Programme 1968 – A Country Girl

HASTINGS LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

presents

A COUNTRY GIRL

HASTINGS MUNICIPAL THEATRE
10th to 20th April, 1968

NAPIER MUNICIPAL THEATRE
25th to 27th April 1968

THE CAST

HASTINGS LIGHT OPERA COMPANY
(Incorporated)

A member of the New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies

OFFICERS 1968:

Patron:
HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF HASTINGS, R. V. GIORGI

President: S. TAYLOR.

Vice-President: B. MURRAY.

Hon. Secretary: SARA HOLDERNESS.   Hon. Treasurer: E. REAY

Committee:
MRS. F. MURRAY, MRS. S. REAY, MISS J. CAMPBELL, J. LINDSTROM, P. WILLIAMS, I. GORDON.

The Hastings Light Opera Company cordially welcomes you to this, its eighth production. Your part in it is as important as anybody’s, and we hope that the performance will reward your coming.

Members, like audiences are important people to any amateur group and this company has vacancies for more. The annual membership fee is $2.10 and privileges include three free seats, together with unlimited preferentials, and participation in social activities.

Would those interested please contact the Hon. Secretary, P.O. BOX 895, HASTINGS

Previous Productions –

1961   PATIENCE.
1962   THE GONDOLIERS.
1963   THE MIKADO.
1964   IOLANTHE.
1965   THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.
1966   VALLEY OF SONG.
1967   BRIGADOON.

Producer: SADIE BROWN

Sadie Brown needs no introduction to Hawke’s Bay audiences, being well remembered for the principal role she has played in productions by other theatrical societies. She has played a leading part herself in a previous presentation of “A Country Girl” and her wide experience in Theatre has enabled her to bring a high standard to this production. She has in the past produced three Gilbert and Sullivan operettas for us and the success we enjoyed with these were largely due to her.

For the long hours of work and her untiring efforts with this year’s production we express our grateful thanks.

Musical Director: CECIL FITZWATER

Napier born Cecil Fitzwater gained his letters for music while in his early twenties.  He had mastered the violin, could play the piano, and was a solo cornetist in brass bands. He has been choirmaster and band conductor in Wellington, Auckland, and Hawke’s Bay, and has also been musical Director for the Napier Frivolity Minstrels. In the recent Finals of the Mobil Song Quest held in Hastings Cecil was responsible for the organizing and training of the orchestra to accompany the singers and conducted the orchestra and singers in the finals.

He has also been Musical Director for our two previous productions, “The Valley of Song” and “Brigadoon” and we know he has enjoyed the work involved. We take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation for the musical education our members have received since Cecil has been with us.

[Photo]

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MARJORIE JOY   Mary Harris
NAN   Yvonne Howman
PRINCESS MEHELANEH OF BHONG   Maureen Brady
MADAME SOPHIE   Frances Simmons
MRS. QUINTIN RAIKES   Penny Waddell
NURSE   Jean Campbell
LADY ANCHESTER   Joan Woollard
GEOFFREY CHALLONER   Carl Jamieson
BARRY   Peter Hill
THE RAJAH OF BHONG   Bob Murray
SIR JOSEPH VERITY   Derek Belcher
GRANFER-MUMMERY   Jim Lawson
DOUGLAS VERITY   Peter Brown
RUBE FAIRWAY   Ron Hill
LORD ANCHESTER   John Lindstrom
LORD GRASSMERE   David Reefman

Chorus of Village and Town People:
Marjorie Jamieson, Christine Brown, Narelle Park, Jean Campbell, Leonie McCarty, Olwyn Walker, Val Wake, Beverley Romanes, Elaine Birch, Denise Birch, Doreen Gibson, Marilyn Mollring, Corrine Minty, Sara Holderness, Sonia Burlace, Judith Wellwood, Eila Wilson, Maureen Adamson.

Jim Lawson, John Lindstrom, Kevin Broomhead, Ron Hill, Oliver Christoffersen, Rob Dallas, David Reefman. Digby Edgecombe, Colin Person, Michael Boag.

Ballet Girls:   Pamela Lay, Heather Lomas, Julie Anderson, Colleen Baker, Karen Messerschmidt.

Male Dancer:   Pearce Williams.

