads -- something rarely done for foreigners. And we look forward to next summer's international adventure of Rogues on the Road.
We will always remember the China trip, as it was a life-altering experience. We also stay in contact with Phoenix, whose work with us has garnered her an appointment to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, where she will now be the Rogues' agent in California and China. And hopefully will visit Massachusetts.
Peace Through Music! Catch a Rogues performance or arrange for them to appear in your area. A million Chinese can't be wrong. Rogues Rule!
The Jolly Rogues are: Jim Murray of Wilmington (manager), Mike Ryan of Concord; Al Hicks of Westford; Paul Harty of Reading; Herb Broadbent of Boxford; plus Joyce Murray and Margie Hicks.
Photos: title photo, Phoenix Zhao; all others by Joyce Murray.
Backgrounds: Ok, she COMPLETELY outdid herself on this one! Made especially for the Concord Magazine by our friend Donna Cunningham of Word of Mouth Web Design.
