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Transcribed and Presented by Greville Watson, 2014

Rushden Operatic Society

'Pink Champagne' - 1968




"PINK CHAMPAGNE"

Entire Production and Choreography
under the Direction of
John Henderson, M.B.E.

Music under the Direction of
Oswald L. Lawrence, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M.



Music by Johann Strauss


Adapted by Eric Maschwitz and Bernard Grun



By arrangement with
Samuel French Limited


The President's Message

Once again it is time to ring up the curtain on our Spring Production and it is my pleasure to write a short message for inclusion in the programme covering “Pink Champagne.”

I can assure our Patrons that the Society has every confidence that this will again prove a happy and attractive Show, to add to the long line of very successful productions of the past 21 years.  As President, I have every confidence that with the continued loyalty and enthusiasm of our members, under the able and professional direction of our Producer, Mr John Henderson, this will prove yet another vintage year in the history of our Society.

As in the past, we shall strive not only to give our Patrons another first class Show, but by their patronage, coupled with the excellent financial and loyal support of our Vice-Presidents, we hope once again to fulfil the Society’s sincere desire to make a generous sum available for the support of our local charities.

The Society will always welcome applications from anyone interested in joining.  Applications should be made to the Secretary, 135 High Street, Rushden.

My personal thanks and appreciation to all concerned.

W. J. A. Peck
President


Chairman's Message

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the members of the Society for the single honour they have accorded me through my election as Chairman, and you our patrons for your continued support.

Since 1947 when we started with “Blossom Time”, we have had many successes, and many fine producers.  I recommend “Pink Champagne” to you as “one of our best”; the members of the company have voted our producer this year as “one of the best”.

John Henderson, MBE, our new producer has a wide and varied experience of the Theatre; he became a professional actor and worked with Repertory Companies until the outbreak of War.

A long spell with ENSA followed, and in 1946 he accepted an appointment in Uganda, and whilst there produced a pageant with a cast of nine hundred.

He was awarded the Coronation Medal for writing and producing the first inter-racial revue in Africa for the Coronation celebrations and in 1961 the MBE for his services to the Theatre.

He has produced all kinds of shows, Shakespeare, Shaw, Ibsen, Gilbert and Sullivan, Pantomime Revues, Opera and Farce.

Since he returned to this country he has done much TV, Theatre and Film work; his last film was Stranger in the House, with James Mason and Geraldine Chaplin.  He has appeared in Z Cars, Emergency Ward 10, Dr Finlay’s Casebook, Dixon of Dock Green, Gideon’s Way, Cross Roads, The Likely Lads etc.

With a record such as this, is it any wonder that he has been asked, and we are all delighted that he has accepted, to produce our next show, which was such an artistic success when we produced it in 1950 – “The Vagabond King”.

See you all again then.

Bernard Palmer

John Henderson, Pink Champagne, 1968
John Henderson
whom we are delighted to welcome as our Producer.
We look forward to a most successful Show under his able direction.

Oswald Lawrence, Pink Champagne, 1968
Oswald Lawrence
who now completes twenty two years' distinguished service
as our
Musical Director.

Carolyn Abbott, Pink Champagne, 1968
Carolyn Abbott
to whom we extend
our very
Best Wishes
on becoming our
Dancing Mistress.

