Programme 1971 – The Desert Song

The DESERT SONG

The Hastings Light Opera Co. (Inc.)

1971 Production

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The Hastings Light Opera Co. (Inc.)
(A member of the Federation of Operatic Societies)

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

In this our tenth year of production we have chosen to present to you, the public, one of the world’s most popular musicals, “The Desert Song”.

The success of any amateur show relies entirely on public support and I am sure that for this reason alone “The Desert Song” will prove to be one of the most successful yet produced by our company.

That we have had problems would be a gross understatement. The delivery of our wardrobe and scenery was held up through floods and all of the properties were taken to the dump in error.

For those who have overcome these difficulties I extend my sincere thanks. To you all I extend a sincere welcome and I hope that as in the words of the Riff song you too will be singing as you are riding HO-ME.

RON WALKER,
President.

OFFICERS FOR 1971

Patrons:
His Worship the Mayor of Hastings:   R. V. Giorgi,
N. B. Fippard, Esq.
President:  Ron L. Walker.
Vice-Presidents:   Sybil Reay, Peter Hill.
Hon. Secretary-Treasurer:   Eric. Reay.
Assistant Secretary:   Sara Holderness.

Committee:
Sadie Brown
Maureen Brady
Peter Dixon
Ray Walker
Eddie Cameron
Nada Broomhead
Glenda Rickard
Oliver Christoffersen
Bruce Murray
Pearce Williams

THE DESERT SONG PERFORMANCES
Hastings Municipal Theatre, 1st – 8th, May
Napier Municipal Theatre, 13th and 15th, May

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DESERVES
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RIGHT
THROUGH

SEASON
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Production Team…

Producer
Sadie Brown

Musical Director
Cecil Fitzwater

In a period when good musicals were common Rombergs “Desert Song” enjoyed a high place in music lovers regard. Through the years, despite fiecre [fierce] competition “from modern music and its associated gimmicks, this high rating has been maintained, and today the music of the show comes as fresh as though composed only yesterday. The “Riff Song”, “Romance”, “Desert Song” and “One Alone” are a quartette of songs that will hold their own against any competition, and will, with others, bring maximum pleasure as they are presented again in 1971 for your enjoyment.

The name Romberg conjures up pleasant musical memories for many. I hope that our interpretation of this ‘musical play’ will present you with the satisfaction and enjoyment that I have received in fulfilling my role as chorus mistress.

Chorus Mistress
Ngaire Shand

My congratulations to the company. It is always a pleasure to work with co-operation such as there has been for this production.

Choreographer
Joan McVicar

The story of the Desert Song

In MOROCCO the French are having trouble with the Riffs. This is a story of Pierre Birabeau, a Frenchman, who, pretending to be a simpleton, in secret organizes a band of Arabs to avenge the wrongs committed by his countrymen against the Arabs and becomes known as the Red Shadow.

Complications arise for him when his father is appointed General in Command of the Army, with the duty of capturing the bandit chief, and by the visit of Margot, the girl he loves. Margot is romantically attracted by the deeds of the Red Shadow and Pierre abducts her, taking her to the harem of an Arab Chief. General Birabeau follows them and challenges the Red Shadow to a duel. Pierre refuses to fight his father and is branded a coward, being driven into the desert without arms or supplies. In the last scene the General learns the identity of the Red Shadow after the army has been sent out to kill him. They return with the news that the Red Shadow has been killed by Pierre who then reveals his true identity to Margot.

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Romantic Leads…

THE RED SHADOW and PIERRE BIRABEAU
PAUL WARING

MARGOT   PAT BOWEN

Comedy Duo
“Now listen Susan, there are times when a man has to be cruel to be kind”
GLENDA R1CKARD   SUSAN AND BENNIE   PETER HILL

By arrangement with J.C. Williamson Theatres Ltd

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Books and Lyrics by Otto Harbach, Frank Mandel, and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd

The Desert Song

CAST (in order of appearance)

Sid El Kar   Wayne Lister
Hadji   Norm Brown
Neri   Audrey London
Benjamin Kidd   Peter Hill
Capt. Paul Fontaine   Carl Jamieson
Margot Bonvalet   Pat Bowen
General Birabeau   Pearce Williams
Pierre Bimbeau   Paul Waring
Susan   Glenda Rickard
Edith   Olwyn Walker
Azuri   Dallas Beckett
Ali Ben Ali   Bob Bird
Clementina   June Keough
Mindar   Kevan Broomhead
Hassi   Bruce Murray
Lieut. La Vergne   Len Crawford
Sergeant de Broussac   John Hodges

