Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin proved a great sport and an even better entertainer as he donned his wife's wedding dress to sing for the audience at the Age on the Go concert yesterday afternoon.
Those attending the annual event at the Dunedin Town Hall enjoyed a toe-tapping, sing-a-long as Mr Chin, Gladys Hope, Ainslee Bannister and Arnold Bachop performed a range of songs from days gone by - to music by the Gala Ensemble orchestra.
But it was Mr Chin who stole the show with his daring take on Waiting at the Church.
Changing into full wedding regalia, he took the crowd by surprise and it was only when he lifted his veil that many finally caught on, adding to the chorus of cheers and laughter that greeted his performance.
Proving as supple of voice as he was adventurous of dress, Mr Chin moved effortlessly between the registers - alternating from a high-pitched "Miss Piggy" falsetto to his rich tenor.
He had borrowed the dress from his wife without her knowing, which was not the first time he had done it, he said.
"It's part of the environment of the music hall," the singing mayor said of his costume choice, having been involved in amateur operatics for many years.
The concert, directed by Gladys Hope, was organised by Age Concern to encourage elderly people to get out in the community.
Event organiser, Tristan Kavanagh, said about 1000 of the 1500 tickets had been sold.
It is not known whether the mayor managed to replace the dress in his wife's wardrobe - undetected.
Don't worry, Mr Chin, your secret is safe with us. - Ellie Constantine
