The Merry Widow show report
A cast of 28 from Mostly G&S presented The Merry Widow in concert at the Oakwood Centre, Woodley, Reading on 15-16 April 2011 to two full houses. Here is a reminder of the show.
The Merry Widow
The Merry Widow was first performed in Vienna in 1905. It was Franz Lehár’s first major success, becoming internationally the best-known operetta of the year.
The story is set in the Pontevedrian embassy in Paris, 1905. The Ambassador, Baron Zeta, is desperate that the wealthy widow Anna Glavari marry a Pontevedrian man so that her fortune remains in the country. He attempts to match her and his handsome attaché, Danilo.
It turns out that Danilo and Anna have had a love affair in the past. Nevertheless, Danilo now refuses to say he loves her because he doesn’t want it to look like he is just after her money.
Meanwhile Zeta’s wife, Valencienne, is being pursued in a dalliance by the Count de Rosillon (Camille) leading to near discovery, much confusion and inevitable twists in the plot. In the end, after Anna reveals that she will lose the money if she remarries, Danillo joyously asks for her hand.
The Mostly G&S concert performance used the 1958 Operatic Society edition developed by Phil Park (book and lyrics) and Ronald Hammer (music).
Dramatis Personae
Anna (Madame Glavari) – The Merry Widow Caroline Carragher
Danilo (Count Danilovitsch) – Attaché at the embassy Steve McAdam
Baron Zeta – Pontededrian Ambassador Barrie Seaman
Valencienne – The Ambassador’s wife Kathryn Marshall
Camille (Count de Rosillon) Jeff Trim
St Brioche – Diplomat embassy guest Mike Fields
Cascada – Diplomat embassy guest Iain Whittaker
Lolo – Grisette at Maxim’s Jane Andrews-Wilson
Dodo – Grisette at Maxim’s Annie Whittaker
Jou-Jou – Grisette at Maxim’s Jenny Dimmock
Frou-Frou – Grisette at Maxim’s Louise Imray
Clo-Clo – Grisette at Maxim’s Julia Cranmer
Margot – Grisette at Maxim’s Sue Jones
Chorus
Sheila Baxter, Dorothy Bessant, Doreen Blake, Bill Cranmer, John Dimmock, Tony Dunne, Judy Greenwood, Janet Hayhoe, Mike Hayhoe, Chris Long, Maggie Lowe, Derek Northeast, Carol Spencer, Molly West.
Production
Staging — Jill Morgan
Musical direction — John Lawes
Script and narration — Jeff Trim
Pianist — Anton Gwilt
Persussion — Paul Netherton
Rehearsal pianists — Len David and David Harrison
Lighting design, rigging and operation — Kim Hollamby
Programme — Barrie Seaman
Acknowledgements
Dorothy Bessant, Judy Greenwood and Linnea Vaughan for their continuing help behind the scenes.
The Staff at the Oakwood Centre.
Gallery
Click on the images to see a larger version.
