Rushden Research Group: Operatic The Student Prince 1964

From the archive of Jean Freeman
Presented by Greville Watson 2013

Rushden Amateur Operatic Society

The Student Prince - 1964

RUSHDEN AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

presents

The Spectacular Light Opera

The Student Prince

(by arrangement with J. J. Shubert)

Entire production and choreography under
the direction of
MARGARET BOYLE

Orchestra under the direction of
OSWALD L. LAWRENCE, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M.

Music by Sigmund Romberg

Book and Lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly

THE STORY OF THE STUDENT PRINCE

In the Spring of 1860, Karl Franz, the twenty-year-old heir to the throne of Karlsberg, gets his first breath of carefree youth, untrammelled by court etiquette, when he enters the University of Heidelberg.

Accompanied by his tutor, Dr Engel and the valet, Lutz, he takes quarters at the Inn of the “Three Golden Apples.” Famed for its beer, the Inn is a rendezvous for students, who foregather each evening in its gardens on the banks of the Neckar to drink, sing and adore Kathie, the landlord’s pretty niece.

The Prince, encouraged by Engel to make the most of his year of freedom, enters light-heartedly into student life. He is immediately accepted as a comrade by his fellow students, and he and Kathie fall in love at first sight.

Four happy months pass, alternating with riotous student fun and blissful interludes, with Kathie, when, like a bolt from the blue, Princess Margaret, to whom, though he has not previously seen her, Karl Franz is betrothed, calls at the Inn, en route to the Palace from her convent.

She and her mother, the Grand Duchess, have been summoned by the dying King and have scarce taken their leave when Von Mark, the Prime Minister, arrives to announce that the Prince must return urgently.

There follows a struggle ’twixt love and duty. Plans of flight to Paris with Kathie are wrecked, as, with a promise of a return to Heidelberg, Karl Franz departs to fulfil his destiny.

Two years later, on the eve of his marriage to Margaret, Karl Franz, now King, has visions of all he has lost. He must see his beloved Kathie once more and takes the road to Heidelberg to fulfil his promise to return.

The Princess, who loves him dearly, forestalls him by arriving first at the Inn. She pleads with Kathie to disillusion her lover so that he may be reconciled to his fate and will in time learn to love his Royal Bride.

Misfortune has overtaken the Inn. No longer is it the gay centre of student life and Ruder the landlord is selling the place to Gretchen, his former waitress.

Kathie is likely to be homeless and to please the Princess, accepts her cousin Rudolf as a suitor.

Thus when Karl Franz arrives, the stage is perfectly set for his disillusionment. His old friends receive him with the respectful restraint due to a Monarch and the whole atmosphere is changed. At last he appreciates Margaret’s beauty and devotion and turns to her as a lover.

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

It is my pleasure once again to write a short message for inclusion in this Programme.

Following the very popular and successful “Desert Song” the Society has selected another firm favourite in “The Student Prince,” which needs no formal recommendation from me except to assure our patrons that, with the continued loyalty and enthusiasm of our members under the able and professional direction of our Producer Miss Margaret Boyle, we shall endeavour to present another happy and attractive show to add to the vintage productions of the past.

We shall of course not only strive to give our patrons a show to remember but with their patronage, coupled with the financial support of our vice presidents, we hope once again to fulfil the Society’s ambition to give a generous sum in support of our local charities.

As in the past may I reiterate that 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

WILLIAM ARTHUR EDMUND SHERWOOD

The late Mr W A E Sherwood was one of the Founders of our Society and he was its second Chairman. There is no doubt that much of the success which the Society has enjoyed during the past seventeen years is due to the breadth of judgment and kindly understanding which he brought to bear on the many problems which inevitably arise in the organisation and running of an Operatic Society. As Principal of the Evening Institute Mr Sherwood did everything in his power to further the interests of the Society and he unquestionably laid the foundations of the happy relationship which now exists between the Society and the Education Authority.

In later years Mr Sherwood undertook the unspectacular but nevertheless most essential task of supervising the booking arrangements and if this alone was all the service he had rendered to the Society, we should indeed be very grateful to him. As it is our debt is immeasurably great. We are very conscious of the fact that a Society such as ours, all too seldom enjoys the privilege of being guided by the like of our second Chairman.

