Written by L. DU GARDE PEACH
Composed by ERNEST LONGSTAFFE
This sign of our time-this mike's-eye view '-was originally broadcast in June, 1931, and is a genial burlesque of life in Mikeborough, and the kind of things its Mayor has to do.
He is elected to office, he is rather snubbed by the Town Clerk (' for Mayors may come and Mayors may go, but Town Clerks go on for ever '), he has to face an angry deputation from the ratepayers.
There is a satirical number about putting it on the rates. The Mayor opens a swimming bath-and falls in. The beautiful girls in bathing dresses can't swim-they are only mannequins..... He entertains a prince who only speaks Arabic, and there are no interpreters, and he forgets the name of the principality. And then there are skits on municipal housing, baby shows, trams, and all the rest of it.
Perhaps the biggest laugh of all concerns the unveiling of a statue, and as it is to be unveiled by that popular broadcaster Lawrence Bask comb in the part of the Mayor it will certainly be the moment of the broadcast.
It is du Garde Peach at his satirical best, with tuneful music by Ernest Longstaffe.