Programme 1969 – Camelot

Camelot

NAPIER OPERATIC SOCIETY

Municipal Theatre
Napier

23rd August to 6th September 1969

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Page Three

Camelot

NAPIER OPERATIC SOCIETY

OFFICERS FOR THE 1969 SEASON

Patron:   E.G. COLLIER
President:   N.W. TOLHURST
Vice-President:  H.N. UNSWORTH
Secretary:   F. TWYFORD
Honorary Life Members:   Mrs M. Sorrell, Mrs H. Collier, Messrs. E. G. Collier, C. White, R. Wright.
Executive Committee:   Miss F. Smith, Mrs S. Mason, Messrs. B. Breen, D. Edgecombe, I. Reid, K. Rieper, J. Collier, R. Dyer, A. Jones, J. Morris, B. Parker, B. Wilton.

N.W. TOLHURST, President

JAMES MORGAN
PRODUCER

Nothing succeeds like success, and there is no doubt that James Morgan must be classed as one of the best and outstanding producers of drama and musical comedy in Hawkes Bay. After last years successful production of “The Sound of Music”, he turned his talents back to Hastings where he produced the highly successful “Under Milkwood”. “Camelot” requires of its producer infinite patience, concentration, creativity and dramatic insight with a sprinkling of humour. These qualities are James Morgan, and theatregoers are assured of seeing a production of great finish and polish. The Napier Operatic Society feels justly proud of having James as our producer, and expresses its grateful thanks for his long hours and hard efforts to give you a joyous and moving “Camelot” production.

CECIL FITZWATER
MUSICAL DIRECTOR

A well known Napier musical personality, Cecil Fitzwater brings to this demanding position a wealth of experience in Orchestra, Brass Band and Choral societies. He will be remembered for his outstanding contribution to the success of The Napier Operatic Society’s 1968 production of “The Sound of Music”. Cecil is well known in musical circles throughout New Zealand. His association is extensive, playing and acting as Musical Director for such organisations as The Hastings Light Opera Company, The Hastings Citizens Band, The Napier Salvation Army Band, The Napier Orchestral Society, The Napier Frivolity Minstrels, The “Carols By Candlelight” Organisation, as well as various choral groups. He is also on the staff of the New Zealand Broadcasting Service.

Page Four

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CHOREOGRAPHER
LEIGH JONES

Ballet plays an important part in “Camelot”, and this year Leigh Jones has scope for her creative talents. Her work during the past months has been painstaking and we feel confident that all will agree the ballets are a feature of this production. A qualified teacher, and leading dancer in many previous productions, the society is indeed lucky and proud to have Leigh as an active member.

Camelot

THE STORY…

It is the eve of King Arthur’s wedding. The prospect appalls him, so he hides in a tree top. Merlyn the magician, Arthurs mentor, tries to entice him down by extolling the grace and beauty of Guenevere, the Queen to be. He is unsuccessful and Arthur is still perched up there when Guenevere appears, equally nervous of marrying a man she does not know. She sings “Where are the Simple Joys of Maidenhood?”. Arthur falls from the tree enamoured and finally wins her over to the idea of living in Camelot “Where the Winter is Forbidden till December”.

The same day the nymph Nimue entices Merlyn back to the Spirit World before he can warn Arthur of dangers threatening.

As time passes. Arthur, worried at the barbarity of his Knights, decides to form the “Knights of the Round Table”, an order “where Might will be used to Champion Right”.

One of those to join the Round Table is Lancelot, a French Knight of amazing prowess, but so egotistical, that Guenevere pits three of her champions against him in a joust.

Lancelot however, defeats them and performs a miracle. Guenevere against her will falls in love with him.

Arthur, as Pellinore his trusty friend finds out, is aware of this, but decides in the interests of Camelot to ignore it.

Soon, from Scotland, appears the illegimate [illegitimate] son of Arthur. Bent on destroying the Round Table, he breaks into the Queens bed-chamber, to find Lancelot and Guenevere together. Lancelot fights his way out back to France. Arthur, baffled and unhappy, cannot prevent Guenevere from being sentenced to burn at the stake. However, he allows Lancelot to succeed in rescuing her. Later, Guenevere offers to return to Camelot to be burnt, but through love, Arthur will not accept this. Guenevere goes to a Convent to spend her days in repentance and Arthur and Lancelot prepare to fight until the death over the woman they both love.

Page Five

THE DOUBLE LL’s

A show called “The Life of the Party”, more than 25 years ago, saw the formation of the team Lerner & Loewe, creators of such musicals as “Brigadoon”, “Paint Your Wagon”, “Gigi” and of course “My Fair Lady”, “Camelot” is their newest living legend. Lerner’s book weaves together two themes. Arthur’s dream of a peaceable world where might serves right and the ill-fated romance between his Queen and Lancelot. Loewe’s lyrics which illuminate these themes convey all the gaity [gaiety] and majesty we associate with Arthur’s Court.

