Programme 1975 – Pickwick

presenting
a new musical

PICKWICK

The Debtors Lament

Turnkey

The Eatanswill Election

Sgt. Buzfuz

Dodson and Fogg

Hastings Light Opera Company Inc.

present

Robert Murray   Gillian Davies

IN THE NEW ZEALAND AMATEUR PREMIERE OF

“PICKWICK”

A NEW MUSICAL

Adapted from Charles Dickens’ “Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club”

DESIGNED AND DIRECTED BY BRUCE MURRAY

MUSICAL DIRECTION BY NGAIRE SHAND

Book by Wolf Mankowitz

Music by Cyril Ornadel

Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse

Original London Production by Bernard Delfont and Tom Arnold

FEATURING
Annette and Robert Green
1975 New Zealand Dance Roller Skate Champions

This stage production has been presented by arrangement with Evans Brothers Limited, London

OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY 1975

President   Ian Humphrey
Vice President   Sybil Reay, Len Willcox
Secretary-Treasurer   Eric Reay
Assistant Secretary   Beverley Romanes
Committee   Nada Broomhead, Barbara Dean, Corrine Minty
Tony Page, Bruce Murray

BRUCE MURRAY

Bruce has been associated with the Society since the age of twelve when he appeared in “Iolanthe” as the Chancellor’s attendant. Since then he has participated on the stage, stage managed, designed and painted scenery and in 1972 produced “Dick Whittington” – our Christmas pantomime.

Audiences will remember him as Charlie Brown in the “Peanuts” musical “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” staged last year by the Theatre Arts Company.

NGAIRE SHAND

Following Ngaire’s triumphant success with Offenbach’s music in “Orpheus in the Underworld” last year, we without hesitation asked her to direct the music for “Pickwick”. Difficulties with obtaining the music from overseas coupled with unusual compositions were soon mastered and once again she can be congratulated on another success.

ROBERT MURRAY

Well known to Hawkes Bay audiences for his numerous stage appearances we welcome him back to the Society to play the title role in “Pickwick”. Audiences will recall him as Mr Bumble in “Oliver” and more recently as Nicely Nicely Johnson in “Guys and Dolls”. His fine figure and tenor voice made him a must for this production.

GILLIAN DAVIES

Gillian’s portrayal of Mrs Bardell follows a long line of successful parts in Hawkes Bay theatre. Recently appearing as Bloody Mary in “South Pacific”, Widow Corney in “Oliver” and the mad doctor in the play – “The Physicists.”

Her love of Charles Dickens and his immortal characters made her the ideal person for Mrs Bardell.

CHARACTERS

Hot Toddy Seller   John Pryce
Cold Drink Seller   Henk van Hooijdonk
Bird Seller   Kevin Broomhead
Hot Potato Seller   Steven Reay
Turnkey   Warren Loader
Pickwick   Robert Murray
Sam Weller   Brian Overend
Roker   Peter Cross
Tony Weller   Ron Hill
Mr Wardle   David Reefman
Rachael   Jean Campbell
Emily   Caroline Rumble
Esabella   Margaret Boag
Fat Boy   Graig MaCerlich [Craig MacErlich?]
Jingle    Adrian Brown
Augustus Snodgrass   John Newland
Tracy Tupman   John Doig
Nathaniel Winkle   Oliver Christoffersen
Mary   Dianne Littleford
Mrs Bardell   Gillian Davies
Georgie   Trevor Hood
Dr. Slammer   Kevin Broomhead
1st Officer   Peter Cross
2nd Officer   Richard Hellyer
Skaters   Annette and Robert Green
Dodson   John Pryce
Fogg   Warren Loader
Sgt Buzfuz   Gavin Garner
Sgt Snubbins   Norman Brown
Judge   Eric Reay

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

THE ACTION TAKES PLACE IN AND AROUND ROCHESTER AND LONDON, 1827.

