Programme 1988 – Annie Get Your Gun

HASTINGS MUSICAL COMEDY CO INC

presents

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

Directed by
Peter Hill

HASTINGS MUNICIPAL THEATRE

SEPTEMBER 24 – OCTOBER 1 1988

HASTINGS MUSICAL COMEDY COMPANY INC
(Member of New Zealand Federation of Operatic Societies)

PATRONS
Ron & Millicent Giorgi

PRESIDENT
Ken Foote

VICE PRESIDENT
Brian Hawkins

SECRETARY: Kaye Hawkins

TREASURER: Dorothy Foote

EXECUTIVE
Alan Grapes, Peter Hill, Jim McFadyen, Ian Newton, Trevor Palmer

LIFE & HONORARY MEMBERS
Mary Bell, Keith Brazier, Derek Burns, Jeanne Hall, Peter Hill, Jim McCarthy, George Mitchell, Doreen Mudgeway, Noel Toomey, Derek [Dereck] Whitworth, Carl Wright.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

MUSIC & LYRICS BY:
IRVING BERLIN

BOOK BY:
HERBERT & DOROTHY FIELDS

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH
CHAPPEL & INTERSONG MUSIC GROUP (AUSTRALIA) LTD

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

On behalf of the Hastings Musical Comedy Co Inc I sincerely welcome you to this production of “Annie Get Your Gun.”

We are particularly grateful for the opportunity provided by New Zealand Breweries Limited to present a musical of this quality to you in this magnificent theatre. The opportunity has enabled us to extend ourselves beyond our own Playhouse Theatre and not only display on a larger scale some of the theatrical talent and skill abounding in Hawke’s Bay, but also to contribute in some tangible form to the artistic and cultural community in which we live.

We have indeed been fortunate to gather locally such a talented and dedicated cast and production team as well as a hardworking and enthusiastic crew and team of helpers. Add several months of rehearsal under the experienced and charismatic direction of our own Peter Hill and the result is the polished performance you are about to see.

I hope you will enjoy this performance as much as we have in bringing it to you.

KEN FOOTE
President

Peter Hill
Director:
Since his 1968 debut with the Hastings Light Opera Company in “A Country Girl,” Peter has become well known to Hawke’s Bay theatre goers for his numerous on stage performances such as that of Hysterium in “A Funny thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” His name has become synonymous with the Hastings Musical Comedy Company through his enthusiastic involvement over the last 20 years, both on stage and off and particularly during his 8 year term as President. Peter started directing in 1980 and until now, has confined himself to the Playhouse Theatre with shows such as “By Jupiter” and “Somethings Afoot.” Although this is his first show as Director in a “big” theatre, his depth of theatrical experience and his imaginative approach have produced a truly professional result.

Myra Reid
Musical Director:
Myra’s varied theatrical and musical experience began as a chorus girl in the 1961 production of the “The Student Prince”. She has subsequently become well known throughout Hawke’s Bay, firstly as one of the ‘Woodham Trio’ providing entertainment during the 1960s and more recently as a Music Teacher. Having already provided musical direction for several years to Hastings Musical Comedy Company shows such as ‘Kiss Me Kate’, ‘By Jupiter and Charlie Girl’, Myra’s talent and experience have again proved invaluable with the presentation of the musical and vocal numbers in this show.

John Snowling
Musical Director:
Ten years ago John completed service with the Band of Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards, took up conducting and emigrated to Hastings where he has become well known for his musical direction and conducting of the Hastings Citizens Band. His talents and expertise were recognised nationally in 1987 with his appointment as Musical Director of the National Youth Band. Bringing this experience into the theatrical environment has proved to be an undoubted success, not only with his musical arrangements, but also with his assistance with developing the chorus.

Briar Horrocks
Choreographer:
Having started dancing when she was 8 years old and teaching dance when she was 13, Briar first became involved with Hastings Musical Comedy Co in 1964 when she danced in “Belle of New York.” Briar has either danced in and/or choreographed 21 shows since then, whilst at the same time running her own ballet studio and dance theatre company. In 1978 Briar won the first choreographic competition held in New Zealand and was honoured two years later when this work was mounted with the NZ Ballet. Having such a talented choreographer has contributed greatly to the transformation of this quality musical into a spectacular show.

