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The Tailor of Gloucester

Our December 2024 concert featured a reading of The Tailor of Gloucester, Beatrix Potter’s holiday tale of magic, mischief, and mice!

You probably know Beatrix Potter’s work from The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but did you know she wrote more than 60 books? Or that thanks to her detailed watercolors and study of fungi she was widely respected in the field of mycology  (mushrooms and fungus)? Or that the England’s gorgeous Lake District exists in large part due to her conservation work?

Helen Beatrix Potter is one of Britain’s best known authors, but The Tailor of Gloucester may be new to you.  The story tells of an aged and poor tailor, who makes his living sewing beautiful clothes for fancy customers.  The story begins a few days before Christmas, and the tailor is working on an intricate vest and coat for the Mayor of Gloucester, who is getting married on Christmas Day.  His whole living depends upon getting the Mayor his clothes in time! All the pieces of fabric have been cut out and are ready for sewing as the tailor leaves for the day, and the last thing the tailor needs to complete his work is a bit more cherry-colored thread (which in this story is called twist), just enough for one button-hole! But he falls ill that night, and his naughty cat, Simpkin, plays a naughty trick on him.  Will the tailor finish his work in time?