13th to 20th May 2000
Eve - 7.30pm
Mat 20th May - 2.30pm
Book and Lyris by L Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber
Book revised by Stephen Fry Music by Noel Gay
Contributions to revisions by Mike Ockrent
Originally produced at the Adelphi Theatre, London by Richard Armitage. Subsequently produced at the Marquis Theatre, New York City, by Richard Armitage, Terry Allen Kramer, James N Nederlander and Stage Promotions Ltd & co.
Background
It's 1937 and the Earl of Hareford has died leaving no apparent heir. The family members have gathered, eagerly wating to hear how the estate will be split. However the family solicitor, Parchester, announces that he has tracked dwon an heir to both the family fortune and the family seat of Hareford Hall. The unlikely beneficiary is one Bill Snibson, a barrow boy from Lambeth.
Maria, the Duchess of Dene, decides to turm Bill into a gentlemen worthy of the Hareford name, despite the advice of Sir John Tremayne to simply pay him off. She tries to get him to marry Lady Jacqueline, who is so eager for money and the title, that she breaks off her engagement to to Hon, Gerald Bolingbroke. Despite Lady Jacqueline's advances, Bill is determined to marry his sweetheart from Lambeth, Sally Smith.
Sally does not want to ruin Bill's chances and tries to convince Bill that he is too good for her, despite loving him deeply. She even resors to gatecrashing his party with a group of raucous Lambeth locals. However, everyone joins in and does The Lambeth Walk.
Despite having won over Sir John, Sally decides to leave Hareford and return to Lambeth. After drowning their sorrows, Bill and Sir John hatch separate plans to bring her back. Bill travels to Lambeth to find her but returns 'empty' handed as Sir John has packed her off to a certain speech professor he knows!!
The Duchess decideds to throw another party but Bill is not in the mood. The Duchess begins to realise how much Sally means to him and, in a reflective mood, accepts Sir John's proposal of marriage. Jacqueline also recognises her folly and returns to Gerald. With the party in full swing, Sally makes a second, uninvited entrance and, displaying her new-found elegance, shows she is suitable wife for an Earl.
The Cast
Bill Snibson
Jason
Lazard
Sally Smith
Michelle
Harpur
Hareford Hall Family and Friends
Maria, Duchess or Dene
Barbara
Baker
Sir John Tremayne
Richard
Duncombe
Lady Jacqueline Carstone
Alison
Purcell
The Hon. Gerald Bolingbroke
Graham
Healing
Parchester (the Family Solicitor)
Gavin
Brookes
Lady Battersby
Elizabeth
Healing
Lord Battersby
Clive
Dancey
Sir Jasper Tring
Syd
Pearson
Guests
Lady Milton
Elizabeth
Brookes
Lord Milton
Gavin Cooke
Lady Brighton
Fiona Mitchell
Lord Brighton
Barry Bates
Lady Damming
Karen Emerson
Lord Damming
Steve
Clark
Sophia Stainsley-Asherton
Margaret Morton
Mrs Worthington-Worthington
Alison Statham
Lady French
Pauline Wright
The Honourable May Miles
Sally Dean
Lady Simnel
Pat Smith
Lady Smigh
Pat Mercer
Lady Diss
Brenda Richardson
Harefood Hall Staff
Charles
Howard
Stapleton
Cook
Linzi Cottrell
Footman
Harry Niland
Barmaid
Melanie Best
Manservant
Anton Perusko
Maid 1
Chloe Walker
Maid 2
Fiona McGory
Maid 3
Jenny Curtis
Maid 4
Karen Edmonds
Maid 5
Barbara Staneland
Cockneys
Mrs Brown
Samantha
Moylan-Heydt
Pearly King (Bob Barking)
Gavin Cooke
Pearly Queen (Babs Barking)
Elizabeth
Brookes
Constable
Steve
Clarke
Telegram Boy
Harry Niland
Cockney Girl
Joanna Grant
Cockney
Barbara Eaststaff
Cockney
Val Scott
Cockney
Christine Stewart
Cockney
Jacqueline Edmonds
Cockney
Helen Fletcher
Cockney
Helen Kiehl
Cockney
Marilyn Mason
Cockney
Linzi Cottrell
The Band
Reed 1
Lara Stringer
Reed 2
Robert Clarke
Reed 3
Mike James
Trumpet
Mark Chivers
Trombone
Paul Coveney
Keyboard
Ros Whatmore
Percussion
Peter Fisher
Production Team
Directors
Judith
Lovely Mike Simpson
Musical Director
Stuart
Pemberton
Chroeography
Allison
Coyne Mike Simpson
Chroeographer's Assistant
Becky Garratt
Lighting Designer
Martin Putman
Producers
Alison Statham Jackie Hall
Stage Manager
Mark Hammond
assisted by
the MKAOS Stage Crew
Lighting & Sound
Martin Putman
Lighting Designer
Martin Putman
assisted by
David Howard James Mason
Prompters
Beryl Argles Lisa Clausen
Properties
Dianna Moylan
assisted by
Natasha Bennett Judith Horsley
Continuity
Wardrobe Mistress
Joan Pennington
Costumes
Carousel Costumes (Leamington Spa)
Printing
City Print (Milton Keynes) Ltd.
Booking Office
Gill Coyne
Front of House Manager
Jean Ashby
Front of House Staff
Friends of MKAOS
Photographer
Robert Skears
Production Scenery designed and painted by
Ian Wilson
Scenery constructed and supplied by
Albermarle of London 74 Mortimer Street LONDON W1N 8HL Tel: 020 7631 0132 Fax: 020 7323 3074
Acknowledgements
Bletchley Community Centre The Management and Staff of Stantonbury Campus Theatre City Print (Milton Keynes) Ltd. 1st Night BMC Self Drive Festival Hire Stacey Hill Farm Museum (MK) Nite Lite Hire
