Click here to return to the main site entry page
Click here to return to the previous page
Transcribed and presented by Greville Watson, 2018
Rushden Operatic Society

'The Merry Widow' - 1978


Programme cover Operatic Merry Widow 1978


Rushden Amateur Operatic Society

The
Merry
Widow



Music by FRANZ LEHAR
Original Book & Lyrics by
VICTOR LEON and LEO STEIN


THE RITZ, RUSHDEN
April 24th, 25th, 26th,
May 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
Nightly 7.30 pm
Saturday Matinee
April 29th 2.30 pm


Producer - MAX MIRADIN


The Orchestra
Under the direction of Pauline Longland

Pauline Longland
our Musical Director

Pauline Longland Operatic Merry Widow 1978

Margaret Neal Operatic Merry Widow 1978

Margaret Neal
our Accompanist

Violins (Leader)

Clarinet
Trombone
Cello
Trumpet

Flute
Double Bass
Timps
Oboe
Piano

Yvonne Bowness
A. White
B. Philp
R. Benning
P. Gardner
E. Denton
D. Gomm
E. Englis
E. Allen
R. Ruff
P. Burchall
M. Neal

Musical Numbers
ACT ONE

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Overture
Pontevedro in Paree
A highly Respectable Wife
So Many Men Admire Me
You'll Find Me at Maxim's
It Goes to Show
Finale Act 1


Cascada, Zeta and Ensemble
Valencienne and Camille
Anna and Male Ensemble
Danilo and Ladies
Anna and Danilo
Anna, Danilo, Camille, St Brioche,
Cascada and Chorus
ACT TWO
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

9.
10.


11.
12.
Vilia
Reprise
Driving in the Park with You
Women! Women! Women!

Introduction to the Waltz Scene
The Waltz Scene
Flow'rs are Awakened in Maytime
Finale Act 2 Part One

Finale Act 2 Part Two
Finale Act 2 Part Three
To Wed in Paris is so Chic

Finale Act 2 Part Four
Finale Act 2 Part Five
Gay Paree

Anna and Ensemble
Chorus
Anna and Danilo
Danilo, Cascada, St Brioche, Zeta,
Kromov, Bogdanovitsch and Pritsch
Anna and Danilo
Anna and Danilo
Valencienne and Camille
Anna, Valencienne, Danilo,
Camille, Zeta and Njegus
Ensemble

Anna, Valencienne, Danilo
and Ensemble
Anna, Danilo and Ensemble

Ensemble
ACT THREE
1.
2.


3.

4.
5.
6.

7.
Opening Dance
Grisettes' Song - We are
Cabaret Soubrettes

Reprise: You'll find me at Maxim's

The Merry Widow Waltz
Finale Act 3
First Curtain Call -
A Melody in Waltz Time
Second Curtain Call -
The Merry Widow Waltz

Valencienne, Lo-Lo, Do-Do, Jou-Jou,
Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo, Margot and Ensemble
Lo-Lo, Do-Do, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou,
Clo-Clo, Margot and Danilo
Anna and Danilo
Ensemble

Keith Green Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Keith Green
"Danilo"

Doreen Field Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Doreen Field
"Anna"

Sam Houghton Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Sam Houghton
"Zeta"

Dennis Field Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Dennis Field
"Cammille"

Judy Tomlinson Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Judy Tomlinson
"Valencienne"

Delia Beasley Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Delia Beasley
"Sylvia"

CHARACTERS
ANNA
DANILO
VALENCIENNE
CAMILLE
ZETA
CASCADA
ST BRIOCHE
BOGDANOVITCH
PRITSCH
KROMOV
NJEGUS
PRASKOVIA
SYLVIA
OLGA

Doreen Field
Keith Green
Judy Tomlinson
Dennis Field
Sam Houghton
Peter Carpenter
Peter Haynes
Mick Walker
Mick Neville
John Jones
John Curson
Margaret Tilley
Delia Beasley
Chris Carter
GRISETTES
LO-LO
DO-DO
JOU-JOU
FROU-FROU
CLO-CLO
MARGOT
Jeanette King
Judy Walker
Kaye Rawlins
Deborah Williams
Elaine Checketts
Jill Luck