"Pink Champagne" Story of the Play

One night, in gay pleasure-loving Vienna, Gabriel Eisenstein pushes his friend Falke, who is dressed up as a bat, into a public fountain.  For this disturbance he is condemned to eight days in the public prison.  Rosalinda, Gabriel’s pretty wife, is most indignant, especially as he is due to report to the prison on the eve of their wedding anniversary and to pay him out she invites an over-ardent admirer, Alfred, an opera singer, to take his place at their celebration supper.  Falke has apparently forgiven Gabriel and has offered him an invitation to Prince Orlovsky’s pink champagne party, at the same time persuading him to delay going to gaol until the next morning.  When Gabriel does not surrender himself to the law, the prison Governor brings his men to arrest him: and they arrest of course the man who is having an intimate supper in Gabriel’s dressing-gown with Gabriel’s wife – Alfred.  But Falke’s revenge has only just begun, and later in the evening there appear at the champagne party, through his influence, and unknown to each other, Gabriel, Rosalinda, the prison Governor and Rosalinda’s maid Adele who is playing truant and has borrowed one of her mistress’s gowns.  Rosalina is furious at the sight of Gabriel flirting with her maid in the belief that she is a girl from the ballet – though he did find the likeness to Adele disconcerting at first.  Falke discourages Rosalinda from making a scene and suggests instead that she offers herself as a subject of flirtation and tries to win from Gabriel the chiming watch with which he is enchanting the other ladies.  Next morning in the prison there is considerable confusion: Adele looks in to see Gabriel and finds Alfred, hoping to stop him from mentioning her escapade to the mistress; Gabriel tries to get himself arrested, only to find that there is already an Eisenstein in the cells; and Rosalinda arrives to get Alfred released before Gabriel can hear about their intimate supper party.  Naturally everybody discovers everybody else’s duplicity in the events of the previous night, but with the arrival of Falke they see that it was part of his revenge for a wetting to set them all at loggerheads, and they forgive each other.  And Gabriel is even saved from gaol – for Falke had invited the Governor of the prison to the pink champagne party where he found him masquerading as a French chevalier.


The Orchestra
under the direction of
Oswald L. Lawrence, LRAM, ARCM

Violins


Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
"
Trumpets
"
Trombone
Percussion
Piano

Tina Faulkner, (Leader)
Yvonne Bowness
Elsie Bridges
Kara Hall
Cecil Cook
Ernest Allen
A. Garland
Chris Smith
Jeff Hornsey
Bob Outhwaite
Tom Metcalf
Michael Chamberlain
E. Brown
J. Smith
Joan Hart



Officers of the Society
Chairman: Bernard Palmer
Treasurer: Allen Goulsbra Musical Director:
Oswald L. Lawrence, LRAM, ARCM
Secretary: Roland A. Evans Asst. Musical Director: Joan Hart, ALCM
Joint Secretary: Janet Penn Auditors: Messrs. Hopps and Bankart

Committee:
Peter Carpenter
W. A. Clarke
Clive Durrant
Cicely Langley
Philip Maddams
George Mitchell
W. J. Monck
E. Wadsworth

Production Team
Producer:
Accompanists:
Dancing Mistress:
Prompter:
Call Boys:
Perruquier:
Make-up Assistants:
Chief Steward:
Costumes by:
Scenery by:
Additional Lighting by:
John Henderson, MBE
Joan Hart and Pauline Longland
Carolyn Abbott, ANATD
Renee Welsford
Ann Brown and Susan Dupont
Mrs. Jules Marten
Jenny Moran and David Edwards
Edward Wadsworth
Charles H. Fox Limited
Scenic Display Services Limited
Strand Electric
Stage Manager:
Deputy Stage Manager:
Wardrobe Mistress
Assisted by:

Property:
Assisted by:

Electricians:
Pat Catlin
Len Gomm
Nellie Hart
Ena Carpenter, Peggy Coles, Nancy Eady, Lily Keech, Susan Keech, Dorothy Lawrence, Ivy Willis.
Peggy Hobson and Stuart Mitchell
Melvyn Carpenter, David Evans, Susan Field, Bettina Goulsbra, Robert Hulbert.
Robert Bass, Phillip Hall, Arthur Holloman, Ann Knighton, David Knighton (amplification), Peter Sturgess, Bob Tysoe, Malcolm York.

