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Book SynopsisThe seeds of irreverent humour that inspired the likes of Wayne and Shuster and Monty Python were sown in the trenches of the First World War, and The Dumbellsâconcert parties made up of fighting soldiersâwere central to this process. Soldiers of Song tells their story. Lucky soldiers who could sing a song, perform a skit, or pass as a "lady," were taken from the line and put onstage for the benefit of their soldier-audiences. The intent was to bolster morale and thereby help soldiers survive the war. The Dumbells' popularity was not limited to troop shows along the trenches. The group also managed a run in London's West End and became the first ever Canadian production to score a hit on Broadway. Touring Canada for some twelve years after the war, the Dumbells became a household name and made more than twenty-five audio recordings. If nationhood was won on the crest of Vimy Ridge, it was the Dumbells who provided the country with its earliest soundtrack. Pioneers of sketch comedy, the Dumbells are as important to the history of Canadian theatre as they are to the cultural history of early-twentieth-century Canada.Trade Review"The Great War is remembered as a terrible and senseless conflict where a generation was put through the sausage-grinder of stalemate and slaughter. Nine million were killed, including more than sixty thousand Canadians. The civilian soldiers who formed the ranks of all armies suffered under terrible strain, but they found coping mechanisms in the midst of destruction. Laughter, humour, pranks, and songs helped them to endure. Meanwhile, behind the lines, concert and theatre groups offered humourous skits and performances to bolster morale. In Soldiers of Song Jason Wilson has produced a groundbreaking study of these concert parties, with a focus on the most successful of them, the Dumbells. Wilson, a scholar and two-time Juno Award nominee, has researched deeply to unearth and reconstruct the popular songs, irreverent jokes, and cutting barbs directed against the war effort, generals, and the enemy. His work reminds us that the more than 450,000 civilian soldiers who served overseas came from all professions, including actors, comics, and musicians, and that they too contributed to winning the war." -- Tim Cook -- Canada's History"Jason Wilson, an accomplished musician who has authored three previous books on Canadian history and culture, has written an outstanding book on the musical entertainment for Canadian soldiers during the First World War. Soldiers of Song discusses the Canadian 'concert parties' that performed during and after the war, with a focus primarily on the most well-known show, the Dumbells.... I was impressed by the author's ability to balance an historical approach with cultural analysis. This is in contrast to earlier works on concert parties, which are more descriptive. The author's extensive use of primary materials also makes the book a useful historical source on early-twentieth-century Canadian popular music.... Soldiers of Song is a valuable and insightful survey of wartime entertainment that also sheds light on Canadian music theatre of the early twentieth century. Reproductions of photographs of performers and performances are interspersed throughout, and there is an extensive list of sources and acknowledgements. Completing the presentation are nine appendices detailing the personalities, performances, and publication histories of the most prominent Canadian concert parties." -- Sean Luyk, University of Alberta -- CAML Review"This rich cultural study details how Canada's long music hall tradition strengthened morale on the Western Front. This isn't always a nostalgic view, for the performances mirrored the racism as well as the moral and gendered ambiguities of the age. But the Dumbells' humour nurtured a style that anticipated The Wayne and Shuster Hour, Monty Python, even Saturday Night Live. From these pages one can almost hear the songs and laughter of a generation at war." -- Geoff Hayes, University of Waterloo, co-editor (with Mike Bechthold and Matt Symes) of Canada and the Second World War: Essays in Honour of Terry Copp"Jason Wilson has written a vivid account of one of the most colourful chapters in Canada's history. He has unearthed a great story, which despite its significance has been almost forgotten. He captures the mixture of song, laughter, bravery, and gallows humour with which the Dumbells buoyed the spirits of Canadian soldiers during the Great War as they struggled with the appalling realities of trench warfare. In their wartime and postwar appearances, the Dumbells contributed notably to the development of a Canadian style and a Canadian national spirit." -- Thomas H.B. Symons, C.C., O.Ont., FRSC, founding president of Trent University and chair of the Ontario Heritage Trust"In this fascinating study ... we are shown how, as the war continued, the traditional content based on the Music Hall led to a growth in the darker side of comedy which arose from the trench experience.... This most enjoyable book is a welcome addition to our knowledge of the everyday life at the Front." -- Bob Wyatt -- The Western Front Association Stand To!Table of ContentsTable of Contents for Soldiers of Song: The Dumbells and Other Canadian Concert Parties of the First World War , by