or the Town of Titipu

THE OPERA COMIQUE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN FESTIVAL

30 SEPTEMBER — 5 OCTOBER 2013

or the Town of Titipupresented by

FAREHAM MUSICAL SOCIETY MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2013

Fareham Musical Society was founded in 1983 by Betty Richards, who had a dream that Fareham might one day have its own musical theatre company performing in the town at Ferneham Hall. That dream came true in 1986, when the first show was performed at the venue. Over the years, the shows have received many nominations and awards in the Daily Echo Curtain Call Awards and Accolades of Excellence from the National Operatic and Dramatic Association.

The company now has more than 80 members and is always seeking new people to join, be that as a performer or in a support capacity.

Opera Comique is co-ordinating this Festival and is a charitable trust that in its 37 years existence has raised many thousands of pounds for good causes performing Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

A comic opera in two acts. There will be a twenty minute interval between acts.

The bar will be open during the interval

ACT 1 Courtyard of Ko-Ko’s Official Residence

ACT 2 Ko-Ko’s Garden

This performance is based on the production recently performed at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall. It will be staged with costumes and props, but without scenery and with a small band.

CAST

The Mikado of Japan Tom Vale

Nanki-Poo (his Son, disguised as a wandering minstrel,

and in love with Yum-Yum) Stuart Frank

Ko-Ko (Lord High Executioner of Titipu) Jonathan Redwood

Pooh-Bah (Lord High Everything Else) Lewis Wilmott

Pish-Tush (a Noble Lord) Alex Howat

Three Sisters - Wards of Ko-Ko:

Yum-Yum Sarah Tully

Pitti-Sing Sarah Burrell

Peep-Bo Molly Lancaster

Katisha (and elderly lady in love with Nanki-Poo) Mary-Rose Finden

Ladies of Japan

Caroline Balcom, Alison Dea, Caroline Gregg,Yvonne Lister, Bronwyn Mason,

Nicola Matthews, Karen Redwood, Lucy Revis, Elaine Rogers,

Jennie Sharland, Claire Shergill, Ann Dent Smith, Sarah Tappenden,

Sophie Woodward.

GENTLEMEN OF JAPAN

David Bennett, Gareth Billington, Paul Catcheside, Graeme Clements,

Alan Finden, Dennis Mason, Richard Smith, Matthew Swann, Tom Vale.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Direction and choreography by Julie Brombley

Assisted by Jennie Sharland

Musical Director Dennis Brombley

Stage Director Laurie Kent

Lighting Director Ron Hone

MUSICIANS



or The King of Barataria

PRESENTED BY HAVANT LIGHT OPERA TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER 2013

Havant Light Opera was founded in 1978 by a team of Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts and continues to flourish, specialising in the works of Gilbert and Sullivan. The society performs two stage productions a year at The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in Havant. The summer production in June or July is usually a Gilbert & Sullivan opera, and the December production is a concert or show with a seasonal flavour. They very much welcome new members and rehearse on Mondays at 7.30pm in The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre.




ACT 1 The Piazetta, Venice - Date 1750

ACT 2 A pavilion in the court of Barataria - Three months later

CAST

The Duke of Plaza-Toro (a Grandee of Spain) Paul Jerome

Luiz (his attendant) Simon Cooksey

Don Alhambra del Bolero (the Grand Inquisitor) John Butt

Gondoliers:

Marco Palmieri Bryan Oldaker

Giuseppe Palmieri Mike Powell

Antonio Ken Hick

Francesco Kevin Bunting

Giorgio Stuart Hales

The Duchess of Plaza-Toro Denise Baugh

Casilda (her daughter) Jane Marett

Contadine:

Gianetta Bridget Munday

Tessa Irene Kent

Vittoria Jeannette McDonald-Miller

Inez (the King’s foster-mother) Dorothy Collard

Chorus of Gondoliers and Contandine, Men-at-arms, Heralds and Pages:

Jenny Brenchley, Katherine Chapman, Loretta Chapman, Pam Hack, Dorothy

Collard, Jean Hick, Alice Judge, Elizabeth Peacock, Amanda Lunt, Mary

Tunnell. Paul Baugh, Philip Brenchley, Simon Cooksey, Roger Jones,

Geoffrey Marsh, Roger May, Keith McDonald-Miller, Mike Whittle.

