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Transcribed and Presented by Greville Watson, 2014

Rushden Operatic Society

'South Pacific' - 1987


Programme Cover, South Pacific 1987

RUSHDEN AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY
present

SOUTH PACIFIC

(By arrangement with Chappell Music Ltd.)

Music by RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2nd

Adapted from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel
"TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC"

Directed by
Laura Betty Howkins
Choreographed by
Christine Norman


Janet Welsh LRAM, LTCL, ATCL, ALCM
Musical Director


THE RITZ
RUSHDEN

October 19th, 21st, 23rd
Nightly 7.30 p.m.
Saturday Matinee
October 24th, 2.30 p.m.


Laura Betty Howkins
Laura Betty Howkins, South Pacific 1987
The headline of Betty Howkin’s latest production in the U.S.A. read “The perfect Musical” and she, herself, feels that production of “Camelot” was one of the best she has ever presented.

Mrs Howkins has produced most of the modern musicals – some like “Fiddler” and “My Fair Lady” five or six times.  She has also produced many of the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas in the course of her long career, when, after training as an actress she went to the United States after the war where she started her directorial career, training at Antioch College in Ohio and then doing graduate work at Oxford on her return to England.

Her work has taken her all over the United Kingdom, from Yorkshire to Cornwall and the Isle of Man, and especially with NODA groups around her home in Oxford.  She will shortly be starting her twentieth production for Abingdon with “Sweet Charity”.

She feels her production of “South Pacific” for Rushden should be a very successful and enjoyable one, as she says she has a great cast of principals and an enthusiastic chorus.

From the President

And so Rushden Amateur Operatic Society starts the next 40 years – and how better than with such an established favourite as “South Pacific”.  In welcoming you and thanking you for your continued support I do not think I am being presumptious in saying – “You are in for a most enjoyable evening.”

This 41st year is also noteworthy as it sees Mrs Chris Carter, a founder member of the Society as Chairman.  Her long experience both on stage and committee will I know ensure a sound future for the R.O.A.S.  Good luck to you Chris – to you the cast and back stage staff and you the audience.  Enjoy yourselves.

Bert Catlin
President


From the Chairman

Once more we ring up the curtain on another show, this year we present for your enjoyment Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific”.  I feel sure that the lovely melodies will be enjoyed this year as they were in our 1970 production.

We welcome for the first time Mrs Laura Betty Howkins as Director and Mrs Christine Norman as Choreographer, and thank them for their hard work and hope they have enjoyed working with us.

On behalf of the Society I tender my thanks to all our patrons for their support.

To the company my sincere thanks to all who have played a part in whatever capacity in the presentation of this production.

Chris Carter
Chairman


The Orchestra
Under the direction of Janet Welsh
LRAM, LTCL, ATCL, ALCM

Janet Welsh, Operatic Society
Janet Welsh
our Musical Director

Peter Cox
Roy Smith
Colin Bell
John Bridge
Roy Holliday
Margaret Neal
Bass
Reeds
Trumpet
Trombone
Percussion
Piano

Orchestral Arrangements by
Maurice Merry


South Pacific

On a South Sea island – occupied by Americans – during World War II, Nellie Forbush, a young Navy nurse from Little Rock Arkansas, meets and falls in love with Emile de Beque a very charming middle aged French plantation owner, who has lived on the island for 25 years.

Also stationed on the island are a group of Sailors, Seabees and Marines, who sing about “Bloody Mary” the local Tonkenese trader in everything from grass skirts to shrunken heads!

Lieutenant Cable, a very handsome marine arrives on the island and Bloody Mary describes the mystics of the island of Bali Ha’i.  He is intrigued, but must fulfill his assignment – persuades Emile de Beque to accompany him on a dangerous mission.  The plantation owner refuses because of his love for Nellie.

Without a mission, Cable takes a boat to Bali Ha’i, there Bloody Mary introduces him to her beautiful daughter Liat – Cable falls in love.

Emile invites Nellie to dinner and she discovers he has two half-Polynesian children.  Their mother, now dead, was a native woman.  This upsets Nellie and her upbringing will not let her now marry Emile.  She explains, but Emile disagrees.

Cable too has problems and says he cannot marry Liat.

Time passes, Emile and Cable go on their mission, successful for a time – then no word.  Love can be both cruel and kind . . . .