ACT ONE

Scene 1:   Outside the Fleet Prison
Scene 2:   Inside the Fleet Prison
Scene 3:   Outside the George and Vulture
Scene 4:   The Ballroom of the George and Vulture
Scene 5:   Pickwick’s Chambers at the George and Vulture next morning
Scene 6:   A field near the river, the next morning

ACT TWO

Scene 1:   The town square at Eatanswill
Scene 2:   The offices of Messrs Dodson and Fogg, Solicitors
Scene 3:   The Courtroom
Scene 4:   Inside the Fleet Prison
Scene 5:   Outside the Fleet Prison

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE
Overture   Orchestra
Business is Booming   Vendors and Turnkey
Debtors Lament   The Company
Talk   Sam Weller and the Company
That’s what I’d like for Christmas   Pickwick and the Company
The Pickwickians   Pickwick, Snodgrass, Tupman and Winkle.
The Pickwickians (reprise)   Pickwick, Snodgrass, Tupman, and Winkle.
A bit of a Character   Jingle, Snodgrass, Tupman and Winkle
Quadrille   Orchestra
There’s something about you   Jingle, Rachael and company
Learn a little something   Sam Weller and Mary
You‘ve never met a fellow like me   Pickwick and Sam Weller
Look into your heart   Pickwick and Mrs Bardell
Talk (Reprise)   Sam Weller
The Duel   Orchestra
Winter Waltz   The Company

ACT TWO
Entr’acte   Orchestra
A Hell of an Election   The Company
Very   Jingle
If I Ruled the world   Pickwick and the Company
The Trouble with women   Sam and Tony Weller
The letter of the Law   The Pickwickians, Pickwick, Sam, Tony Weller, Dodson and Fogg and the Clerks
British Justice   Pickwick and the Company
Do as you would be done by   Pickwick, Jingle, Sam[e] Weller, Mrs Bardell, and the Company
The Pickwickians (Reprise)   The Company
If I ruled the World   Pickwick
Finale   The Company

CHORUS

Jean Hill, Elaine Gavin, Barbara Scott, Val Shaw, Alison Scott, Margaret Boag, Jeanette Murray, Beverly Romanes, Norelly Hancock, Judith Davy, Caroline Leese, Olwyn Walker, Caroline Rumble, Warren Loader, Kevan Broomhead, James Burnett, Henk van Hooijdonk, Norman Brown, Steven Reay, John Pryce, Peter Cross, Richard Hellyer.

CHILDREN

Jane Hill, Kathryn Doig, Vanessa Brown, Gregory Boag, Christine Boag, Graeme Hill, David Parry.

The Pickwickians

Sam and Mary

Jingle

Wardle, Rachael, Emily, Isabella and Fat Boy

THE STORY

In the Fleet, a debtors’ prison, Mr Pickwick and his ‘gentleman’s gentleman’, Sam Weller, are reminiscing on the circumstances that led to them being there.

There is a flashback to the courtyard of Mrs Bardell’s Inn, the ‘George and Vulture’. It is Christmas – a typically Dickensian scene, as Pickwick greets his old friend, Mr Wardle and his family. Then, he introduces the Pickwickians: the poetic Mr Snodgrass, the sporting Mr Winkle and Mr Tupman, the romantic. On spying the Wardle ladies, the Pickwickians are smitten, Tupman by Rachael, Snodgrass and Windle by Wardle’s daughters, Emily and Isabella.

The willy [wily] Mr Jingle arrives, and soon has the Pickwickians inviting him to dinner and Mr. Tupman paying for his tickets for the ball that evening. At the ball Pickwickians engage in flirtations with the Wardle ladies, watched sternly by Mr Pickwick. Jingle overhears that Rachael is an heiress – he therefore spoils Tupman’s chances with her and removes her money and jewellery.

Pickwick returns to his room to discover the ebullient Sam Weller and hires Sam as his ‘gentleman’s gentleman’. Unfortunately when he asks Mrs Bardell to release Sam from his post as boot black, she mistakes his request for a ‘proposal’ and Pickwick is surprised in a compromising situation by the Pickwickians!