Village Children:   Diane Reefman, Sandra Reefman, Janette Murray, Shona Brady, Chris. Lindstrom, Stephen Reay.

Princess’s Attendants:   Diane Reefman, Sandra Reefman.

The Rajah’s Attendants:   Peter Waddell, Stephen Bignell.

Prompt: Michael Koorey.

Call Boy: John McLean.

A COUNTRY GIRL

A MUSICAL PLAY BY:

JAMES T. TANNER

LYRICS BY: ADRIAN ROSS.

MUSIC BY: LIONEL MONCKTON.

SYNOPSIS OF MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

1. OPENING SONG   Chorus and Children,
2. YOUNG JAN, HE WERE A HARVESTER   Mummery
3. TRY AGAIN, JOHNNIE   Nan
4. COO   Marjorie and Children
5. YO HO. LITTLE GIRLS   Rube and Chorus
6. BOY AND GIRL   Marjorie and Geoffrey
7. THE RAJAH OF BHONG   Rajah, Princess, and Chorus
8. MOLLY, THE MARCHIONESS   Nan, and Chorus
9. THE ARCADIANS   Principals and Chorus
10. TWO LITTLE CHICKS   Barry and Sophie
11. UNDER THE DEODAR   Princess
12. FINALE SONGS WITH CHORUS   Full Company

ACT TWO

13. OPENING SONGS   Chorus and Principals
14. THE SAILOR’S LIFE   Geoffrey
15. MY CRINOLINE   Nan
16. ME AND MRS. BROWN   Barry
17. SHE’S ACTING   Marjorie
18. MY OWN LITTLE GIRL   Geoffrey
19. QUARRELLING   Sophie and Barry
20. COME TO DEVONSHIRE   Nan and Chorus
21. TAKE YOUR PRETTY PARTNER   Sextet of Principals
22. PEACE! PEACE!   Rajah and Chorus
23. THERE’S PLENTY OF LOVE IN THE WORLD   Princess
24. A DANCE FOR JACK   Rube and Chorus
25. FINALE   Full Company

THE STORY OF “A COUNTRY GIRL”

ACT I: A DEVONSHIRE VILLAGE.

The sleepy peace of a pretty little Devonshire village is suddenly shattered by a series of events, which bring important changes into the lives of some of its inhabitants.

Commander Geoffrey Challoner (son of Squire Challoner, who ruined himself over a tin mine, and had to let his old home to Sir Joseph Verity) arrives back after several years at sea, with his faithful servant Barry, to find the village in a ferment over an approaching election. One of the candidates for this election is Douglas Verity, son of Sir Joseph Verity, Challoner’s tenant.

Also arriving back at the village at the same time is Marjorie Joy, Geoffrey’s boyhood flame, who in his absence, and unknown to him, has been to London and become a famous singer. She manages to deceive him, however, by resuming her former village clothes.

Douglas Verity is in love with the village flirt, Nan, who does not, however, give him much encouragement as she has always been hopelessly in love with Geoffrey. Douglas’s election campaign is supported by a Mrs. Quinton Raikes, who is accompanied by Sophie, another village girl and Barry’s light-o-love, who has cleverly advanced her social position by taking advantages of Mrs. Raikes’ inability to pay her dressmaking bills.

The resourceful Barry, in a bid to redeem his master’s fortune, determines that he Geoffrey, shall also stand for Parliament in opposition to Douglas, and begins to make elaborate plans towards that end. On the way home he invited a certain English Rajah and Indian Princess, who had been on board their ship, to stay with Geoffrey. This, of course, is technically impossible, as the house is now occupied by Sir Joseph Verity. Barry, however, easily persuades the rich Princess that Geoffrey is in love with her. Lord Anchester, the Minister of Fine Arts, who comes to the village in order to speak to the electors on behalf of Douglas, is induced by Barry to give his support instead to Geoffrey. As a final thrust, Sir Joseph Verity is made by Barry, through a trick, to buy the useless tin mine.

So Geoffrey finds himself a candidate for Parliament, with a sizeable cheque in his pocket. Marjorie, however, is heartbroken when she hears that he is to marry the Princess, and returns unhappily to London to resume her artistic career.

ACT II – BALLROOM AT THE MINISTRY OF FINE ARTS.