However, their association ends with the melding of their words and music for as men they represent two very distinct and different personalities. Lerner is self contained, well mannered and fastidious. Loewe is emotional, out-going and a romantic. Be that as it may, these highly gifted men are acclaimed as the best Writer-Composer Team in the American Musical Theatre today.

SCENIC DESIGNER
JOHN SEAVER ROBERTS

Aged 28 years, Mr. Roberts, the Scenic Designer for this production, is at present Resident Designer for the Mercury Theatre in Auckland. This talented young man is bringing a new concept in design to the New Zealand stage. If is with pleasure that we offer to you the Napier Audience his work for the first time, in confidence that it will not be the last you will see of his creative abilities.

Camelot

GETTING A MUSICAL ON STAGE

“Camelot” is indeed a first for the Napier Operatic Society. It is a first full scale production for New Zealand, and the first revolving scenery to be used by this society. The scenery construction has been a co-operative effort between the Napier Society and Helensville. To give you this new look in theatre a Napier construction team has been busy since March under the leadership of our Stage Manager, John Collier.

John joined the Society in 1954, and has been associated with most productions since that date. Ballet, Chorus, Backstage. Designing and Executive Committee work have enabled the Society to call on John’s knowledge for such an undertaking. The Society acknowledges with thanks all those members of the construction team who freely have given their time and skill in getting “Camelot” on stage.

JOHN COLLIER

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Page Six

Camelot

NAPIER OPERATIC SOCIETY

Book & Lyrics by
ALAN JAY LERNER

Music by
FREDERICK LOEWE

Produced by
JAMES MORGAN

Musical Director
CECIL FITZWATER

Choreography
LEIGH JONES

By Arrangement With
CHAPPELL & CO. LTD.

Based On
“The Once & Future King”
by T. H. WHITE

CAST   (In Order of Appearance)

SIR DINADAN   RONALD HILL
SIR CLARIUS   HARRY MERRIMAN
SIR LIONEL   DIGBY EDGECOMBE
SIR SACRAMORE   GERALD BROWN
MERLYN   PETER MACKIE
ARTHUR   ROBERT HOUSTON
GUENEVERE DAWN UNSWORTH
LADY ANNE   TRICA VOSSEN
LADY SYBIL   MAUREEN BELL
NIMUE
Sung by – SHIRLEY KAUTER
Danced by – LYNDA POYNTER
LANCELOT   BUDDY COLLINS
SQUIRE DAP   KEN RIEPER
PELLINORE   JOHN BLUMSKY
MORDRED   WAYNE LISTER
MORGAN LE FEY   NANCY HARVEY
TOM OF WARWICK   MICHAEL PATTERSON

Ladies of Camelot
Colleen Anderson
Tessa Cartwright
Jean Campbell
Judith Hill
Christine Dodds
Diane Littleford
Judith Jennings
Val Wake
Diana Stewart
Jacqueline van Meel
Barbara Gorst
Stella Mason
Daphne Morris
Lesley Palmer
Ann Poynter
Pat Hayden
Phyllis Jurd
Audrey London
Raelene Parker

Page Seven

Camelot

Lords & Knights
Peter Allan
Doug Cook
Ted Martin
Bruno Prati
Doug Ramsay
Malcolm Kenah
Brian Cook
John Simmonds
Albert Barker
Ronald Hill
Gerald Brown
Harry Merriman
Digby Edgecombe
Michael Patterson

Nuns
Colleen Anderson
Judith Hill
Diane Littleford
Diana Stewart

Archbishop
John Simmonds

Executioner
Ted Martin

Page
Peter McRoberts

Heralds
Brian Cook
Albert Barker

Ballet
Joy Mitchell
Lynda Poynter
Glenys Murphy
Iris Springer
Gaynor Saxon
Vicky Watson

THE ORCHESTRA

Conductor:   C. Fitzwater
Piano:   W. Quarrie
Violins:   E. Dunn
A. Rae
C. Jukes
M. Smith
W. Bickerstaff
Viola:   A. Norris
Cello:   J. Palmer
Bass:   C. Howell
L. Speakman
Flute:   E. Hocking
Clarinets:   A. Wright
A. Meakin
Trumpets:   S. Boston
R. Robinson
Trombones:   D. Robinson
K. Robinson
French Horn:   M. Winter
Drums-Timpani:   J. Seton

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

ACT I
Scene 1:   Hilltop near Camelot
Scene 2:   The Same – as night falls.
Scene 3:   Royal Ante-Chamber – five years later.
Scene 4:   Countryside near Camelot – few months later.
Scene 5:   Garden near Castle – immediately following.
Scene 6:   Ante-Chamber – two weeks later.
Scene 7:   Jousting Field – the following Saturday.
Scene 8:   The Joust that day.
Scene 9:   Ante-Chamber – later same day.
Scene 10:   Outside the Chapel – that night.
Scene 11:   The Great Hall – immediately following.

