Note E0601
|
Note E0601 |
|
Well, what can I say about Kathi? Apart, that is, from apologising to Dorothy Dunnett for poking such unmerciful fun at one of her characters (and Lymond's granny to boot!). The character of Kathi came quite late to the Nikado development. One of the reasons for this is that Kathi doesn't actually do very much of any moment in the books - she's just usually around, relatively normal, and supportive.
Possibly the most discussed aspect of Kathi on the internet mailing lists over the years has been her sexuality. Or lack of it. Would there be some kind of sexual awakening? Would she banish Gelis and turn out to be 'the One'? I think that by the end of Caprice and Rondo we had our answer. Kathi was OK with sex, but wasn't exactly overkeen on it. So I toned that down a bit.
So we have a character that's loyal, supportive, a friend of Nicholas but not stuck on him. Someone who is not big in the sex department.
Happy. Perky. Innocent.
It's Annie. It's Pollyanna. It's Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm.
It's Shirley Temple.
Shirley Temple's most famous song (in the UK at least) is 'The Good Ship Lollipop'. Not exactly Gilbert and Sullivan, but we did want variety!
Then I had to find someone to play the part. On 10th December 1999 I wrote to the other members of the Nikado list: "Can anyone on this list do a mean Shirley Temple impression? I think that Kathi will be singing something to the tune of The Good Ship Lollipop" I followed it up a couple of weeks later with "Kathi will be singing 'He's My Good Friend, Niccolo' to the tune of 'The Good Ship Lollipop' - when I've written it. Anyone with plaits, (woollen ones will do!) who is prepared to hold a lollipop and wear a child's party frock - this part is yours! You're even allowed to write the words on the back of the Lollipop." And I rounded it off by giving Kathi a lithp.
And on 7th Jan 2000, Mickey Thies volunteered. And when Mickey volunteers for something, she puts her heart and soul into it!
I couldn't find the words to 'The Good Ship Lollipop' nowhere on the internet, though I did find the music for adaptation, so the 'adaptation' was written from memory. I have since bought a Shirley Temple CD and the words below are taken from that.
| On The Good Ship Lollipop | He's My Good Friend Niccolo |
|
On the good ship Lollipop |
He'th my good friend Niccolo When we meet up I am all aglow But not thexually: Our relathionthip'th completely thex-free |
| Lemonade stands everywhere Crackerjack bands fill the air And there you are Happy landings on a chocolate bar |
I thometimeth call
him Banco And he'th very nithe you know But it'th thex free: He'th not into thex at all (with me) |
| See the sugar bowl Do the tootsie roll With the big bad devil's food cake If you eat too much Ooh ooh You'll awake with the tummy-ache |
Now I'm wed to Rob And it'th a good job That he'th so pa-thient with me When we're in the thack I lie back And I think of Burgundy |
| On the good ship Lollipop It's a nice trip into bed you pop And dream away On the good ship Lollipop |
He'th my good friend Niccolo Thide by thide in thunthine thand and thnow Betht friendth you thee In a way that'th tho THEX FREE!!! |
| (repeat over and over again to an ever more sickly backing arrangement and male voice choir until complete tedium sets in) | |
Of course, since Gemini, Kathi no longer lies back and thinks of Burgundy - Robin does. But I decided to leave the lyrics unchanged. Of course, the line "I rithe above it" gained a new meaning!
Updated 06 Jan 2002
Typo? Feedback? Broken Link?