Producer Cathy Hales

Musical Director Kevin Sivyer

Accompanist Nigel Smith



Scenery Brian Oldaker

Gloria Leggett

Costumes Cathy Hales

Jeannette McDonald-Miller



or Bunthorne’s Bride

Presented by

WINCHESTER OPERATIC SOCIETY THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER 2013

Winchester Operatic Society is just entering its 101st year and has chosen a semi-staged concert style version of Patience for the Festival. The full production will be performed at the Theatre Royal Winchester from 12 — 16th November. With well-known principal names such as Peter Barber playing the Colonel and Max Bullough playing Bunthorne this promises to be a fun evening. Patience will be played this evening and in the full production by Alison Bradley, the award winning ‘Merry Widow’ from the WOS centenary production in 2012.




ACT 1 Exterior of Castle Bunthorne

ACT 2 A Glade

CAST

Officers of the Dragoon Guards:-

Colonel Calverley Peter Barber

Major Murgatroyd Mike Palette

Lieutenant the Duke of Dunstable Dan Hickson

Reginald Bunthorne (a fleshly poet) Max Bullough

Archibald Grosvenor (an idyllic poet) Adrian Hickford

Patience (a dairy maid) Alison Bradley

Rapturous Maidens:-

The Lady Angela Lucy Whiteman

The Lady Saphir Anne Croudass

The Lady Ella Claire Smith

The Lady Jane Katie Hickson

Chorus—a Band of Rapturous Maidens and Officers of Dragoon Guards—i.e

the usual suspects from the merry band of Winchester Operatic Society.

Director

Musical Director

Accompanist



Pocket G&S are an innovative theatre group based in the South of England.

Assembled from hand picked local talent the group has raised over £1,000 for local

charities. Previous productions have been Iolanthe, The Sorcerer, Utopia Limited

and The Pirates of Penzance which was performed at The International Gilbert and

Sullivan Festival in Buxton. We will be staging tonight’s Trial by Jury accompanied

by The Zoo at The Hanger Farm Arts Centre from October 31st to November 2

nd,

tickets available from 02380 667274. Next season plans are in place for an original

take on The Yeomen of the Guard! Pocket G&S are very excited to appearing in

the inaugural Opera Comique Gilbert and Sullivan Festival! Visit

www.pockettheatre.co.uk to find out more.

Southampton Operatic Society is the oldest musical society in the City and is

very proud of the many years of entertainment and pleasure given to both

audiences and its participating members alike, and of its position at the forefront of

the theatrical life of Southampton over the past 80 years. The very first production

was in 1924.

The Society performs a wide variety of shows from grand opera right through to

Gilbert & Sullivan and modern musicals. There is also a concert group which is

available to provide high quality, entertaining concert performances. Acting

membership is open to anyone who passes an audition but the Society is always

looking for non-acting members to assist with our all-important offstage activities.

Visit www.sotonopera.org to find out more.

Opera Comique is co-ordinating this Festival and is a charitable trust that in its 37

years existence has raised many thousands of pounds for good causes performing

Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Visit www.operacomique.org.uk to find out more.



presented by

SOUTHAMPTON OPERATIC SOCIETY FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER 2013

There will be a twenty minute interval after Trial by Jury


Trial by Jury will be staged with scenery, costumes and keyboard accompaniment. H.M.S. Pinafore will be semi-staged with costumes and keyboard accompaniment

and is set on Quarter deck of H.M.S. Pinafore, off Portsmouth

ACT 1 Noon ACT 2 Night

presented by

POCKET G & S and

or the Lass that Loved a Sailor

TRIAL BY JURY

CAST

The Learned Judge Mark Ponsford

The Plaintiff Lisa Axworthy

The Defendant Owen Perring

The Council Chris Evans

The Usher Adrian Hickford

The Foreman Michael Cooper

The Bride’s Mother Anne Croudass

First Bridesmaid Lucy Whiteman

Second Bridesmaid Vicky Dodimead

Third Bridesmaid Louise Hodson

The Other Woman Katherine Evans

Joe Public David Tatnall

John Public Dave Turner

Jim Public Shaun Dodimead

Production Team (for Pocket G&S)

Director David Tatnall

Musical Director Keziah Jacombs

Choreographer Louise Hodson

Stage Manager Dan Wilson

Wardrobe Sue Tatnall

Lighting Design Shaun Dodimead

Stage Manager (Opera Comique) Laurie Kent

Lighting Director (Opera Comique) Ron Hone

HMS PINAFORE

CAST

The Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Porter,KCB Matt Sturgeon

(First Lord of the Admiralty)

