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Transcribed and Presented by Greville Watson, 2017
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RUSHDEN AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
presents
THEIR 50th SHOW
COLE PORTER'S
CAN-CAN
(By arrangement with Musicscope Ltd.)
C'est Magnifique!
Music & Lyrics by COLE PORTER
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Book by ABE BURROWS
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Directed & Choreographed by
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ALAN STAPLETON |
Musical Director
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| CHRISTINE HOWLETT |
LRAM, LTCL, ARCM, LG, SM |
| Chorus Master KEITH GREEN |
| CHICHELE SCHOOL |
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MARCH 18th to 23rd, 1991
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| RUSHDEN |
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Nightly 7.30pm
Friday 22nd 'PARISIENNE' Evening
Saturday 23rd Matinee 2.30pm |
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Affiliated to the National Operatic & Dramatic Association
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| From the President |
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Welcome to a show that is very special - indeed it could be termed a "Three fold Speciality" -
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It is the Society's 50th Production. |
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This is the 45th Anniversary of the Society. |
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1991 is the centenary of the birth of Cole Porter. |
I think you will find that the Society has tried and indeed succeeded in celebrating these 3 milestones - one innovation in particular being the arrangement of the auditorium as a night club.
It has been said that those who CAN, do - There is no doubt the Rushden Amateur Operatic Society in this their 50th production will prove they CAN and certainly CAN-CAN.
Bert Catlin
President |
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| From the Chairman |
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Once again it is my pleasure to write a short message for inclusion in this programme.
In selecting CAN-CAN for our 50th production I have every confidence that it will prove another happy and entertaining show. You will be enchanted by Cole Porter’s melodies and of course that wonderful saucy dance the CAN-CAN will I am sure delight one and all.
After directing our successful “Roaring Twenties” last Autumn, we are indeed fortunate in having again Alan Stapleton as our Director and Choreographer and hope this will be another show for you to remember.
With costs increasing each year, we find difficulty meeting the cost of productions, so we are indeed grateful for the continued support of our Vice-Presidents and Sponsors, whose financial help is greatly appreciated.
My thanks to all who have played any part in this production.
Enjoy the show and may you say C’est Magnifique!
Chairman
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ALAN STAPLETON
Director & Choreographer |
Alan has had a varied and interesting career to date. He made his first stage appearance in his home town of Peterborough at the age of ten years in a spiritual play with a touring company. Following this he appeared in several children’s productions locally.
Alan started dancing at the age of eight years and has studied all aspects of dance, from ballroom, Latin American, ballet, tap and modern. In recent years he has appeared in over twenty-five musical productions with amateur companies in and around Northamptonshire. Alan has a deep rooted love of musicals and adores the colour, glamour and razzmatazz of musical theatre. He is a song and dance man at heart and has played most of the big dance parts in musicals such as Oklahoma, Wizard of Oz, The Boyfriend not just once but twice.
Alan’s full-time job is managing a day centre for physically handicapped people in Kettering, but he still finds time to be totally immersed in his first love, live theatre. Last year Alan was invited to appear in a film for a French Television Company which was filmed in and around Northampton. He is responsible for staging many charity Fashion Shows and Wedding Fayres in the area. More recently Alan has directed pantomimes and numerous cabarets. Following Can-Can he will be starting work on a lavish charity cabaret to be staged in Wellingborough later this year. |
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The Orchestra
Under the direction of Christine Howlett, LRAM, LTCL, ARCM, LG, SM
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Keith Green
CHORUS MASTER |
Christine Howlett
our MUSICAL DIRECTOR |
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| Jo Conquest |
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Flute |
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Charles Hutchins |
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Trumpet |
| Andrew Stewart |
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Clarinet |
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Ian Paul |
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Trombone |
| Barbara Bowley |
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Clarinet |
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Simon Belcher |
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Percussion |
| Matthew Hutchins |
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Double Bass |
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Christine Howlett |
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Piano |
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Keith Green |
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Keyboard |
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| CAN-CAN |
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CAN-CAN is a delightful show about Paris in 1893 and some of its more Bohemian citizens. Aristide Forestier, a young, newly-appointed and over-zealous judge, decides to undertake a reform movement. The first case before him is a charge against some young women that their dance, the Can-Can, has violated the Paris moral codes. Acting with the wisdom of the French, the chief judge dismisses the case because all of the witnesses seem suddenly to have cinders in their eyes when the crime was committed and so cannot testify. Aristide goes to Montmartre to investigate the matter personally.
