With the arrival of Charlie Davenport, manager of Buffalo Bill, the serenity of Cincinnati, Ohio, is shattered.  Charlie heralds the arrival of the famous wild west show, and announces that Frank Butler, the champion sharpshooter, will challenge their local shot to a contest for a prize of 100 dollars.  Foster Wilson, proprietor of the Wilson Hotel, protests when Charlie monopolises his lawn, and he orders him to move the show.  Despite all Charlie’s entreaties, Wilson is adamant in his refusal to allow the show the use of his Hotel.  Even the arrival of Frank Butler cannot dispel his objections.

One by one we meet the Buffalo Bill company.  Dolly Tate with her daughter Winnie, and Tommy Keeler.  Winnie and Tommy provide additional love interest.  From the start Dolly is clear in her objection to Tommy as Winnie’s husband.  It is while Dolly sits alone we hear the crack of a rifle and we see for the first time the fabulous Annie Oakley.  Wilson, impressed by Annie’s shooting, conceives a plan of winning the 100 dollars from Charlie.  He offers Annie a niggardly five dollars to beat Frank Butler.  She accepts, predicting that she cannot lose.  It is here that Annie meets Frank.  Annie is overwhelmed by the handsome, debonair Frank Butler, but he tells her she is not woman enough for him.  Plaintively Annie examines her dress.  Laughter greets Annie’s challenge, but she amazes the crowd and annoys Frank by beating him in the contest.  Annie receives her baptism into show business when Frank reluctantly accepts her as his assistant.

On their way to Minneapolis Buffalo Bill leans that his old rival Pawnee Bill will be opening his Far East show in St Paul, a town close to Minneapolis, and that as a special attraction he has signed up Chief Sitting Bull.  Frank finds he can no longer resist Annie, and Annie finds she is unable to resist helping Winnie and Tommy to get married.  Charlie and Buffalo Bill in their determination to counteract Pawnee Bill’s move, induce Annie to do a spectacular trick on their opening night in Minneapolis.  Pawnee Bill and Sitting Bull with the object of seeing Annie, present themselves to Buffalo Bill, who invites them to the show.

Frank is dismayed by Annie’s sensational appearance.  But Sitting Bull tells her he wants her to be his daughter, and at the same time he consents to put money in show business.  At the end of the Indian ceremony Annie, now daughter of the Sioux, learns she has lost Frank.  Frank Butler has joined Pawnee Bill’s show in a fit of jealousy at Annie’s success.  Returning from a tour of Europe, successful in prestige but not financially, Annie and the Company are invited to meet Pawnee Bill, who has been playing successfully as they believe, at Madison Square Garden.  In this proposed meeting they see a chance to merge the two shows, and Annie of regaining Frank.  But Pawnee Bill, while entertaining at the opulent Hotel Brevoort is also contemplating a merger, apparently for the same reason.  Frank and Annie meet again, but find their old rivalry still exists and a shooting match is arranged.

Charlie Davenport and Sitting Bull find Dolly Tate tempering with Annie’s guns.  Sitting Bull threatens to scalp her and a horrified Dolly runs from the scene, but Sitting Bull and Charlie realise that only if Annie is beaten, can she hope for a reconciliation with Frank.  It is with this object they twist the sights of Annie’s gun.  It is at Governor’s Island that Frank Butler beats Annie Oakley in the contest.  Frank tells Annie that they are partners and they will combine the shows.  Annie has lost a shooting match, but won her man.

Subject to final confirmation of availability, we hope to present ”Pink Champagne”, an Adaptation by Eric Maschwitz and Bernard Grun of the original Vienna Production of “Die Fledermaus”, composed by the Waltz King, Johann Straus.  This is indeed a Champagne Show and it has often been said, no doubt with every justification, that the Original from which the Adaptation for Amateur Production has been made, is one of the finest, if not the finest Operetta yet written.

The Show is just full of the most lovely and sparkling music.  It is set in the Vienna of 1874 and the Story bubbles over with fun and good humour.

If you enjoy hearing “The Blue Danube” then you must enjoy “Pink Champagne”.  Indeed a Blue Danube Ballet has been introduced.

Make a note of the date and place: Week commencing April 29th, 1968, at the Ritz, Rushden.