RUSHDEN AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY Affiliated to The National Operatic and Dramatic Association President: W. J. A. Peck, Esq., C.C. Vice-Presidents:
Capt. C.E.Abbott D.E.Abbott, Esq. A.B.Abington, Esq. Alan Allebone, Esq. W.J.Anker, Esq. S.T.Bayes, Esq. D.E.Braybrook, Esq., DFC Roy Brown, Esq. P.Bugby, Esq. J.R.Campion, Esq. A.F.Carter, Esq. H.W.Catlin, Esq., DFC, BA F.L.Caswell, Esq. J.F.Chambers, Esq. W.A.Clarke, Esq. A.C.A.Colton, Esq., CC H.W.Cox, Esq. Peter Crisp, Esq. A.G.Crowdy, Esq. F.G.Deane, Esq. J.W.Dennis, Esq. Lt.-Col. D.M.Dorr, TD, FCI Mrs. L.V.Elliott F.Eady, Esq. R.A.Evans, Esq., TD, BA Frank Felce, Esq. C.Freeman, Esq. B.W.Garley, Esq. D.F.Gibson, Esq. W.S.Gilbert, Esq. A.E.Goulsbra, Esq. B.Gramshaw, Esq. G.F.Gray, Esq.	D.F.A.Green, Esq. D.H.Hale, Esq. E.T.Harris, Esq. W.V.Hawkes, Esq. A.W.Head, Esq. A.E.Hill, Esq. H.F.Hooton, Esq. Mrs. B.Horrell B.Huckle, Esq. F.J.W.Humphrey, Esq. A.W.A.Ilett, Esq. W.Keller, Esq. A.E.Kilsby, Esq. A.W.C.Knight, Esq. G.Knight, Esq. H.C.C.Knight, Esq. B.H.Ladds, Esq. Dr. O.B.Lean R.J.Lett, Esq. Art Lewis, Esq. D.H.Mackness, Esq. G.B.Mackness, Esq. G.W.Marriott, Esq. D.Marriott, Esq. Mrs. Jose Marsh A.W.Martin, Esq. A.F.Mills, Esq. H.S.Mitchell, Esq. G.Morrice, Esq. E.E.Newell, Esq. G.S.North, Esq. W.F.Oatridge, Esq. J.E.Oberman, Esq.	M.P.O'Connor, Esq. G.S.Osborne, Esq. R.W.E.Paragreen, Esq. E.D.Peck, Esq. L.Phillips, Esq. Dr. A.Dorothy Pickard G.P.Robinson, Esq. A.L.Sanders, Esq. C.A.Sanders, Esq. Mrs. E.M.Sanders R.Sanders, Esq. T.Sanders, Esq. C.S.Sawford, Esq. H.B.Selwood, Esq. W.K.S.Smith, Esq. J.Southam, Esq. J.G.Spencer, Esq. D.C.Summerfield, Esq. J.G.Swart, Esq. A.E.Tear, Esq. F.A.Thornton, Esq. A.E.Tilley, Esq. W.C.Timpson, Esq. L.A.Walton, Esq. John White, Esq., HF C.R.Wildman, Esq. D.H.Wills, Esq. P.W.Wills, Esq. J.L.Wilson, Esq., MC P.T.M.Wilson, Esq. J.W.Woodley, Esq. G.F.Wright, Esq.
Honorary Life Members:
B.R.Palmer, Esq.	E.J.Rowlett, Esq.	E.Wadsworth, Esq.

Chairman: William A. Clarke
Vice-Chairman: Treasurer: Auditors:	H. W. Catlin A. E. Goulsbra Messrs. Hopps and Bankart	Musical Director: Joint Secretaries:	Oswald L. Lawrence, LRAM, ARCM Roland A. Evans, Christine Carter
Committee:
Eva Bryant Colin Clarke	Pauline Huckle Phyllis Clarke	W.J.Monck Ian Mclaughlan	E.Wadsworth
Producer: Accompanists: Chief Steward: Perruquier: Dancing Instructor: Make-up Assistants: Stage Manager: Prompter:	Margaret Boyle Joan Hart & Harold James Edward Wadsworth Mrs. Jules Marten Jose Marsh Michael & Judith Eady Bernard Palmer Phyllis Evans	Wardrobe Mistress: assisted by Property: Stage Electricians: Call Boy: assisted by	Nellie Hart Dorothy Lawrence, Peggy Coles & Pat Catlin Rosemary Hall, Janet Holloman, Roger Hulbert, David Evans, Peter Smith, Stuart Mitchell Bob Tysoe, Pete Sturgess, Alan Mayes & Arthur Holloman Keith Robinson Elizabeth Betts

Miss Margaret Boyle
whom we are delighted to
welcome as Producer after
the outstanding success
of her production of
The Desert Song last year.
We have no doubt that
Miss Boyle's production of
The Student Prince will give
the greatest satisfaction to
our Public.