In due time Geoffrey is elected to Parliament, and Act II takes place at a reception given at the Ministry of Fine Arts. Marjorie is there, but she is known as Miss Montague, the singer. Geoffrey is struck by her resemblance to his little Marjorie of former days, but he is still being pursued by the Princess. Douglas Verity and Nan are there, and also, of course, the gay and sprightly Sophie. Barry arrives disguised as an old dame, and this, as can be imagined, gives rise to many humorous situations. He very amusingly completely detroys [destroys] a promising flirtation between Sophie and a certain Lord Grasmere, and is even funnier when he himself flirts madly with Sir Joseph Verity, and manages to make the poor man propose marriage to him. Sir Joseph’s anger when he discovers how he has been deceived can well be imagined.

In the end the various love affairs straighten themselves out. Largely through the efforts of Nan. Marjorie and Geoffrey are reunited, and Nan resigns herself to life with Douglas Verity. Barry marries Sophie, and the Rajah and the Princess return to their peaceful Valley of Bhong.

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

PRODUCER   Sadie Brown
MUSICAL DIRECTOR   Cecil Fitzwater
OFFICIAL ACCOMPANIST   Blanche Wright
BALLET MISTRESS   Joan McVicar
WARDROBE MISTRESS   Frances Murray, assisted by Nada Broomhead, Narelle Park, Penny Waddell, and members of the Company.
PROPERTIES MISTRESS   Sybil Reay
DRESSERS   Doreen Hamilton, Ida Boag, Betty Lawson, Judy Taylor.
HOUSE MANAGER   Eric Reay
STAGE MANAGER   Syd. Taylor
ASST. STAGE MANAGER   Bruce Murray
ELECTRICIAN   John Henderson
LIGHTING AND EFFECTS   Peter Mackie
PROGRAMMES   John Lindstrom
SCENERY CONSTRUCTION   Syd. Taylor, assisted by Jim Lawson, and members of the Company
PAINTING OF BACK CLOTHS & SCENERY   R. Dunningham, assisted by Bruce Murray and members of the Company.
ADVERTISING   John Lindstrom, Russell Kirkby Cecil Fitzwater
HON. PHOTOGRAPHER   Dale Therkleson
HAIR STYLIST   Carol Henderson of Sareta Beauty Salon.
MILLINERY   Nada Broomhead
FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF, HASTINGS   Eric Reay, Haldane Scougall, Michael Birch, Glenis Birch, Jillian Birch, Lois Reefman, Anne Symonds, Romaine Butterfield, Colleen Taylor,  Jill Donoghue, Janet Patmore, Barbara Morris, Jill Henderson, Lindsay Evans.
STAGE PERSONNEL   Syd. Taylor, Cedric Wright, Robert Duncan, George Hunt
MAKE-UP Wallie Clark, Brenda Reay, Sheryl Darby, Jill Motley, Janice Calder, Jessie Swanson, Inez McPherson, Sharleen Miles, Fiona Mclntosh
SUPPERS   Mrs. Riggs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

The Company gratefully acknowledges the assistance given by:

Miss D. Lindstrom of Wellington for Designs and art work for posters and programme cover.

Hawke’s Bay A. & P. Society.

Turner & Grower’s, Bryant & Gadd, Lovell-Smith’s, Herald-Tribune, Daily Telegraph, The Broadcasting Corporation, Naval Department, Auckland, Sanderson’s Ltd., Harris Hats, Albert Hotel, The Caferama, Process Signs, Laxton’s, Roach’s Ltd., Westermans,

Mr. N. Fippard, Mr. N. Hitchmans, Mr. A. A. McCormick, Mr. Durney, Mr. and Mrs. Lee.

The advertisers in this programme.

To the many members and friends who have given so generously of their time and support to make this and past productions a success.

ORCHESTRA.

CONDUCTOR:   Cecil Fitzwater.

Piano:   Blanche Wright.
1st Violins:   Enid Dunn, Leader, Charles Duke.
2nd Violin:   Bernard Read
Cello:   Joan Palmer.
Bass:   Leon Speakman, Cliff Howell.
Flute:   Alan Clark.
Trumpets:   Stewart Boston, Roy Robinson.
Trombone:   Doug Robinson.
Horn:   Michael Winter.
Organ:   David Smith
Drums:   Jock Seton.

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