Captain Corcoran (Commanding HMS Pinafore) Mike Pavitt

Ralph Rackstraw (Able Seaman) Matthew Harris

Dick Deadeye (Able Seaman) Richard Patient

Bill Bobstay (Boatswain’s Mate) Jonathan Fulcher

Bob Becket (Carpenter’s Mate) Mark Allen

Tom Tucker (Midshipmite) Dominic Sly

Josephine (the Captain’s Daughter) Katherine Evans

Hebe (Sir Joseph’s first cousin) April Luescher

Mrs Cripps (Little Buttercup) Abigail Miller

(a Portsmouth Bumboat woman)

Jessie the Cat Amelia Sly

Cousin Celerity Sarah Fulcher

Great Aunt Maud Brian Quantrill

First Lord’s Sisters, his Cousins, his Aunts, Sailors, Marines etc.:

Mike Allum, Philip Bailey, Tracey Day, Jo Barnard, Hilary Green, Elizabeth Hill, Peter Hill, Clare Hogger, Katie Lewis, Megan McGrath, Clare Minns, Alan Morgan, Terry O'Farrell, Natasha Palmer, Les Pike, Viki Patterson, Matthew Pike, Ellie Robinson, Pauline Shorney, Ellen Sly, Jason Sly, Natalie Thorn, Amanda Ward, Carole Westbrook, Joseph Wright

Production Team (for Southampton Operatic Society)

Director Sarah Fulcher

Musical Director Alison Vincent

Accompanist Paul Spanton

Stage Manager Angie Barks

Lighting and Sound Tony Lawther

Wardrobe Jan Sly Penny Hawkesworth Maureen Street Stage Manager (Opera Comique) Laurie Kent

Lighting Director (Opera Comique) Ron Hone



presented by

Roger and Rosemary Wild SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2013 6PM—7PM

Roger and Rosemary Wild: Our speaker Roger Wild lives locally in

Fordingbridge, and has just retired as a Pharmacist from Boots the Chemists after

50 years service. He met his wife Rosemary when they were students at

Portsmouth College of Technology, and both sang for some years with Opera

Comique and other groups. His talents as a singer still remain mercifully

undiscovered, but their enthusiasm for all things Gilbert and Sullivan has

blossomed into a large collection of music and recordings, both modern and

vintage, and many records in the collection have been transferred to commercially

available CDs. He is an enthusiastic member of the Sir Arthur Sullivan Society, and

has given many talks to them and other groups over the years.

Opera Comique is co-ordinating this Festival and is a charitable trust that in its 37

years existence has raised many thousands of pounds for good causes performing

Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Nigel Smith is Opera Comique’s accompanist.

With Nigel Smith at the piano, and a volunteer poetry reader!

The teaser ….

Tonight we shall hear from “The Yeomen of the Guard” items:-

(a) written by Gilbert, not set to music by Sullivan;

(b) written by Gilbert, set by Sullivan, dropped during the rehearsal period;

(c) written by Gilbert, set by Sullivan but cut out of the opera at the very final

rehearsal;

(d) written by Gilbert, set by Sullivan and performed on the opening night only;

(e) written by Gilbert, set by Sullivan but now performed in a revised setting as

Sullivan was unhappy with his first attempt;

(f) an orchestral playout that was found to be unsatisfactory and changed at the

last moment (this has not been given a piano airing since 1888!)

In addition, we shall mull over Sullivan’s method of composition and hear his

rhythmical tryouts, listen to Gilbert’s poetry that became Phoebe’s song “Were I thy

bride”, and in Strictly Gilbert and Strictly Sullivan, look exactly at each partner’s input

into a song.

Finally, a surprise item which depends purely by chance on today being an exact

anniversary of a ground breaking event on October 5th, 1888. Can you guess what?

Roger, Rosemary and Nigel hope you enjoy this hour’s selection of live and recorded

rare, forgotten and unusual items from the Savoy Opera that is unique in having a

sombre ending — ”The Yeomen of the Guard”.

The Yeomen Fact File…..