Officers of the Society
Chairman:
Christine Carter Stage Manager: Len Gomm
Vice-Chairman: Peter Carpenter Publicity & Press Officer: Mary Boyfield
Treasurer: Margaret Hunter Box Office: Bert Catlin
Secretary: Philip Mould Assistant Secretary: Pauline Wildman
Musical Director: Janet Welsh Rehearsal Pianists: Janet Welsh, Margaret Neal
Wardrobe Mistress: Ena Carpenter
Committee:
Robin Allen
Gill Bateman
Len Gomm
Jeanette King
Douglas Pateman
Pam Trainor

Social Committee:
Graham Ward - Chairman
Diane Johnson - Secretary
Gill Bateman - Minutes Secretary
Josephine Green - Treasurer
Jan Hollomon
Connie Holt
Don Sanders

Stage Staff
Stage Manager:
Assistant Stage
Managers:
Wardrobe:



Call Boy:
Prompt:
Tab Girl:
Make-up Artists:

Costumes:

Len Gomm.
Nick Kirk, Chris Thorburn.

Ena Carpenter assisted by:
Peggy Coles, Sandy East, Margaret Hunter,
Janet O'Leary, Mary Quartermain,
Angela Tobin, Rene Welsford.
Nicolette James.
Connie Holt.
Susan Smith.
Clive Durrant, Kay Rawlins, and Keely Rice.

'Marigold', Brynmawr, Gwent, Wales &
R.A.T.S. Wardrobe.


Stage Crew:



Lighting:


Properties:




Scenery:

Chris Catlin, Brian Christie, Maff Davies, Tony Dale, Mark Dickenson, Merv Goddard, Dave Hawker,
Les King, Colin Minnikin, Gordon Pateman,
Dick Sanders, Ken Smith.
Trevor Bailey, Arthur Hollomon,
Deborah Hollomon, Christina King, Alan Mayes, Roger Norman, Philip Thompson.
Miriam Joyce assisted by:
Jan Hollomon, Moira James, Bob Joyce,
Jeanette King.


James Fredricks Ltd., Weston-super-Mare.


The Company, South Pacific 1987/88
The Company 1987/88

Cast of Characters
(in order of appearance)
Ngana
Jeri
Henrietta
Ensign Nellie Forbush
Emile de Becque
Bloody Mary
Stewpot
Luther Billis
Professor
Lt. Joseph Cable, USMC
Capt. George Brackett, USN
Cmdr. William Harbison, USN
Yeoman Herbert Quale
Stg. Kenneth Johnson
Seabee Morton Wise
Seaman Tom O'Brien
Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey
Marine Cpl. Hamilton Steeves
Private Victor Jerome
Lt. Buzz Adams
Lt. Genevieve Marshall
Ensign Lisa Minelli
Ensign Connie Walewska
Ensign Janet MacGregor
Ensign Bessie Noonan
Ensign Pamela Whitmore
Ensign Rita Adams
Ensign Sue Yaeger
Ensign Betty Pitt
Ensign Diana Murphy
Cora McRay
Liat
Richard West
High Priest
Marcel

Sheena O'Leary
Tamsin Nunley
Mary Boyfield
Julie Atherton
Jonathan Reynolds
Sue McNulty
Norman Billington
Philip Hanzlik
Michael Tye
John Heighton
John Stringer
Eddie Mander
David Dobbinson
Keith Green
David Coleman
Paul Whiteman
Colin Needle
Douglas Pateman
Graham Ward
Simon Baker
Sally Jones
Lesley Heighton
Diane Johnson
Kylie Barringham
Charis Butler
Josephine Green
Georgina Millwood
Diane Grimster
Joanne Needle
Kirsty McAlister
Kate O'Leary
Leisa Perkins
Timothy Green
David Dobbinson
Lee Atwood

Musical Numbers
Act One
"Dites-Moi"
"A Cockeyed Optimist"
"Twin Soliloquies"
"Some Enchanted Evening"
"Dites-Moi"
"Bloody Mary"
"There's Nothing Like a Dame"
"Bali Ha'i"
"I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right
Out-a My Hair"
Reprise: "Some Enchanted Evening"
"I'm In Love With A Wonderful Guy"
Encore: "I'm In Love With A
Wonderful Guy"
"Bali Ha'i"
"Younger Than Springtime"
Jeri & Ngana
Nellie
Emile & Nellie
Emile
Jeri, Ngana & Emile
Marines
Marines
Mary
Nellie & Ensigns