Jason Wilson List of Figures I Introduction II The Music Hall and Beyond III In the Interest of Morale: The Dumbells and the Development of the Canadian Concert Party IV Only a Soldier Knows: The War and Humour V The Canadian Concert-Party Experience VI The Dumbells in Peace Notes on Sources and Acknowledgements Appendices A Dramatis Personae : CEF Concert-Party Entertainers of WWI B Notable Concert Parties of the CEF and BEF C Important Casts of the CEF Concert Parties D Postwar Concert Party Revues E North American Tour Itineraries F Catalogue of Dumbells Sheet Music G Catalogue of Dumbells-Related Music H Miscellaneous Songs I Important British Music-Hall Revues Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA Moth storytelling champion shows you how to leave your audience spellbound in this bestselling, practical guide to powerful storytelling—through writing, public speaking, and more.Using a fun, irreverent, and infographic approach, Margot Leitman breaks storytelling into concrete components. Whether you want to write a great wedding toast, deliver a compelling keynote speech, or simply entertain friends and family, comedian and Moth 5-time champion storyeller Margot Leitman provides a clear and engaging roadmap to telling your own personal stories in this approachable storytelling guide.From content and structure to emotional impact and delivery, Leitman guides you through the entire storytelling process, providing personal anecdotes, relatable examples, and practical exercises along the way.Table of ContentsPart 1: Getting StartedChapter 1. You Already Have Great StoriesChapter 2. Getting Past FearChapter 3. The TruthChapter 4. The Universal ThemeChapter 5. The Thesis-Based Story Part 2: Elements of a StoryChapter 6. PassionChapter 7. Layering a StoryChapter 8. PerspectiveChapter 9. CharacterChapter 10. Rooting for the StorytellerChapter 11. The Full CircleChapter 12. Someone Else’s StoryChapter 13. The UnexpectedChapter 14. The Benign Part 3: The Performance and BeyondChapter 15. How to Memorize & Vocalize a StoryChapter 16. The Business of Storytelling"This book is essential—a reminder that the world would be a better place if everyone knew how to tell a good story."—Diana Spechler, author and seven-time Moth StorySLAM winnerTrade Review"Those wishing to create engaging performance pieces from personal experiences will find this book useful."—Library Journal "When you watch Margot Leitman telling stories onstage, you find yourself laughing hysterically and somehow feeling less alone in a world where it seems everyone else got some kind of instruction manual. And now she's literally gone and given you an instruction manual. She's a former hypochondriac, obsessed with game shows, and a superfan of hair metal—and she'll make you realize your own qualifications and credentials in no time. In a world of experts, you've found an insightful book about storytelling from an actual human."—Dan Kennedy, host of The Moth storytelling podcast, and writer-performer "Margot Leitman is a rare thing: she's a performer, a writer, and—in this book—the teacher you secretly have a crush on. Sharp as hell, Leitman teaches you how to tell your own story. Through sharing her process, telling personal stories, and giving practical exercises, she will give you the tools and confidence you need to share your story with the world." —Elna Baker, author and regular contributor to This American Life "For our improv show ASSSSCAT the success of the performance hinges on how meaty the story is that the monologist gives us. Margot always delivers a nice thick cut of filet mignon." —Matt Besser, cofounder of Upright Citizens Brigade and author of The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual "Margot Leitman and Michael Jordan are both naturally good at storytelling/basketball. But they're not content to coast on their natural abilities; they also work at their craft/dunks. But where they differ is that Michael Jordan has retired and Margot Leitman continues to hone her formidable skills on the word processor/court. Long Story Short shows her at the top of her game/game." —Rob Delaney, comedian and best-selling author "Margot Leitman is not only an incredibly skilled and entertaining storyteller but also a gifted teacher. She is the person you most want next to you around a campfire, at a grungy bar, or cheering you on at your first PowerPoint presentation. In Long Story Short, Margot expertly guides readers through the ins and outs of a craft essential to all who seek to connect more deeply with the world around them." —Jillian Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of Some Girls: My Life in a Harem "Whether you know it or not, there are great stories inside of you, and Margot Leitman is the perfect person to help you find them and squeeze every drop of humor and emotion out of them when you do. Long story short, she rules. Buy this book." —DC Pierson, author of The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To "Margot Leitman is hilarious and vulnerable and real. In Long Story Short, she teaches us, with great candor and clarity, how storytelling works. This book is essential—a reminder that the world would be a better place if everyone knew how to tell a good story." —Diana Spechler, author and seven-time Moth StorySLAM winner

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