He gets his evidence but in the process falls in love with La Mome Pistache, the café proprietess. In Montmartre we meet Claudine, the principal dancer of the can-can palaces, Boris, the temperamental artist whom she supports, and Hilaire Jussac, the art critic with whom Boris fights an uproariously funny duel.
Aristide ends up in a police scandal which gets him disbarred. He confesses his love for Pistache, leaves the law and the courts, and joins her in teaching others how to do the Can-can.
The show contains such entrancing Cole Porter songs as C’EST MAGNIFIQUE, I LOVE PARIS, ALLEZ-VOUS-EN, and CAN-CAN flow logically from the context of the story.
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Paris 1893
SYNOPSIS OF SCENES
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ACT I
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Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7
Scene 8
Scene 9
Scene 10 |
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Correctional Court
A Street in Montmartre
Bal du Paradis
Pistache's Office
Bal du Paradis
Sidewalk Cafe
Jail
The Atelier
Pistache's Office
Bal du Paradis |
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ACT II
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Scene 1
Scene 2
Scene 3
Scene 4
Scene 5
Scene 6
Scene 7 |
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The Atelier
The Cafe
Bal du Paradis
The Street
Bal du Paradis
Prison
Court of Assizes |
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| Officers of the Society |
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Chairman:
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Christine Carter |
Wardrobe Mistress: |
Pat Catlin |
| Treasurer: |
Margaret Hunter |
Publicity & Press Officer: |
Mary Boyfield |
| Joint Secretaries: |
Philip Mould, Pauline Wildman |
Box Office: |
Bert Catlin, Pat Catlin,
Christine Carter, Rene Welsford,
Pauline Wildman |
| Musical Director: |
Christine Howlett |
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| Chorus Master: |
Keith Green |
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| Rehearsal Pianists: |
Steven Garfirth, Joan Hart,
Keith Green, Madge Massom |
Committee: |
Sue Burch, Arthur Hollomon,
Andrew Kempinski, Colin Needle,
Alan Stapleton, Pam Trainor |
| Stage Manager: |
Chris Catlin |
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The Company and President 1991
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| OBITUARY |
| We remember in this programme Mrs Nellie Hart who passed away last July. Nellie served this Society faithfully for 30 years as Wardrobe mistress and will be remembered with affection by all who knew her. |
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| "L'ARTISTES" |
La Mome Pistache
Judge Aristide Forestier
Boris Adzinidzinadze / |
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Sue Burch
Jason Haig |
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Policeman / Dancer |
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Gary Kramer |
Hilaire Jussac
Theophile / Policeman
Ettienne / Policeman / Dancer
Hercule / Policeman / Dancer
Bailiff / Jailer
Judge Paul Barriere / |
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Paul Blunt
Andy Kempenski
John Sidey
Bev Fountain
Norman Billington |
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Monarchist |
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Peter Carpenter |
Court President
Waiter / Policeman / |
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Michael Tye |
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Dancer Second /
Photographer |
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Douglas Pateman |
Waiter / Policeman
Dancer
Second / Prosecutor / Dancer
Mimi / Cafe Customer
The Nun / Cafe Customer
The Model / Cafe Customer
Cafe Customer |
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Ken Wragg
Simon Baker
Alan Stapleton
Pam Trainor
Mary Boyfield
Cathy Sheppard
Pat Lawman |
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| "LES FILLES" |
Claudine
Gabrielle
Celestine
Marie
Paulette
Chantal |
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Jenny Towell
Julie Atherton
Kylie Barringham
Emma Dicks
Yvette Mason
Diane Grimster |
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'Hercule' - Bev Fountain (Back left)
'Theopile" - Andy Kempenski (Back right)
'Ettienne" - John Sidey (Front left)
'Boris' - Gary Kramer (Front right) |
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| Musical Numbers |
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Act I
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"Maidens Typical of France"
"Never Give Anything Away"
"C'est Magnifique"
"Quadrille"
"Come Along With Me"
"Live And Let Live"
"I Am In Love"
"If You Loved Me Truly"
"Montmart"
"Allez-Vous-En" |
The Laundresses