Emile & Nellie
Nellie
Nellie & Girls

French Girls
Cable
Act Two
"I'm In Love With a Wonderful Guy"
This Is How It Feels"
Emiles Encore: "I'm Gonna Wash That
Man Right Out-a My Hair"
"G.I. Show Music"
"Happy Talk"
"Honey Bun"
"Carefully Taught"
Continued "Carefully Taught"
"This Nearly Was Mine"
"Dites-Moi"
Nellie & Emile
Nellie & Emile
Emile


Mary
Nellie & Company
Cable
Emile
Emile
Nellie, Jeri, Ngana & Emile

The action of this musical play takes place on two islands in the
South Pacific during World War II.

There is a week's lapse of time between the two acts.

South Pacific, Operatic 1987
Ngana - Sheena O'Leary (left)
Emile de Beque -
Jonathan Reynolds
Jeri - Tamsin Nunley (right)

South Pacific, Operatic 1987
Lt. Joseph Cable USMC
- John Heighton (left)
Capt. George Bracket USN
- John Stringer

South Pacific, Operatic 1987
Cmdr. William Harbison USN
- Eddie Mander (left)
Luther Billis
- Philip Hanzlik

Islanders
Gill Bateman
Pam Bird
Jason Brown
Charlotte Ellitson
Stephanie Griffiths
Neil Hopkin
Louise Lyne
Emma Myers
Mark Smith
Pam Trainor
Heather Woodiwiss
Darren Woodiwiss

Jean Wilbur
In Memoriam
It is with great sadness the Society has lost one of its most loyal members - Jean Wilbur.

After seeing the Society's first show, Jean was enthralled and joined as a dancer to perform in "The Three Musketeers". Jean danced her way throiugh many shows, and when she decided to 'hang up her shoes' she helped in the dressing rooms, sold raffle tickets, and helped make endless cups of tea and coffee at rehearsals.

Last year Jean was made an Honorary life Member for which she was delighted.

South Pacific, Operatic 1987
Nellie Forbush - Julie Atherton
Emile de Beque
- Jonathan Reynolds

South Pacific, Operatic 1987
Liat - Leisa Perkins (left)
Bloody Mary - Sue McNulty

Support Staff
Programme Sellers:

Glenis Haynes assisted by:
Grace Berrill, Margaret Clark, Sally Grew, Kate Mitchall, Janet Mould, Elsie Pateman, Maureen Sutherland,
Edna Ward, Pauline Wildeman.
Stewards: Auditorium Manager: Cliff Jefferies
Gerry Baish, Peter Carpenter, Brian Jones, John Jones, Gerry Myers, Mike Neville, Keith Vaughan, Mick Walker.
Prize Draw Ticket Sellers: Margaret Bland assisted by:
Muriel Gomm, Win Green, Carol Grey, Nicola Harris, Valerie Myers, Moyra Stewart, Pamela Stock.

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

The President and Vice-Presidents for their continued support.
The Octopus Distribution Services Ltd., Rushden W.M. Club, the Rose & Crown, Independent Wesleyan Church Room, Adult School, Higham Ferrers, for Rehearsal facilities.
The Headmaster of Alfred Street School and the Caretakers.
Programme written and compiled by Mary Boyfield.
Peter Dawes Printers, Kettering, for their great assistance in producing this programme.
The Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph to Doug Millhouse for publicity photographs.
All those who have allowed us to display advertising material.
The Traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme.
Bernard A. Potters (Insurance) Ltd., Woodfine & Co., King Kuts, and Billingtons for publicity displays.
Alpha Mu Products for use of Public Address Equipment.
The Stewards, Programme and Prize Draw ticket sellers.
Box Office Assistants.
The Nursing Sisters and St. John Ambulance for attendance at the Theatre.
All parties supporting us from various organisations.
R.A.T.S. for use of scenery workshop.
Whitworth Holdings for collection and return of scenery.
W. J. Redden & Sons Ltd and Bon Marche loan of properties.
Ailey's Transport for collection of costumes from 'Marigold' Brynmawr, Gwent, Wales.


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