Trevor Palmer
Stage Manager:
Trevor first made contact with stage work during 1952 with the Hastings High School’s production of “Pirates of Penzance.” He started with Hastings Musical Comedy Co in 1971, working as stage hand for “Hello Dolly.” After a number of years operating on the fly floor, Trevor returned to stage work when the Company moved into theatre restaurant and has more recently become a regular stage manager at the Playhouse Theatre. To produce the high standard of stage work required for this show requires the skills, experience and personal attributes that only few people such as Trevor possess.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

THE CAST

Annie Oakley   Sue Wilton
Frank Butler   Joe Christensen
Charlie Davenport   Phil Wilson
Dolly Tate   Barbara O’Sullivan
Winnie Tate   Natalie Stevens
Tommy Keeler   Mark de Frere
Foster Wilson   Jim McFadyen
Col W F Cody, Buffalo Bill   Brian Schaab
Chief Sitting Bull   Warren Hapi
Pawnee Bill   John Duin
Annie’s sisters
Minnie   Caroline Prince
Jessie   Tania Picone
Nellie   Katie Calver
Jake   Annie’s brother   Grant Taylor

THE COMPANY

Kim Meads   Roger Williams   Adele Cochrane
Caroline Mitchell   Richard Kelly   Judy Priest
Marilyn Sunley   Brian Doyle   Abby Hall
Melissa Cooper   Digby Edgecombe   Leanne Harris
Esther Vrieze   Stuart MacIntyre   Nicola Sunley
Kaye Hall   Mike Patchett   Tereza-Anne Brewer
Dawn Ludlow   Christine Hinton   Alf Craddock
Lana Morgan    Beverly Algie   Ray Morgan
Emily Hall   Mary O’Brien   Sam Browne
Melanie Sutherland   Leanne O’Sullivan   Trevor Hall
Stephanie Reid   Leeanne Jude   George James
Paula Morgan   Morven Wood   Casey Drake
Jean Morgan

THE DANCERS

Lynne Laurent   Teresa Lines   Toni Gray
Kathryn Krebs   Megan Nilsson    Leanne Watt
Christine McNeill   Kathryn Palmer   Lance Bridges
Janeve Johansen   Sacha Beacham   Megan Baldwin

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT 1

OVERTURE
Colonel Buffalo Bill   Charlie and Company
I’m a Bad Bad Man   Frank and Girls
Doin’ what comes natur’lly   Annie and Kids
The girl that I marry   Frank
You can’t get a man with a gun   Annie
There’s no business like show business   Charlie, Buffalo Bill Frank and Annie
They say that falling in love is wonderful   Annie and Frank
Moonshine Lullaby   Annie, Kids and Porters
I’ll share it all with you   Tommy and Winnie
There’s no business like show business (Reprise)   Annie
My defences are down   Frank and Boys
Circus Dance   Company
Drum Dance   Indians
Ceremonial Chant   Indians
I’m an Indian too   Annie and Indians
Finale Act One

ACT 2

ENTR’ACTE
I got lost in his arms   Annie and Company
Who do you love, I hope   Tommy, Winnie and Dancers
I got the sun in the morning   Annie and Company
They say that falling in love is wonderful (Reprise)   Annie and Frank
The girl that I marry (Reprise)   Frank
Anything you can do I can do better   Annie and Frank
There’s no business like show business (Reprise)   Annie and Frank
Finale   Full Company

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

ACT 1

Scene 1:   The Wilson House, a Summer Hotel on the outskirts of Cincinnatti, Ohio. July
Scene 2:   A Pullman Parlour on an Overland Steam Train. Six weeks later.
Scene 3:   The Fair Grounds at Minneapolis, Minn. A few days later
Scene 4:   A Dressing-room Tent. The same day.
Scene 5:   The Arena of the Big Tent. Later that night.

ACT 2

Scene 6: The Deck of a Cattle Boat. Eight months later.
Scene 7; Hotel Brevoort, New York. The next afternoon.
Scene 8; Hotel Brevoort. Next day.

Photo captions –

ANNIE

TOMMY & WINNIE

DOLLY & CHARLIE

FRANK

ANNIES SISTERS & BROTHER

FOSTER WILSON
BUFFALO BRIDGE, PAWNEE BILL
CHIEF SITTING BULL

THE STORY OF ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

First produced in America at the Imperial Theatre on 16 May, 1946

The sharp-shooter Frank Butler, the greatest attraction of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, meets his match in Annie Oakley, a backwoods girl who is an incredibly good shot. Annie falls hopelessly in love with Frank and in order to be near him, travels with the show as his assistant, but they are soon applauded as partners.

Buffalo Bill is however on the verge of bankruptcy and in order to compete with his rival, Pawnee Bill, he persuades Annie to perform in a sensational act which puts Frank entirely in the shade. Frank leaves the show and joins the competitors. Annie is wild with grief, but the Indian Chief Sitting Bull adopts her and finances Buffalo Bill’s European tour; a brilliant success for Annie, but almost financial ruin for Buffalo Bill. On his return from Europe, he is forced to go into partnership with Pawnee Bill and Annie and Frank are thus united once more.

But not for long, because Frank annoys Annie by maintaining that he is “the greatest sharp-shooter in the World” and they quarrel again. She challenges him to a match, but just before the shooting begins, Sitting Bull and Charlie Davenport twist the sights of Annie’s guns. She misses every shot and is entirely at a loss, until Sitting Bull tells her why. She then understands that love is stronger than glory and she and Frank become partners in love as well as in the snow.

