The ceilidh
The ceilidh remains a popular social occasion and entertainment in the Highlands. At a traditional ceilidh, participants:
- sing or take turns playing traditional songs on musical instruments
- tell regional folk tales, myths or legends
- dance vigorously into the small hours
The ceilidh format is intelligently employed by McGrath as the structure for The Cheviot, The Stag and the Black, Black Oil. In the opening stage directions we are told that:
the evening begins with THE FIDDLER playing Scottish and Irish fiddle tunes among the audience [鈥 the audience stamp their feet, clap [鈥 if they want to鈥.
When all the audience are seated, the M.C. 鈥渨elcomes the audience, comments on weather, conditions in the hall, etc.鈥 and 鈥減roposes to start the evening with a song鈥 (鈥楾hese Are My Mountains鈥).
The words of the proposed song are printed on a sheet held up by two members of the company for the audience to read and sing along with.
The play鈥檚 opening makes the audience very welcome and invites them to play an active role in the evening鈥檚 proceedings.
At ceilidhs, the function of the M.C is to comp猫re the songs, storytelling and music, and to ensure the smooth progression of the evening鈥檚 planned entertainment. John McGrath uses this established feature effectively - employing a number of M.C.s to function as both host and narrator of the play:
Later on we鈥檙e going to have a few songs like that one 鈥 if you know the words, join in 鈥 and then we鈥檙e going to have a dance, and in between we鈥檒l be telling a story.
The M.C.s also provide context for the action and reiterate the ideas being explored in each of the shorter sections.
Features of the traditional ceilidh are to be found throughout the play, such as Gaelic laments and traditional ballads (such as 鈥楾he Battle of the Braes鈥 and 鈥業 Will Go, I Will Go鈥).
It is fitting that this play which bases its structure on a traditional Gaelic ceilidh, culminates in Gaelic song. The Gaelic is glossed by the M.C. who translates and reinforces the song鈥檚 poignant lyrics:
Remember that you are a people and fight for your rights 鈥 There are riches under the hills where you grew up. There is iron and coal there grey lead and gold there 鈥 There is richness in the land under your feet. Remember your hardships and keep up your struggle The wheel will turn for you By the strength of your hands and hardness of your fists. Your cattle will be on the plains Everyone in the land will have a place And the exploiter will be driven out
The cyclical nature of the play (it begins and ends in song) allows McGrath to reinforce one of the central concerns of the theme of change 鈥 that despite developments and innovations, nothing ever changes that much. History will keep repeating itself.