French Girls, Spanish Girls, Soldiers’ Wives and Harem Girls:
Hazel Boyd
Sandra Dixon
Zita Driscoll
Moira Gillespie
Sara Holderness
June Keough
Beth Lean
Pamela Learmonth
Audrey London
Claire McDonald
Linda Merrall
Doreen Struthers
Kay Townsend
Olwyn Walker
Judith Wellwood

Soldiers of the Foreign Legion and Members of the Red Shadow’s Band:
Bryan Baker
Brian Bartlett
Bill Beckett
Kevan Broomhead
Adrian Brown
Norm. Brown
Len Crawford
John Davidson
Bruce Gibbs
John Hodges
Ross Pullen
Randal Roberts
Derek Rolls
Henk van Hooijdonk

Dancers:
Marie Falconer
Barbara O’Sullivan
Karen Thompson
Shona Thompson
Heather Lomas

Karamu Marching Team:
Deborah Baxter
Margaret Boxall
Denise Cuthbert
Lynette Cuthbert
Caroline Edmonds
Ricky Lay
Heather Wallace
Margaret Ward
Christine Kaye
Christine Scott
Christine Wall
Deborah Wallace

Ted – The Donkey

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

ACT 1

Scene 1:   Retreat of the Red Shadow in the Riff Mountains (Evening).
Scene 2:   Outside General Birabeau’s house (The same evening).
Scene 3:   A room in General Birabeau’s house (A few minutes later).

ACT 2

Scene 1:   The harem of Ali Ben Ali. (Afternoon of the following day).
Scene 2:   A corridor. (A few minutes later).
Scene 3:   The room of the silken couch. (A few minutes later).
Scene 4:   Edge of the desert. (The following morning half an hour before dawn)
Scene 5:   Courtyard of General Birabeau’s house. (Two days later).

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The Desert Song

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

Prelude and Opening Chorus   Sid and the Riffs
The Riffs Song   The Red Shadow and Riffs
Margot   Paul and French Soldiers
I’ll Be a Buoyant Girl   Susan and Edith
Why Did We Marry a Soldier   French Girls, and Wives
Romance   Margot
Then You Will Know   Margot, Pierre and Chorus
I Want a Kiss   Margot, Pierre, Paul and Chorus
It   Susan, Bennie and Girls
The Desert Song   Margot and the Red Shadow
Finale, Act I   Margot, Paul, Azuri, Sid, Red Shadow and Chorus

INTERVAL

ACT III

Entracte   Clementina and Spanish Ladies
My Little Castagnette   Clementina and Girls, and Ali
One Good Boy Gone Wrong   Clementina and Bennie
Eastern and Western Love   Red Shadow, Sid, Ali and Riffs
The Sabre Song   Margot and The Red Shadow
Reprise, The Desert Song    Margot and The Red Shadow
Farewell   Red Shadow, Mindar, and Riffs
All Hail to the General   General Birabeau, Girls and Soldiers
Dance of Triumph   Azuri
Finale, Act II   Soldiers and Girls
Reprise, One Alone   Margot and Girls

ORCHESTRA

Eric Thorpe, Ngaire Shand – Piano
Enid Dunn, Anita Rae, Charlie Jukes – Violin
Joan Palmer – Cello
Leon Speakman – Bass
Alan Meakin, Allen Thorpe – Clarinet
Stuart Boston, Roy Robinson – Trumpet
Douglas Robinson – Trombone
Michael Winter – French Horn
Ken Scour – Drums

The Principals…

“He is the Red Shadow”
RED SHADOW, AZURl and SID EL KAR

“Yet when I seek this beauty”
THE RED SHADOW and MARGOT

“Claws of a tiger, sharp with fury”
CAPTAIN PAUL FONTAINE and AZURl

“Oh no, we are from Barcelona”
ALI BEN ALI and CLEMENTINA

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS

1961 – Patience.
1962 – The Gondoliers.
1963 – The Mikado.
1964 – Iolanthe.
1965 – The Pirates of Penzance.
1966 – The Valley of Song.
1967 – Brigadoon.
1968 – A Country Girl.
1969 – Kiss Me Kate.
1969 – Cinderella.
1970 – The Land of Smiles.
1970 – Aladdin

SOCIETY INFORMATION

An Operatic Society is a truly community group, catering for a wide cross section of the public.