Gillian Brown, Pink Champagne, 1968
Gillian Brown
(Rosalinda)

Keith Green, Pink Champagne, 1968
Keith Green
(Alfred)

Peter Carpenter, Pink Champagne, 1968
Peter Carpenter
(Gabriel)

Angela Hobbs, Pink Champagne, 1968
Angela Hobbs
(Adele)

Phillip Maddams, Pink Champagne, 1968
Phillip Maddams
(Dr. Falke)

Don Fulcher, Pink Champagne, 1968
Don Fulcher
(Frank)

Cast
Mitzi, A Young Maidservant
Adele, Personal Maid to Rosalinda
Ida, Dancer, Sister to Adele
Lea, Dancer, Friend of Ida
Lilli, Dancer, Friend of Ida
Rosalinda, A Viennese Beauty
Gabriel Eisenstein, Her Husband
Alfred, An Admirer of Rosalinda
Dr. Falke, A Friend of Gabriel
Dr. Blind, Gabriel's Lawyer
Frau Trauber, Proprietress of a
Coffee House
Frank, Governor of the City Gaol
Frosch, Chief Warder
Prince Orlovsky, A Russian Millionaire
Ivan, Orlovsky's Servant
Holtzapfel, Assistant to Frosch
Waiters

Janet Penn
Angela Hobbs
Susan Horne
Maureen Morris
Mary Painter
Gillian Brown
Peter Carpenter
Keith Green
Phillip Maddams
Colin Sly
Phyllis Clarke

Don Fulcher
George Mitchell
Robert Hart
Allen Goulsbra
Clive Durrant
( Scott Sanderson
( Richard Newcombe

Men and Maidservants, Townspeople, Guests at the Ball,
Footmen, Ballet Dancers, Warders, etc.
Synopsis of Scenes
ACT I
Scene 1.
Scene 2.
Scene 3.

The Eisenstein apartment. Morning.
The Cafe Trauber. Early evening.
The Eisenstein apartment. Late evening.

ACT II


The Orlovsky Palace, 2 a.m.

ACT III


An ante-room in the City Gaol. At dawn.



Synopsis of Musical Numbers
ACT I
Bird of Beauty
What a Ball!

Reprise: What a Night!
Melos: Entrance of Alfred
Springtime in Vienna
Melos: Return of Gabriel
Go to Law and go to Ruin
Reprise: What a Ball!
Reprise: Springtime in Vienna
To You I raise a Glass of Wine
Scene Change
Poor Lonely Wife
Melos:
First Finale


(a)
(b)
(c)

Take a glass of sparkling wine
Although we're Minions of the Law
If late one Ev'ning you should see

Alfred and Chorus
Adele, Ida, Lea, Lilli, Mitzi, Chorus
and Ballet
Rosalinda and Adele

Rosalinda, Chorus and Ballet

Rosalinda, Gabriel and Blind
Gabriel and Falke
Mitzi and Chorus
Alfred, Trauber and Chorus

Rosalinda, Gabriel and Adele

Rosalina, Alfred, Frank, Frosch
and Chorus
ACT II
Opening
Chacun a son Gout

It really is Amusing

Lilt of Gypsy Music
Scene Change
Le Polka de Paree

I'm in Heaven
Second Finale



(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Pink Champagne
Brother Mine
Blue Danube Ballet
Oh, what a Night!

Chorus
Orlovsky, Adele, Ida, Lilli, Lea
and Chorus
Orlovsky, Falke, Adele, Gabriel
and Chorus
Rosalinda, Chorus and Ballet

Gabriel, Frank, Adele, Ida, Lea
and Lilli
Gabriel and Rosalinda
Falke, Orlovsky, Frank, Gabriel,
Rosalinda, Adele, Chorus and
Ballet
ACT III
Opening
Melos: Exit of Warders
Melos: Return of Frank
Perpetuum Mobile
First for the Coy Village Charmer
In this Situation
Third Finale
Finale Ultimo: Reprise: Springtime in
Vienna

Alfred and Warders

Frank
Frank and Ballet
Adele, Ida, Lilli, Lea and Frosch
Rosalinda, Alfred and Gabriel
The Company
Rosalinda, Gabriel and Company

