THERE REALLY OUGHT to be a society for the pro-
tection of the works of Percy French. Next to Tom Moore he was Ireland's most delightful writer of lyrics; but he is underestimated in his own country because of his disposition to poke fun at the Paddies (and a tendency to excruciating sentimentality—notably in the verse saw England's King from the top of a bus' in 'The Mountains of Mourne'.); and here, though some of his songs are still familiar, they tend to be brogucd out of all recognition, like 'Phil the Fluter,' or made into military marches like 'Petra- yore.' Before switching on to The Last Trouba- dour on the BBC the other night I uttered up a prayer that the character would not be guyed. He wasn't; he was pleasantly played by George Baker; but, bless us! from the moment he began on 'Abdul the Bulbul' it was obvious that Mr. Baker cannot sing! Half the time (as a Percy French character might have said) he wasn't within an ass's roar of the note—our TV critic's comment that he was 'in pretty poor voice' I would have thought a remarkable understate- ment. It says much for Mr. Baker's talent as an actor that he nearly got away with it; but I hope the BBC will make amends some time by putting on a Percy French programme with somebody who can also sing. Incidentally, is there any col- lection of Percy French lyrics in print? Keith Prowse have brought out an album of half a dozen of his songs lately, including the entertain- ing 'Slattery's Mounted Foot,' but I have seen no, comprehensive work.
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