Pistache
Pistache, Aristide
Claudine, Laundresses
Jussac and Boris
Pistache
Aristide
Boris, Claudine,
Theophile
Hercule, Etienne,
Gabrielle, Celestine and
Marie
Ensemble
Pistache |
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Act II
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"Never, Never Be An Artist"
"It's All Right With Me"
"I Love Paris"
"Reprise: C'est Magnifique"
"Can-Can"
"Finale" |
Boris, Theophile,
Hercule,
Etienne and Model
Aristide
Pistache
Aristide and Pistache
Pistache, Claudine and
Laundresses
Entire Company |
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"La Mome Pistache" -
Sue Birch
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"Judge Aristide Forestier" - Jason Haig
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Waiter / Policeman /
Dancer Second /
Photographer -
Douglas Pateman
Waiter / Policeman -
Ken Wragg |
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La Mome Pistache -
Sue Burch
Judge Aristide
Forestier -Jason Haig
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Claudine -
Jenny Towell (left)
Gabrielle -
Julie Atherton
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Court President -
Michael Tye (left)
Bailiff / Jailer -
Norman Billington
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| Stage Staff |
Stage Manager:
Deputy:
Wardrobe:
Call Boy:
Prompt:
Tab Girl:
Make-up Artists: |
Chris Catlin
Len Gomm
Pat Catlin, assisted by:
Grace Berrill, Lucy Boyle, Ena Carpenter, Peggy Coles, Tina Curson, Wendy Dicks, Katy Foster, Josephine Green, Janet O'Leary, Dot Smith, Angela Tobin, Rene Welsford
Simon Baker
Joan Vaughan
Susan Smith
Clive Durrant
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Stage Crew:
Lighting:
Properties:
Costumes:
Scenery:
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David Coleman, Merv Goddard, Simon Illiffe, Les King, Ralph Potter, Ken Smith, Chris Thorburn, David Ward
Malcolm Milling, Sue Green, Arthur Hollomon, Debbie Hollomon
Miriam Joyce assisted by:
Hillary Challen, Maf Davis, Jeanette King
Costumecall, Coventry
Designed by Len Gomm
Constructed and painted under his direction by:
Les King, Jason Darnell, Simon Illiffe, David Ward
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| Support Staff |
Front of House
Manager: |
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Colin Needle |
| Assistant Manager: |
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Sally Jones, assisted by:
Gill Bateman, Margaret Bland, Roger Clark, Muriel Gomm, Jan Hollomon, Carol Keddie, Eddie Mander, Sandy Mander, Gina Millwood, Joanne Needle, Moyra Stewart, Allison Savage, Karren Thompson, Graham Ward, Edna Ward, Pauline Wildman, Darren Woodiwiss, Heather Woodiwiss |
| Stewards: |
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Under the supervision of Cliff Jefferies
Andrew Anderson, Robin Allen, Jerry Baish, Gerry Myers |
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The Committee and members of the Society wish to offer their sincere thanks to the following whose assistance and co-operation have made this production possible.
The President and Vice-Presidents for their continued support.
Rushden Wesleyan Church Schoolroom, Hensman Hall, Higham Ferrers and Adult School, Higham Ferrers for meetings and rehearsal facilities.
The Headteachers of Chichele School, South End Junior School, Alfred Street School and their caretakers.
Programme written and compiled by Mary Boyfield.
Peter Dawes Printers, Kettering, and TypeStart Print Origination for their great assistance in producing this programme.
Photography by Doug Millhouse, Tel: Kettering 722064 for publicity photographs.
Muswell’s Café Bar, Northampton for publicity photographs.
All those who have allowed us to display advertising material.
The Traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme.
Bernard A Potters (Insurances) Ltd, and Billingtons, Higham Ferrers for publicity displays.
Alpha Mu Products for use of public address equipment.
All Stage and Support Staff.
The Ritz, Rushden, for Box Office facilities and those who have helped.
The Nursing Sisters and St John Ambulance for attendance at Chichele School.
All parties supporting us from various organisations.
R.A.T.S. for use of scenery workshops.
Marriotts of Rushden for building stage extension and cat walk.
Len Whitehead of Irchester for loan of properties and furniture.
Peter Crisp for laundry baskets.
Finedon Antiques for loan of Furniture and properties.
Joan Hart for loan of Edwardian Sofa.
Wills of Rushden for loan of costume rails.
York Light Opera Company & The Theatre Royal, York, loan of properties.
Richard Grant of Ailey Blueband for collection and return of costumes.
Salvation Army for loan of table cloths.
Pete Marshall of Marshwood Builders for transport of scenery.
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