Programme 1958 – Showboat

THE HASTINGS MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY

PRESENT

SHOWBOAT

Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein 2^nd

Music by Jerome Kern

Produced by May MacDonald

Municipal Theatre, Napier – 24^th. to 27^th. September, 1958

The Hastings Musical Comedy Company (Inc.)

By arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd., London

Presents

The Hawke’s Bay Stage Premiere of

SHOWBOAT

Music by JEROME KERN

Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2^nd

– Cast –

WINDY   GEORGE MITCHELL
STEVE BAKER   PETER PLUMMER
PETE   ANGUS PARK
QUEENIE   SADIE BROWN
CAPTAIN ANDY   GORDON JOHANSON
PARTHY ANN HAWKS   GLADYS WILLIAMSON
ELLIE MAY CHIFLEY   JUDITH WEBBY
FRANK SCHULTZ   GEOFFREY BRADBURY
RUBBER FACE   LEN HODGSON
JULIE LA VERNE   JENNIFER SCHNACK
GAYLORD RAVENAL   ARCH BARCLAY
VALLON   CEDRIC CATTON
MAGNOLIA HAWKS   RENAIS GAGE
JOE   SYDNEY CRAWFORD
FARO DEALER   DEREK WHITWORTH
BACKWOODSMAN   GAVIN GARNER

– Cast –
JEB   GORDON RIACH
BARKER   GEORGE MITCHELL
SECOND BARKER   GORDON RIACH
THIRD BARKER   ALAN THOMPSON
SANDOW GIRL   GAVIN GARNER
MISS ENGLAND   JILL KELLY
MISS FRANCE   PEGGY BRAZIER
MISS AMERICA   GWEN SHORTLAND
FATIMA   PATRICIA SCOTT
A LANDLADY   EUNICE SPENCE
ETHEL    JEWEL CRAWFORD
MAX   GAVIN GARNER
JAKE (Piano Player)   DAVID POPPELWELL
CHARLIE (Doorman at Trocadero)   ALAN THOMPSON
LOTTIE   DIANE BIEL
SOLOISTS IN SPIRITUALS   JIM PURIRI, SYDNEY CRAWFORD

Producer:
MAY MACDONALD

Chorus Mistress:
MARY BELL

Musical Director:
HENRY RUDOLPH

Ballet Mistress:
EMMA MAYE

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

ACT I

Scene 1:   The Levee at Natchez on the Mississippi – In the late 1880’s.
Scene 2:   Kitchen Pantry of the “Cotton Blossom” – A Half Hour Later
Scene 3:   Outside a Waterfront Gambling Saloon – Simultaneous with Scene 2
Scene 4:   Auditorium and stage of the “Cotton Blossom” – One Hour Later.
Scene 5:   Box Office on Foredeck of “Cotton Blossom” – Three Weeks Later
Scene 6:   Auditorium and Stage of the “Cotton Blossom” during the Third Act of “The Parson’s Bride” – That Evening.
Scene 7:   The Top Deck of the “Cotton Blossom” – Later That Night
Scene 8:   The Levee – Next Morning.

ACT II

Scene 1:   A Midway Plaisance, Chicago World’s Fair, 1893
Scene 2:   A Room on Ontario Street, 1904
Scene 3:   Rehearsal Room of the Trocadero Music Hall – About 5 p.m.
Scene 4:   Trocadero Music Hall – New Year’s Eve, 11.30, 1904
Scene 5:   On the Road.
Scene 6:   The Levee – Moonlight
Scene 7:   The Levee at Natchez – The Next Night

We regret that, owing to the unexpected demand, the supplies of our original Programme have been exhausted. We take pleasure in presenting this pamphlet to you to assist in your appreciation of “Showboat.”

Showboat Musical Numbers

OVERTURE

ACT I

1.   OPENING –
(a)   Coloured Chorus   “Cotton Blossom”   (Niggers all work on de Mississippi)
(b)   Captain Andy’s Entrance and Bally-hoo   (Captain Andy, Captain Andy)
(c)   Song (Ravenal)   “Where’s the Mate for Me?”   (Who cares if my boat goes upstream?)
2.   DUET (Ravenal and Magnolia)   “Make-Believe”   (Only make-believe I love you)
3.   SONG (Joe) and Men   “Ol’ Man River”   (Dere’s an ol’ man called de Mississippi)
4.   OPENING SCENE 2 (Queenie and Jo)   “I Still Suits Me”
5.   CONCERTED NUMBER   “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man”   (Fish got to swim, and birds got to fly)
6.   OPENING SCENE 3
7.   SONG (Ellie) and Girls   “Life on the Wicked Stage”   (Life on the wicked stage)
8.   SONG (Ravenal) and Men   “Till Good Luck Comes My Way”   (The man who ventures with chance)
9.   OPENING SCENE 4
10.   OPENING SCENE 5
11.   DUET (Ellie and Frank)   “I Might Fall Back on You”   (Little girl you are safe with me)
12.   BALLY-HOO (Queenie) and Chorus   (Hey! where you’ think yo’ going’?)
13.   OPENING SCENE 6
14.   VILLAIN’S DANCE
15.   OPENING SCENE 7
16.   DUET (Ravenal and Magnolia)   “You Are Love”   (Once a wand’ring ne’er-do-well)
17.   OPENING SCENE 8 AND FINALE ACT    (O, tell me, did you ever?)
18.   ENTR’ACTE

ACT II

19.   PRELUDE AND OPENING –
(a)   At the World’s Fair   (When we tell them about it all)
(b)   Fatima’s Dance
(c)   Dandies on Parade   (When the sports of gay Chicago)
(d)   Fatima’s Second Dance
20.   ENSEMBLE   “Why Do I Love You?”   (I’m walking on air, dear)
21.   COLOURED CHORUS   “Dahomey”   (Dyunga Doe! Dyunga Doe!)
22.   SCENE 2
23.   OPENING SCENE 3 and SONG (Julie)   “Bill”   (I used to dream that I would discover)
24.   REPRISE (Magnolia)   “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat man”   (Fish got to swim, and birds got to fly)
25.   SCENE 4: (a)   Captain Andy’s Entrane
(b)   Song (Magnolia)   “After the Ball”   (A little maiden climbed)
26.   SCENE 5 reprise (Joe)   “Ol’ Man River”   (Ol’ Man River, dat ol’ Man River)
27.   SCENE 6 reprise (Ravenal)   “You Are Love”   (You taught me to see one truth)
28.   SCENE 7 reprise   “Cotton Blossom”   (Cotton Blossom, Cotton Blossom)
29.   FINALE

SPIRITUALS: “DEEP RIVER,” “GOING HOME,” “EVERY TIME I FEELS DE SPIRIT.”

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