LADIES CHORUS
Delia Beasley
Mary Boyfield
Margaret Coleman
Connie Holt
Beryl Hill
Hilary Jones
Miriam Joyce
Janet Mould

Jane Muffett
Jane Neville
Mary Quartermain
Margaret Tilley
Paddy Walker
Muriel Wallis
Rita Yeomans

GENTLEMEN'S CHORUS
Ian Challen
Garreth Evans
Peter Haynes
Paul Longland
Robert Martin
Douglas Pateman
Donald Sanders
Phil Smith
Ron Swannell
Norman Towell

DANCERS
Ballet Mistress - MELANIE GARNER
Catherine Gilliland
Kathryn Green

Carol Helsdown
Debbie Rogers

Chris Carter Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Chris Carter
"Olga"

Mick Neville Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Mick Neville
"Pritoch"

Peter Carpenter Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Peter Carpenter
"Cascada"

Peter Haynes Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Peter Haynes
"St Brioche"

Mick Walker Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Mick Walker
"Bagdanovitch"

John Jones Operatic Merry Widow 1978
John Jones
"Kromov"

The Story . . .

The story of ‘The Merry Widow’ is set in Paris in 1905.  Anna Celavari is a wealthy widow and the embassy officials are determined that her fortunes must remain in Pontevedro, or the country will go bankrupt.  The obvious solution is to get her safely ‘married off’ to Danilo, an embassy official and playboy.
Anna arrives and captivates all the men and none the least Danilo, whom she recognises as an old flame.  Danilo refuses to marry her for her money and sets out to find a suitable Penteveduan husband for Anna, exposing several intrigues on the way.  Camille, who is in love with Valencienne the ambassador’s wife, is encouraged by her to court the widow Anna and with the help of a fan containing an incriminating inscription, the plot thickens.
There are many delightful scenes and captivating musical numbers before Danilo eventually discovers that Anna will automatically lose her fortune if she re-marries.  Danilo is overjoyed and finally declares his love for her.  Before Danilo has a chance to recover, Anna explains to him that her fortune will become the property of her new husband, which (just like a man) he accepts.
Everyone goes back to their respective partner and the curtain falls on a very happy and romantic ending.


Scenes
ACT ONE
A SALON IN THE PONTEVEDRIAN EMBASSY IN PARIS
ACT TWO
THE GARDENS OF MADAME GLAVARI'S RESIDENCE
Early the following evening
ACT THREE
THE SAME - A LA MAXIM'S
Later that night


PERIOD
THE TURN OF THE CENTURY

Chairman's Message

In welcoming you all to our 1978 production of ‘The Merry Widow’, I would like to say a special thankyou to our President, Vice-Presidents and to you our audience, without which we would have been unable to continue our productions over the past 32 years.
The Officers, Committee and members of the Society extend to you a warm welcome and I sincerely hope that your evening spent with us will be a happy one.
Sincerely

Peter Carpenter
Chairman Rushden Amateur Operatic Society


Programme Sellers
(Arrangements by Rene Welsford)
Barbara Carter, Margaret Chapman, Rose Drage
Glenis Haynes, Hilda House, Jennifer Smith,
Linda Tyler.
Stewards
(Under the direction of Cliff Jeffries)
Harold Binder, Alan Binder, Bill Beasley, P.W.House,
Gordon Percival, John Stringer, Graham Ward.

Our Producer - MAX MIRADIN

Began his career at the Bristol Old Vic, when it was founded in 1946.  He has subsequently appeared extensively in the theatre, on television, in films, and on radio.  He began directing in 1966.
He has produced Opera, Operetta and Musicals for many Societies in various parts of the country.  Among his many successful productions are:- Oliver!, My Fair Lady,  The King and I, The Merry Widow, Die Fledermaus, etc., etc.
From 1965 to 1970 he was on the Staff of the N.O.D.A. Summer School, in charge of the Operetta Class, and he later started the Producers Class.  He was Director of the Summer School in 1971.
Max Miradin has been responsible for a number of revivals of forgotten Musical Comedies, and for the first London production this century of Operas by Wagner, Leoncavallo, Bantock and Sullivan.  As well as adapting many out-of-date librettos, he also lectures on the Theatre.