ANNIE OAKLEY REALLY WAS:

This American folk heroine, whose real name was Annie Mozee, was born in 1860 in Darke County, Ohio. Her education was scanty, but she had a wonderful knowledge of the life of the woods and fields. Her father died when she was nine and by the time she was sixteen, she had paid off the mortgage on her stepfather s farm by shooting game for the Cincinnati market, to which town she went to live with a married sister. Astounded by her skill with a rifle, her brother-in-law matched her against a young Irishman, Frank Butler, who did trick shooting on the vaudeville circuits. She won the match, married Butler and chose her new name from a Cincinnati suburb.

Annie and her husband joined Buffalo Bill s Wild West Show, Annie as the star performer, Frank as her manager. She could shoot from a bicycle, from a galloping horse, from either shoulder or over her shoulder at a target seen in a mirror. In her performances she shot cigarettes from the mouths of famous people, shot holes in tossed up playing cards and would do a hand spring or vault a table while her targets were in the air, and still seize a rifle and shatter them before they fell. She was probably the greatest woman marksman of all time. She died in 1926, just twenty years before the opening performance of “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN” on Broadway.

Photo captions –

The Company

The Dancers

The Company

THE ORCHESTRA

CONDUCTOR   John Snowling
PIANO   Myra Reid
TRUMPET   John Krebs, Lance Bayliss
TROMBONE   Kingsley Sivewright, Cliff Howell
SAXOPHONE   Hughie Tuckwell, Fiona Reid, Terry Wild
FLUTE   Ann Linklater
BASE   Leon Speakman
PERCUSSION   Brian Rae

PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Back Left to Right: Ray Ellery, Alan Grapes, Brian Cochrane, Jim McFadyen, Malcolm Palmer, Jeanne Hall, Ian Newton.

Front: Kaye Hawkins, Helen Hill, Ken Foote, Jacquie Hills, Maureen Grapes.

DIRECTOR   Peter Hill
MUSICAL DIRECTORS   Myra Reid, John Snowling
CHOREOGRAPHER   Briar Horrocks
STAGE MANAGER   Trevor Palmer
PRODUCTION MANAGER   Ken Foote
PRODUCTION SECRETARY   Ian Newton
DIRECTORS ASSISTANT   Jacquie Hills
PROMPT   Maureen Grapes
PUBLICITY   NZ Breweries Limited
ASST STAGE MANAGERS Brian Cochrane, Alan Grapes
STAGE CREW   Ron Chaplow, Lester Goodwin, John Crook, Mike Maloney, David Sayner, Don Bullock, Mike Fulford
HEAD FLYMEN   Malcolm Palmer, Ray Ellery
FLY CREW   Jim Ruru, Chris Johansen, Alan Simpson, Ross McKenzie
WARDROBE MISTRESS   Kaye Hawkins
WARDROBE TEAM   Allison Bullock, Helen Hill, Doreen Crook, Sue Passfield, Peggy Brazier, Diane Brown, Zelda Houston, Jessie Baker, May Williamson, Gill King, Janine Sinclair, Jolene Bullock
PROPERTIES MISTRESS   Jeanne Hall
PROPERTIES TEAM    David Froggatt, Richard Alderman, Barry Lambert, John Rohrs
LIGHTING DESIGN   Jim McFadyen, Cedric Wright
LIGHTING CREW   Brian Hawkins, Michele Hawkins, Jason Doyle
MAKE-UP   Jacquie Hills, Ann Lothian, Bev Barton, Caroline Mitchell, Anne Long, Leanne Simpson
HOUSE MANAGERESS   Helen Hill
FRONT OF HOUSE   Dorothy Foote, Dee Kingston, Bev Palmer, Lorna Hermon, Narelle de Frere, Karen Goodwin, Wendy Simpson, Sue Passfield, Warner Straton, Vern Walters, Ross Gamble, Janine Sims, Judy Oliver, Jean Beaumont, Jocelyn Hall, Joan Stowe, Beryl Coker, Lois Nairn, Jacqueline Nairn, Paul Nairn, Jackie Crespin

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

New Zealand Breweries Ltd, Hastings City Council, John Newland, Wellington Operatic Society, Hamilton Operatic Society, Cedric Wright, Barry’s Motorcycle Wreckers, Conroy Removals Ltd, Mount Cook Landlines, Neil Billing, Russell Sound & Vision, Ken Sutton, Chris Green, Robin Barker, Alan & Maureen Grapes, Hastings Floral Art Society, Ray Ellery, Barry Northe & The Arms Museum, Peter Dunkerley Amcal Chemist.

BREWERS TO THE NATION SINCE 1854

NEW ZEALAND
BREWERIES LIMITED

Proud sponsors of

ANNIE
GET YOUR
GUN

and
Contributors to the restoration
of the
Hastings Municipal Theatre

Brebner Print   Napier