The Playwrights Database
ALBERT MACKIE (1904 - 1985)
Nationality: Scottishemail: Click here to contact Website: n/a
Literary Agent: n/a
albert David Mackie, journalist and poet, born in Edinburgh, began writing for newspapers before he left school. after graduating Ma with honours in English at Edinburgh University, apart from a brief spell in Jamaica as news editor of the Daily Gleaner, he spent his working life as a journalist in Edinburgh and Glasgow, editing the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch for eight years. Five of his plays were produced professionally and he wrote scripts for several comedians. an accomplished poet in Scots and English, he also wrote topical comic verse under the pseudonym 'macNib', which appeared in the Scottish press, on a daily basis, for more than 30 years. He also wrote several comic revues, which were put on in the Gateway Theatre during the Edinburgh International Festival after the main performances had finished a precursor of the Festival Fringe. The revues would start at about ten o'clock, which was regarded then as rather daring late night entertainment'. as far as I know none of these is currently in print. Indeed most of them were only produced as actors' scripts. There are copies in my father's archives and in the National Library of Scotland. My father variously signed his writings in prose or poetry as albert Mackie or a.D. Mackie. His comic verse was written under the pseudonym MacNib'.
John Mackie
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below is a list of Albert Mackie's plays - click on a Play Title for more information
Festival City Gentle Like A Dove Hame Hogmanay Story Machattie's Hotel SheenaFestival City
Synopsis:
It takes place in an Edinburgh boarding house during the Festival. The visitors staying in the boarding house for the Festival are a young Frenchwoman (Nora Laidlaw), a young American (Marion Mathie), her widowed aunt (Margaret Gordon). also in residence is Scots poet who takes himself very seriously (archie Duncan) and the widowed landlady (Molly Urquart). a taxi driver (John Young) and a plumber (Rikki Foulton) complete the cast. The plot revolves around a comic clash of cultures, particularly between the Scots poet, who takes himself and his poetry very seriously, and the plumber who proves to have a ready wit and rhyming ability that is more than a match for the conceited bard. Rikki Foulton's acclaimed performance in the role of the plumber launched his career as a comic actor.
Notes:
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1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh Festival 1952
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Comedy
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: Gateway - acc.5086/21
Top of PageGentle Like A Dove
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh -
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
Oliver & Boyd, -
Music:
-
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Genre:
War Drama
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 3 Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageHame
Synopsis:
Elsie and Pete are making arrangements for their imminent marriage. Jack has recently returned from a venture in Jamaica 'for the good of his health'. Janet calls, on the pretext of returning a book, as Bob and May are about to go out on a date. as the family dynamics unfold it becomes apparent that Sara's ambitions for her family exclude May as a match for her graduate son Bob, and Jack, whatever his failings, is the 'blue eyed boy'. The sibling rivalry between Jack and Bob surfaces as Jack's criminal activities at home and abroad come to light. Elsie's marriage plans are scuppered. Bob refuses to join the rest of the family in their efforts to keep Jack out of jail but Janet takes a shine to the wayward son. From her privileged position as 'family' Chattie's comments provide comic relief, as does Jim's quotation of the works of Robert Burns on any pretext. It all works out in the end.
Notes:
Set in the kitchen living-room of the MacNories in An Edinburgh tenement. The MacNories Are A respectable working-class family And the dialogue is mainly in Scots.
1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh -
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Scottish Comedy, 3 acts Comedy
Parts:
Male: 4 Female: 5 Other: -
Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: Gateway - acc.5086/29
Top of PageHogmanay Story
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh -
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
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Genre:
Scottish Comedy Comedy
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
-
Top of PageMachattie's Hotel
Synopsis:
-
Notes:
-
1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh 1956
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
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Genre:
Scottish Comedy Comedy
Parts:
Male: - Female: - Other: -
Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: Gateway - acc.5086/48
Top of PageSheena
Synopsis:
The play opens with the American artist sitting on a waste food bin in the old courtyard sketching the dilapidated grandeur around him. The antiquarian's shop has its rear entrance onto the court. The impoverished Lennys live up a stairway in the court. Sandy Boswell, a local hooligan, is keen on Sheena but she despises him although her brother Johnnie admires him. Sheena strikes up acquaintance with the artist but the course of true love never does run smoothly. The better educated Elspeth charms the American with her arty talk. The decent young motor mechanic, Willie, does his best to persuade Sheen that she is better off with him. Young Johnnie robs the antiquarian's shop to impress his hero Sandy, who then threatens to blow the whistle on him unless Sheena does what he wants. Of course it is a romantic comedy so it all works out happily in the end, except for the villain Sandy Boswell.
Notes:
It takes place in Chapman's Court, off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh (a run down Area of the town At that time).
1st Produced:
Gateway Theatre, Edinburgh -
Organisations:
-
1st Published:
- -
Music:
-
To Buy This Play:
If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies
Booksellers:
Genre:
contemporary romantic comedy, 3 acts
Parts:
Male: 5 Female: 4 Other: -
Further Reference:
National Library of Scotland ref: Gateway - acc.5086/68
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