ALL NEGOTIATIONS THROUGH NODA


Our Stage Assistants
Wardrobe
Margaret Bland, Phyllis Bryant, Peggy Coles, Nancy Eady, Nellie Hart, Phyllis Smith, Moyra Stuart, Pam Stock, Jean Wilbur.
Stage Staff - Manager - Len Gomm.
George Coleman, David Coleman, Geoff Bradshaw, Davis Basson, Tony Dale, Michael Dimick, David Gilbert, David Green,Gerald Humphrey, David Pateman, Tim Ruff, Chriss Ruff, Ken Smith, Bill Sinfield, Brian Toby.
Property Masters
Grace Berrill, Len Berrill, Gordon Pateman, Christine Smith.
Electricians
Trevor Bailey, David Hart, Stephen Hind, Arthur Holloman, Peter Longland, Roger Norman, Michael Jackson, Joanne Smith.
Call Boy - Wendy Stott.
Prompter - Pat Catlin.
Make Up Artist - Clive Durrant.
Costumes by W.A.Homburg Ltd., of Leeds.
Scenery - James Fredericks Ltd., of Weston-Super-Mare and Rushden Operatic Society Workshop.

Grisettes Operatic Merry Widow 1978
GRISETTES

Elaine Checkettes
Jeanette King
Jill Luck
Kaye Rawlins
Judy Walker
Deborah Williams

CHORUS

LT. COL. DENIS M. DORR
For so many years, Denis as our Regional N.O.D.A. Representative has been there to give us encouragement and support when needed and sound advice and sincere criticism when called for.
Sadly for us and all who knew or were acquainted with him, he recently died and we shall miss him very much.
We extend our sympathies to his wife Betty and to his family.

John Curzon Operatic Merry Widow 1978
John Curzon
"Njegus"

Margaret Tilley Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Margaret Tilley
"Praskovia"

Dancers Operatic Merry Widow 1978
Dancers

Ballet Mistress
Melanie Garner

Catherine Gilliland
Kathryn Green
Carol Helsdown
Debbie Rogers

Acknowledgements

The Committee and members of the Society wish to offer their very sincere thanks to the following whose assistance and co-operation have made this production possible.

The President and Vice-Presidents for their continued support.
Messrs. Jaffa and Knighton, and the Ritz Staff, for their support.
Margaret Coleman for the use of her lounge for rehearsals and meetings.
Mr. D. Clarke, Headmaster of Alfred Street School, and the Caretaker.
All those who have allowed us to display advertising material.
The East-Northamptonshire Co-operative Society for the use of their premises for Property-making.
The Stewards and Programme Sellers.
The Nursing Sisters and St. John Ambulance for attendance at the Theatre.
The Stage Staff and all others who have worked behind the scenes, who have all contributed so much to the success of this production.
The Traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme.
Peter Dawes Printers, Kettering, for their great assistance in producing this Programme.
Eddie Toseland for all the help and assistance with Photographs.
The Hamlyn Group for meeting facilities.
Mrs. Nellie Hart for the use of Site advertising.
All parties supporting us from various organisations.
The Compasses, and The Wheatsheaf public houses, The Windmill Club, Rushden, The Hensman Hall, and Adult School, Higham Ferrers for rehearsal facilities.
The Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph to Doug Millhouse for publicity photographs.
Portal Construction Limited for use of Transport.
Box Office Assistants.
Tom Butler Floral Displays for floral arranagements.
Alumasc Limited for loan of Garden Furniture.
L. W. Whitehead, Irchester, for loan of various properties.
The Headmaster and Bursar of Kimbolton School for Publicity photographs.

To all who have assisted the Society in presenting “The Merry Widow”, whether or not mentioned in this programme, we say a special ‘THANK YOU’.



Click here to return to the main index of features
Click here to return to the Leisure, Clubs & Societies index
Click here to e-mail us