There is something for you to give and gain from the Society. Why don’t you become an active or subscribing member? Only $2.75 Subscribing, $1.30 Active, annually which entitles you to two tickets for our production, plus preferential bookings and invitations to any of our social functions.

ON STAGE OR OFF THERE IS A JOB FOR YOU!

SUBSCRIPTION
The Secretary,
Box 859,
Hastings.
Please enroll me as an active-subscribing member.
I enclose $2.75/$1.30.
Mr./Mrs./Miss   Phone
Full Postal Address
(Secretary: Phone 86-764)

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HANDSOME CAVALIERS and GENERAL BIRABEAU

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The production of any amateur show entails considerable expense. Royalties are very high and advertising expensive.

The company would like to express their grateful thanks to all business firms who have contributed in some way towards the cost of this production. They have supported us – we recommend that you support them.

Castle Steel Ltd.
A. J. Smith
Beaven & Goodall Ltd.
Shu Bar
Neville Rodgers Ltd.
Mandarin Gift Shop
A. L. Stevens Ltd.
Mayfair Furnishers
Aitchison & Tobin Ltd.
Glenvale Vineyards Ltd.
Boyles Shoe Store
Price & Morris Ltd.
D. H. Newbigin Ltd.
Presbyterian Harrier Club
All programme and paper advertisers
Mrs. S. Pell, Ballet Pianist
Mr. Darby
A. & P. Society
Mr. B. Lannigan for transporting “Ted” every evening
Army Dept., Napier, for help with props.
All who have helped towards the success of the show.
Last but not least our subscribing members whose interest in the company we value.
Thank you

SOCIAL COMMITTEE

Olwyn Walker
Hazel Boyd
Bert Hamerlihey
Sybil Reay
Peter Dean
Judith Wellwood
Pam Learmonth
Moira Gillespie
Derek Rolls
Len Crawford

Page 14

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Stage Manager:
Peter Dixon

Electrician:
John Henderson

Rehearsal Officer:
Oliver Christoffersen

House Manager:
Eric Reay

Lighting Designer:
Cedric Wright

Wardrobe Mistress:
Property Mistress:

Librarian:
Maureen Brady

Ballet Pianist:
Shirley Pell

Stage Team:
David Broomhead, Peter Brown, Barrie Browne, Eddie Cameron, Brian Clark, Ian Clark, John Collier, Peter Dean, Ian Gordon, Don Hurley, Mike Hyde, Gary Jansen, Alan Jones, John Lindstrom, Barry Parker, Doug Ramsay, Hugh Sweeney.

Posters & Signwriting:
Oliver Christoffersen,

Front of House:
Ian Humphrey, Aub Merrall, Haldane Scougall, Ray Walker, Wendy Beck, Denise Birch, Gillian Birch, Valerie Cutler, Norelly Hancock, Susan London, Prue Lewis, Yvonne Lemon, Marilyn Mollring, Barbara Morris, Rosemary Steel, Leslie Still, Lana Tomlinson.

Dressers:
Lyn Chenery, Barbara Dean, Narelle de Frere, Christine Kissling, Judy McLaren, Naomi Merrall, Jean Park, Dot Workman, Karen Messerschmidt.

Properties:
Jean Campbell, Corrine Minty.

Make-up:
Elaine Birch, Mary Harris, Marcia Hay, Judy Helm, Barbara Hodgson, Dawn McCowatt, Marie Millman, Pam Lister.

Prompt:
Faye Nugent

Call Stewards:
Pauline Anderson, Steven Reay.

Programme & Publicity:
Oliver Christoffersen, Peter Hill, Sybil Reay, Ray Walker, Ron Walker.

Suppers:
Geraldine Fahey, Jackie King, Evelyn Overend, Susan Willcox, Nanette Roberts, Beth Townsend, Marilyn Willcox.

Baby Sitters:
Lynette Christoffersen, Anthea Raill.

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HLOC 1