ACT II
Scene 1:   Castle Terrace – few years later.
Scene 2:   Ante-Chamber – month later.
Scene 3:   Near Forest of Morgan le Fey – next day.
Scene 4:   Forest of Morgan le Fey.
Scene 5:   Castle Corridor – that night
Scene 6:   Bed-Chamber – immediately following.
Scene 7:   The Battlements – several days later.
Scene 8:   France – between opposing armies.

Page Eight

Camelot

DAWN UNSWORTH
Napier has every right to be proud of Dawn. She has played many leading roles here and in Auckland. “Maria” in “The Sound of Music” linked Dawn with Julie Andrews. It is, therefore, not surprising to find her playing “Queen Guenevere” this year. Always a lyrical and musical singer, Dawn does not confine herself to musical comedy, Bach, Mozart and Handel are also in her forte. Without a doubt her charm and remarkable talent will appeal to theatre audiences again this year.

ROBERT HOUSTON
Thank Heaven Napier has Robert Houston, for a magnificent baritone voice with a gifted and experienced performer is a rarity in New Zealand. Robert studied singing both here and London, and was a place-winner in the Mobil Song Quest. He has played lead roles in a great many productions for this Society since 1953 and is something special to Napier audiences. His performance as “King Arthur” is mighty and will further enhance him to you all.

BUDDY COLLINS
A new-comer to this Society, Buddy has been in demand singing at cabarets and civic receptions in Hawkes Bay. A pupil of Silvo Truda, he has also studied in England. He has also been a member of the New Zealand Opera Company.

JOHN BLUMSKY
John played Captain Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” last year but his stage experience goes back over many years of leading roles in straight plays and musicals. Well known as a Radio and Television personality, John will portray the bumbling “King Pellinore”.

WAYNE LISTER
Wayne began his stage career with this Society and he has recently completed the male lead role in “Kiss Me Kate”. Although ideally suited to play “Mordred” we hasten to assure you he’s a really nice guy off stage.

PETER MACKIE
A principal of several productions in Wellington, Hastings and Napier, Peter has always been known to return a perfect performance.

NANCY HARVEY
Nancy is the possessor of a well earned reputation throughout New Zealand Amateur Dramatic Circles as an actress and producer. Who else could portray the eerie and demanding role of the Witch, “Morgan le Fey”.

Page Nine

THE SONGS

ACT I
I Wonder What The King is Doing Tonight   Arthur
The Simple Joys of Maidenhood   Guenevere
Camelot   Arthur and Guenevere
Follow Me   Nimue
Reprise: Camelot   Arthur and Guenevere
C’est Moi   Lancelot
The Lusty Month of May   Guenevere and Ensemble
Take Me To The Fair   Guenevere, Knights, Ensemble
How to Handle a Woman   Arthur
The Jousts   Arthur, Guenevere, Ensemble
Before I Gaze At You Again   Guenevere

ACT II
Fie on Goodness   Knights, Male Ensemble
If Ever I Would Leave You   Lancelot
The Seven Deadly Virtues   Mordred
What Do The Simple Folk Do   Arthur and Guenevere
The Persuasion   Mordred, Morgan le Fey
I Loved You Once in Silence   Guenevere
Reprise: If Ever I Would Leave You   Guenevere, Lancelot
Guenevere   Arthur, Mordred, Dinadan, Ensemble
Reprise: Camelot   Arthur

The Napier Operatic Society wishes to publicly acknowledge the generous donation made by Leopard Brewery Ltd toward this programme and publicity of New Zealand’s first full scale production of “Camelot”.

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Page Ten

Camelot

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Producer
James Morgan

Musical Director
Cecil Fitzwater

Choreographer
Leigh Jones

Rehearsal Pianist
Winnifred Quarrie

Stage Manager
John Collier

House Manager
Noel Tolhurst

Lighting Designer
Cedric Wright

Machinist
Alan Jones

Asst. Stage Manager
John Matthews

Property Master
Barry Breen

Wardrobe Mistress
June Kauter

Sound Technicians
Alan Govan
Ian Larrington
Trevor Larrington

Make-Up
Isobel Johnson

Second Mechanist
Barry Parker

Head Flyman
Bob Dyer

Publicity
Fred Twyford

Programme
Bunny Unsworth

Librarian
Digby Edgecombe

Photographer
Ross McKelvie of Hursts Studios

Construction
Horace Jensen
Michael Hyde
Barry Parker
Hugh Sweeney
Bob Dyer
Alan Jones
Keith Jones
Bruce Macaulay
Leigh Cameron
Richard Manning
Ken Rieper

