EDINBURGH, Scotland, June 16 First Minister Alex Salmond plans a theatrical celebration to mark the opening of the first Scottish Parliament with a nationalist majority.There will be three performances of the play "Black Watch," about Scottish soldiers in Iraq, The Scotsman reported. The play, which premiered at last year ' s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, has been described as "one of the clearest artistic statements yet on the futility of war." The third, or VIP performance, is set for June 30 after a ride down Princes Street -- or the Royal Mile -- from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and a ceremony with Queen Elizabeth II.Scottish movie icon Sean Connery and his wife, Micheline -- otherwise known as Sir Sean and Lady Connery -- are expected to attend the VIP performance. Connery, in addition to being an Oscar-winning actor, is possibly the world's best-known Scottish nationalist.Asked if British Prime Minister Tony Blair or his designated successor, Gordon Brown, have been invited, Salmond said he would welcome Brown, but he believes Brown will be too busy to travel to Edinburgh two days after becoming prime minister."As for Blair, no," he said. Copyright 2007 by UPI
