Programme – Down in the Valley

KARAMU HIGH SCHOOL

Presents

DOWN IN THE VALLEY

by Kurt Weill

KARAMU HIGH SCHOOL

Presents

“DOWN IN THE VALLEY”

A Folk Opera for Young People
music by Kurt Weill
libretto by Arnold Sungaard
Producer: Mr I.C. Cash
Musical Director: Mr R.G. Smith

THE STORY OF THE OPERA

As the result of the “eternal triangle” we discover Brack Weaver in jail. In the morning he will be hanged for the murder of Thomas Bouche, Brack is waiting for a letter from his true love, Jennie Parsons. No letter comes, and Brack decides that he will break loose and spend his last hours with Jennie. Peters, a fellow prisoner, tries to dissuade Brack from this, but Brack is determined. The scene shifts to Jennie standing on the front porch of her home, mourning for her loved one, who is about to die. Her father becomes angry and reminds her that Brack has killed a man.

Suddenly, Jennie hears Brack whistling and she hurries to meet him. Brack tells her that men are searching for him, but that he had to see her before he died. Jennie urges him to run away, but Brack will not leave until he knows that Jennie loves him.

Together they remember, in the form of a flashback, the events leading up to Brack’s imprisonment. “Do you remember, Jennie?”

Back to the present and Jennie again urges Brack to run away. But Brack intends to give himself up. He is now calm and confident, knowing that Jennie loves him.

Characters

in order of appearance

Leader   ANNE SKIPWORTH
Brack Weaver   MARK HENSMAN
Guard   FRANCII ROBEN
Peters   KEN HOLMES
Jennie Parsons   JANE PATTISON
Jennie’s Father   STEPHEN BEE
Preacher   ANNE SKIPWORTH
Thomas Bouché   RICHARD WILLIAMS
1st Man   KEN HOLMES
2nd Man   GRAHAM LINDSAY
1st Woman   FRANCES WADDELL
2nd Woman   JOAN DAVIES

CHORUS – Girls: D. Aitchison, D. Bayliss, M. Baker, J. Barley, J. Barnsley, P. Bennett, L. Bignell, J. Bligh, C. Boyle, B. Braddick, B. Brain, R. Burn, D. Challice, A. Clark, J. Cockburn, B. Cox, D. Cutler, J. Davies, S. Davis, S. Eade, E. Eyles, M. Flower, P. Frost, J. Fulton,
R. Gaskin, L. Grey, V. Harris, J. Harvey, J. Hawtin, W. Hill, M. Hope, C. Howell, K. Jenkins, P. Kemp, L. Lee, J. Livingstone, S. McLean,
S. Malloch, C. Mullinder, H. Napier, P. Paterson, S. Peters, C. Pluymers, P. Pohio, C. Seager, D. Scherf, S. Simkin, R. Sinclair,
M. Simonson, C. Smith, B. Sowman, E. Stopford, M. Stopford, M. Struthers, Y. Sullivan, D. Sunley, A. Symington, S. Symington,
S. Tate, D. Taylor, B. Thompson, K. Townsend, P. Vaughan, C. Wallace, M. Wilson, S. Wilson, J. Wong.

CHORUS – Boys: M. Annand, M. Bee, S. Bee, D. Chapman, M. Church, J. Davies, R. Hantler, G. Henderson, B. Hughes, R. Ingram, T. Lansdown, S. Newrick, S. Proctor, D. Rayner, P. Sargisson, B. Scott, H. Tomoana, E. Wither.

DANCERS: A. Binns, R. Burn, Jeanne Campbell, Judy Campbell, S. Davis, S. Eade, E. Eyles, V. Harris, L. Mayo, H. Napier, B. Sowman, R. Steenson, D. Sunley.

Orchestra

Leader   MR. L.J. SUNDE
1st Violins   MR. L.J. SUNDE, CHARLOTTE VAN ASCH
2nd Violins   JOHN HAWTIN, PETER GILLESPIE, GEORGE HENDRY
3rd Violin   THOMAS PROCTOR
Violoncello   JANE HENDRY
Double Bass   MR. D. KITT
Flute   JAN VAN ASCH
Descant Recorder   ELTON JUNE
Clarinets   MR. D. BELL, TREVOR HINDLE
Tenor Saxophone   MR. A. MEAKIN
Cornets   MR. P. JENNINGS, MR. K. JENNINGS, MR. N. MacFARLANE
Euphonium   MR. G. DRAYTON
Eb Bass   RAYMOND DALY
Pianist  STEPHANIE WING
Guitar   MR. J.L. ROBERTS

Production Personnel

Producer   MR. I.C. CASH
Assistant Producer   MRS. J.L. McDONALD
Musical Director   MR. R.G. SMITH
Choreography   MISS R.L. TAYLOR
Stage Managers   MR. C. THOMAS, MR. G. BURGESS
Designer   MR. G. FULLER
Set Construction   MR. G. FULLER, MR. G. BURGESS, MR. C. THOMAS and Form 6 Art Pupils
Lighting  MR. M. VOGEL, MR. P. WALKER
Wardrobe   MISS S. PARSONS and Assistants
Properties   MR. G. BURGESS
Make-Up   MR. G. FULLER, MRS. J. BELL, S. BIRCH, C. BRIASCO, P. BROWN, M. deRIDDER, L. DONALDSON, V. GREEN, K. HANSEN,
A. HOPE, V. JONAS, R. PITT, K. PUKLOWSKI, M. RALPHE, D. VITSKY, S. WALLIS, H. WHITE, C. WILSON
Programme Cover   STEPHEN CLARKE
Poster Design   IAN THORBURN
House Manager …. MR. T. BROADHURST
Bookings    MR. D. STORMER
Business Management   MISS G.K. HARRIS, MRS. E. MACDONALD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The School wishes to thank all those who have contributed in any way towards the production of this opera, and in particular
Mrs. Pattison, material
Tomoana Players, lighting, floor cloth
Hastings Musical Comedy Company, sundry items

HART PRINT