Publicity
Sid Henney
Noel Tolhurst
Bunny Unsworth

Stage Crew
Roly Cook
Ian Gordon
Mike Hyde
Peter Hill
Horace Jensen
Eric Reay
Alan Johnson
Richard Manning
Bruce Macaulay
Selwyn Wakefield
Dave Welch
Roger Williams
Garry Gempton
David Reefman
Syd Martini
Leo Brunton

Fly Staff
Brian Clark
Barry Brown
Garry Smith
Keith Jones
Roy Shaw
Harry Koefoed
Alan McGill

Prompts
Denise Rouse
Gillian Davies

Properties
Hugh Sweeney
Kevan Broomhead
Kathryn Rieper
Carolyn Maybey
David Bacon
Peter Freedman
Shirley Smith
Pat Mitchell
Bob Wright

Wardrobe
Frances Smith
Nancy Jones
Betty Winter
Sybil Reay
Arline Baxter
Doretta Hunt
Jillian Longley
Mary Blair
Faye Learmont
Mary Crook
Pam Mellor
Jane Pattison
Julie Church
Joan Harper
Beverley O’Rourke
Jane Pattison
Leith Morgan

Make-up
Jo White
Joan Colwill
Gwyn Ace
Winnifred Rowlands
Irene Watson
Heather Cann

Hair-Dressers
Dale Reid
Jane Geddis

Prompts
Denise Rouse
Gillian Davies

Electricians
Cedric Wright
Ira Owen
Ian Reid
Leigh Cameron
Les Dunnet
John Anderson
Jack Savage

Call Stewards
Ross Jones
Tony Unsworth
Hugh Sweeney
Diana Lett
Barbara Lett
Marilyn Kalman
Kathy Singleton

Front of House Staff
J. Calnan
R. Cook
N. Hatton
I. McLean
R. McLean
E. Nicie
F. Twyford
H. Unsworth
B. Wilton
W. Quarrie

Usherettes
Misses –
P. Baker
J. Barber
A. Baxter
B. Calnan
J. Cook
A. Cropper
B. Evetts
R. Foote
B. Gibbs
D. Goodwin
A. Hislop
S. Hislop
C. Jackson
H. Jennings
P. O’Hagen
N. Webster
J. Whitley
N. Whitley

Programmes
Misses –
R. Houston
J. Houston
S. Kauter
S. Unsworth

Catering
Noel Hatton
Fred Barton
Hazel Barton

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Page Eleven

LAUNCELOT    ARTHUR   GUENEVERE

THE CAMELOT BALLET

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Page Twelve

Camelot

“HERE LIES KING ARTHUR – THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING”

So reads the inscription on King Arthur’s Tombstone at Glastonbury Abbey, according to Sir Thomas Malory. One of England’s oldest stories, the Arthurian legend has many parallels in this present day and age. The deadlock in Paris concerning the shape of the table to be used for the Vietnam Peace Talks was resolved by a Round Table. Coincidentally, the number of seats provided were the same as the original Knights of King Arthur’s Court.

So moved by the story of King Arthur was John F. Kennedy that he somewhat identified himself with it. He thought they both shared the same ideas of government. According to his wife, he played the song Arthur sings at the end of the show every night for the last few months of his life. Richard Burton, Arthur in the Broadway production of “Camelot”, narrated and sang this particular Kennedy favourite at his funeral service.

The world today needs a leader like King Arthur, one who will set up a Round Table and talk over national differences – rather than want to fight it out on a battleground – A Future King.

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[page thirteen missing]

Page Fourteen

Camelot

Pianist, WIN QUARRIE

Martin Printing Co. Ltd.
The N.Z.B.C.
Roachs Ltd., Hastings – for extra banners.
Ian Larrington, Alan Govern, Sureview Radio & T.V. Ltd., Ray Single – For sound equipment.
Sid Henney, Past President – For returning to assist with Publicity.
O. Christoffersen – For Sign Boards.
Napier Repertory Players, Colenso High School, Napier Frivolity Minstrels – For use of halls during rehearsals.
Ken Rieper – For construction of “EXCALIBUR”.
Scenery design and painting by John Seaver Roberts by courtesy of Mercury Theatre, Auckland.
Costumes designed by Carol Evans.
Armour designed and constructed by David Arnold and Peter Hildred.
Additional Scenery Design and Painting – John Collier.
Additional Costumes – by June Kauter.
Wycliffe Intermediate School – for Rehearsals.

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