The party go skating, but while they are out, it is discovered that Rachael has run off with Jingle, in the excitement Pickwick falls through the ice. To make matters worse, Pickwick is served with a writ by Messrs Dodson & Fogg, who have been instructed by Mrs Bardell to commence an action for breach of promise.

Mr Wardle and Mr Pickwick dash after the runaway couple, and catch up with them in Eatanswill where an election is in progress. Pickwick decides the only way to prevent the match is to buy off Jingle. Wardle and Pickwick leave with Rachael in tow.

The case of Bardell versus Pickwick is heard and after very unfair proceedings, Mrs Bardell is awarded ₤750 damages. Pickwick refuses to pay and is sent to the Fleet Prison.

A starving debtor comes up to them begging, and they are startled to see that it is Jingle. A further surprise is the arrival of Mrs Bardell who is in debt to Dodson & Fogg because Pickwick has refused to pay her damages. Pickwick agrees to pay both her and Jingle’s debts. Finally the Pickwickians arrive, engaged to the Wardle heiresses, which enables them to pay Pickwick’s damages.

With the loss of his three bachelors, Pickwick closes his club. Feeling deserted he leaves the Fleet, but Sam is close behind and they decide to write the ‘Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club’.

CHARLES DICKENS
1818-1870

“Talk”

[Advertisement]
Bank of New Zealand
This programme is to be entered in a National Competition conducted by the N.Z. Federation of Operatic Societies Inc. and sponsored by the Bank of New Zealand for the benefit of the Arts and the Community.

Annette and Robert Green

Tony Weller

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Stage Manager   Tony Page
Set Design   Bruce Murray
Set Construction   Adrian Brown, Norman Brown and Members of the Society.
Stage Crew   Murray Bridges, Lindsay Craig, Stuart Doig, Harry Romanes, Bruce Winter, Peter Eade.
Quadrille Staged by   Briar Horrocks
Lighting   Cedric Wright
Sound   Robert Lockyer
Wardrobe   Sybil Reay and Barbara Dean assisted by Nada Broomhead, Lois Reefman, Naomi Merrall, Linda Williamson, Margaret Falconer, Maisie Kyle, Sandra Watson, Judith Rolls, Carol Elery, Minnie Bloxham.
Properties   Corrine Minty assisted by Sandra Dixon and Tricia Roberts.
Make up   Dawn McCowatt, Minnie Wright
Millinery   Esmé Drake, Doreen Ritchie
Prompt   Audrey London
Call Steward   Sue London
House Manager   Eric Reay
Ticket Office   Gill Greig
Rehearsal Pianist   Tricia Loader
Suppers    Evelyn Overend, Deborah Hood, Yvonne Walker, Nanette Roberts, Joan Parker
Photographs   Lovell-Smith
Signwriting   Oliver Christoffersen
Programme Design   Bruce Murray
Programme Production   Process Signs Ltd.

ORCHESTRA

Piano   Tricia Loader
Violins   Norma Smith, Charlie Jukes, Win Bickerstaff, Sara Croucher.
Cello   Kate Contos
Bass   Leon Speakman
Percussion   Graham Harrison
Flute   Mary Hodgson
Clarinet   Arthur Buckley, Alan Meakin
Trumpet   Kevin Keough, Alan Walmsley
Trombone   Cliff Howell

Acknowledgements.

HAWKES BAY REVUE SKATING CLUB FOR THE LOAN OF SKATES – MR J. STARNES
RAEWYN HAILES FOR SKATING TUITION – N.Z. BALLET OPERA TRUST
HENK VAN HOOIJDONK FOR SPECIAL PROPERTIES – JACQUE HUTCHISON
JULIE-ANN MAXWELL FOR LOAN OF HORSE
MR PAT BARRY FOR USE OF GOVERNESS CART

[Advertisement]

LEOPARD
CONTINENTAL LAGER