First performance Thursday 3rd October 1888

Original run at The Savoy Theatre, London, 423 performances

11th opera in the series of 14 operas by Gilbert and Sullivan

Subtitled “The Merryman and his Maid”

Recorded in 1907 (twice, neither fully complete), 1920, 1929. 1931 (abridged),

1950. 1957, 1964, 1979, 1993 (twice) and 1995

Gilbert allegedly had the original idea after seeing a poster for “”The Tower

Furnishing Co” showing a Yeoman Warder, whilst waiting for a train on Uxbridge Station.

Earlier tryout titles for the opera included “The Beefeaters” and “The Tower

Warden”

Sir Richard Cholmondeley was in charge of the Tower of London during Henry

VIII’s reign, and is thus the only real person to appear in the Savoy operas.

Both Gilbert and Sullivan counted the opera as their favourite collaboration.



or The Statutory Duel

PRESENTED BY CHRISTCHURCH

GILBERT AND SULLIVAN SOCIETY

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2013 2P.M.

Christchurch G and S was formed in 1984 by Nigel Finch. The Company is

about 40 strong and has performed every September since 1984 and has

performed nearly all of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. They performed Grand

Duke at the Regent Centre, Christchurch in late September 2013. This production

is fully staged and costumed with orchestra.




ACT 1 Public Square of Speisesaal– 1750

ACT 2 Hall in the Grand Ducal Palace

CAST

RUDOLPH (Grand Duke of Pfennig Halbpfennig) Brian Morgan

ERNEST DUMMKOPF (a Theatrical Manager) Brian Oliver

LUDWIG (his Leading Comedian) Mark Ward

DR. TANNHÄUSER (a Notary) Nigel Finch

THE PRINCE OF MONTE CARLO Shaun Dodimead

VISCOUNT MENTONE TBA

BEN HASHBAZ (a Costumier) Christopher Root

HERALD Jason Sly

PRINCESS OF MONTE CARLO Ellen Sly

(betrothed to RUDOLPH)

BARONESS VON KRAKENFELDT Christine Eastwood

(betrothed to RUDOLPH)

JULIA JELLICOE (an English Comédienne) Cora Hardy

LISA (a Soubrette) Jane Sykes

Members of Ernest Dummkopf’s Company:

OLGA Jan French

GRETCHEN Catherine Leech

BERTHA Viki Patterson

ELSA Marion Taylor

Producer and Musical Director Nigel Finch





or The Merryman and his Maid presented by

OPERA COMIQUE SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER 2013 7.30PM

Opera Comique is a charitable trust and has raised many thousands of pounds since it was formed in 1976. Opera Comique's personnel are all experienced Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts drawn from a wide area of the South of England and perform together several times each year.

Concerts have been given in many venues in Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset, including Portsmouth Guildhall and Portchester and Southsea Castles. HMS Pinafore and the Pirates of Penzance have been performed on board HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and TS Foudroyant. Overseas tours have taken Opera Comique to Duisburg in Germany, Rauma in Finland, New England USA and Venice - where the Gondoliers has been performed. The Trustees of Opera Comique are Kevin Sivyer (Director), David Francis, Laurie Kent and Nigel Smith. Ken Hick is the Honorary President.

This production will include narration and costumed principals with keyboard accompaniment.


The bar will be open in the interval and after the show.

ACT 1 Tower Green - 16th Century

ACT 2 Tower Green, 2 days later, moonlight

CAST

Sir Richard Cholmondeley (Lieutenant of the Tower) John Butt

Colonel Fairfax (under sentence of death) Simon Cooksey

Sergeant Meryll (of the Yeomen of the Guard) Peter Roper

Leonard Meryll (his Son) Paul Jerome

Jack Point (a Strolling Jester) David Francis

Wilfred Shadbolt (Head Jailer and Assistant John Warner Tormentor)

Yeomen Guards Mike Sylvester

Nolan Chandler

Ken Hick

Paul Baugh

Keith Fry

Stuart Hales

Elsie Maynard (a Strolling Singer) Amanda Crehan

Phoebe Meryll (Sergeant Meryll’s Daughter) Irene Kent

Dame Carruthers (Housekeeper to the Tower) Penny Bullough

Kate (her Niece) Denise Baugh

Narrator Max Bullough

Chorus of Yeomen of the Guard, Gentlemen, Citizens etc.:

Opera Comique chorus supplemented by other societies performing at the

Festival.

Artistic Director Kevin Sivyer

Accompanist Nigel Smith



or the Town of Titipu

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