Robert Hart, Pink Champagne, 1968
Robert Hart
(Prince Orlovsky)

Susan Horne, Pink Champagne, 1968
Susan Horne
(Ida)

Colin Sly, Pink Champagne, 1968
Colin Sly
(Dr. Blind)

Janet Penn, Pink Champagne, 1968
Janet Penn
(Mitzi)

George Mitchell, Pink Champagne, 1968
George Mitchell
(Frosch)

Phyllis Clarke, Pink Champagne, 1968
Phyllis Clarke
(Frau Trauber)

Clive Durrant,  Pink Champagne, 1968
Clive Durrant
(Holtzapfel)

Maureen Morris, Pink Champagne, 1968
Maureen Morris
(Lea)

Allen Goulsbra, Pink Champagne, 1968
Allen Goulsbra
(Ivan)

Mary Painter, Pink Champagne, 1968
Mary Painter
(Lilli)

Ladies Chorus, Pink Champagne, 1968
Ladies of the Chorus

Back row (L to R):  Jennifer Burt, Joan Vaughan, Jeannette King,
Judith Walker, Jane Garley, Jeanette Bowler, Margaret Coleman,
Ursula Marks, Mary Quartermaine, Anita George.

Centre row:  Caroline Hulbert, Dorothy Head, Christine Carter,
Rose Drage, Kathleen Adams, Margaret Ambury, Janet Mould.

Front row:  Miriam Joyce, Josephine Sharpe, Elizabeth Lusk,
Pam Fulcher, Josephine Horgan, Lynne Elmore, Connie Holt.


Gentlemen of the Chorus

Back row (L to R):  Michael Walker, John Gudgeons, Philip Smith, Malcolm Colmer, William Ainge.

Front row:  Reg Hirons, Neville Clipstone, Karl Zaremba,
Harold Hulbert, Danny Davies, Martin Jackson.


The Dancers, Pink Champagne, 1968
The Dancers
Julie Fisher, Catherine Carpenter, Carolyn Abbott, Jenny Porter
Helen Gent, Margaret Payne

Acknowledgments
The Committee and members of the Society wish to offer their very sincere thanks to the following whose assistgance and co-operation have made this production possible:-

The President and Vice-Presidents for their continued interest and support.
The Northamptonshire Education Committee (Mr. G. E. Churchill, MA, Chief Education Officer) and Mr. W. J. Monck, Head of the Rushden Evening Institute who has given every help in the arrangement of rehearsals.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Goulsbra to whom we are once again greatly indebted for undertaking the arduous task of making the booking arrangements.
Miss M. Boys and Mr. H. W. Catlin, the Heads of Rushden Secondary Schools and the Managers of South End Junior School for their assistance with Rehearsal rooms. Also the Caretakers, Mr. Wright, Mr. Howard and Mr. Bing for their help.
Mr. John Craddock for his assistance in preparing properties.
Robert Marriott Ltd. for the loan of a Caravan.
The local traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme, all of whom would be grateful for the support of our Patrons.
The Stewards and Programme Sellers.
Mr. Alan Brown, Mr. Knighton and all the Staff of the Ritz, Rushden, for their continued assistance.
The Stage Staff and all others who have worked behind the Scenes, each one of whom has contributed so much to the success of this Production.
Everyone who has assisted the Society in presenting "Pink Champagne" whether or not mentioned in these pages.

Stewards:
(Under the Direction of E. Wadsworth)

J Barker, A Binder, E Clark, W Clarke, P Cuthbeth, L Darnell, A Frost, A Gibbs, S Godfrey, P W House, H V Ingram, M Knight, I Lawrence, W D Perkins,
D Reeves, E A Strickland.



Programme Sellers:
(Arrangements by Rose Frost)

Audrey Annies, Helen Fathers, Frances Gore, Gwen Hardwick, Hilda House, Irene Warr.



1969 Production
We hope to present THE VAGABOND KING at the Ritz, Rushden during the week commending 28th April, 1969.

Please note the date.


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