Jose Marsh, Ballet Mistress, Operatic 1964

Miss Jose Marsh
whom we are very pleased to
have as our Ballet Mistress.
The high standard achieved
by our Ballet in recent years
has been mainly due
to her work.
The Ballet in Act 3 was
specially arranged by
Miss Marsh.

Oswald Lawrence, Mus.Dir., Operatic 1964

Oswald L. Lawrence,
the Music Director of
the Society, who has
held this office
with distinction since
the first production
in 1947.

Cast
Von Mark Dr. Engel Prince Karl Franz Ruder Gretchen Toni Detlef Lucas Von Asterberg Kathie Lutz Hubert Grand Duchess Anastasia Princess Margaret Captain Tarnitz Countess Leydon Baron Arnheim Rudolf Winter Nicola		Roland Evans Colin Clarke Geoffrey Sanders Charles Jones Barbara Neville Ian Mclaughlan George Mitchell Peter Garley Keith Green Pauline Huckle Bert Catlin Clive Durrant Phyllis Clarke Cicely Clarke Ron Coles Jennifer Smith Keely Rice Peter Maund Rose Drage
Chorus Ladies
M.Bostock, J.Bradley, J.Burt, J.Crane, J.Debank, A.Donaldson, D.Drage, R.Drage, S.Eady, M.Flaunty, D.Head, S.Horne, P.Jarvis, J.King, A.Laughton, M.Morris, J.Mould, P.Norman, J.Penn, M.Pettit, M.Potter, M.Quartermaine, D.Sanders, J.Smeathers.
Chorus Gentlemen
W.Ainge, D.Davis, G.Drage, G.Garrett, S.Gilbert, F.Hayes, R.Hirons, H.Hulbert, C.King-Underwood, R.King-Underwood, S.Smith, J.Southam, A.Thompson, M.Tye, G.Ward, L.Ward, M.Walker, G.Wiggins.
The Ballet
Rosemary Atthews, Sally Gray, Sharon Kay Hartley, Hilary Johns, Catherine Mason, Judith Mould, Jennifer Perkins, Diane Willers.

Synopsis of Musical Numbers and Scenes
Time: Spring 1860 Prologue Ante-chamber in the Palace at Karlsberg.
Golden Days		Prince and Engel
Act I Garden of the Inn of the "Three Golden Apples" at Heidelberg.
To the Inn we're marching Drink! Drink! Drink! Where is the Maid? Reprise Heidelberg, beloved vision Gaudeamus igitur Reprise Deep in my heart, dear Come, Sir, will you join Overhead the moon is beaming	) ) ) ) ) )	Kathie and Students Students and Chorus Prince, Engel, Kathie, Gretchen and Ruder Students Engel Kathie and Prince Concerted
Act II Sitting Room of Prince Karl Franz at the Inn (Four months later).
Student life is as gay Finale		Chorus
Act III A Room of State in the Palace at Karlsberg (Two years later).
Ballet Just we two That flag that flies above us Finale	) )	Princess and Tarnitz and Chorus Chorus
Act IV Same as Act I (The next day).
Let us sing a song Finale		Chorus

The Orchestra

(under the direction of
Oswald L. Lawrence, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.M.)

Violins:
Viola:
Cello:
Bass:
Flute:
Oboe:
Clarinet:
Trumpet:
Trombone:
Percussion:
Harp:
Piano:

Tina Faulkner (leader), Yvonne Bowness, Elsie Bridges.
S.Seamarks.
C.Cook.
E.Allen.
R.Pettitt.
C.Smith.
G.Hornsey.
E.Denton, M.Chamberlain.
R.Benning.
J.Miles.
K.Hall.
Joan Hart.

Stewards
(Under the direction of Edward Wadsworth)

J.Barker, A.Binder, H.O.Binder, E.Clark, A.Frost, L.Darnell, H.V.Ingram,
M.Knight, I.Lawrence, A.Mason, H.McLean, S.Miles, W.D.Perkins,
D.Reeves, C.E.Underwood, E.H.Strickland.

Programme Sellers
Arrangements by Lily E. Cook and Rose Frost

Nancy Bailey, Elizabeth Elliott, Margaret Field, Susan Field, May Gale,
Kaye Goulsbra, Gwen Hardwick, Valerie Henson, Ivy Ingram,
Susan Massom, Pat Myerscough, Gwen Southam, Irene Warr,
Janet Wood.

Costumes by B. J. Simmons & Co. Ltd.

Scenery by Stage Scenery Limited

Amplification by C. Pack, Rushden

Acknowledgments

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

The Northamptonshire Education Committee (Mr.G.E.Churchall, 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.A.E.Goulsbra who has undertaken the arduous task of arranging the booking and all his assistants.

Mr.H.W.Catlin, Headmaster of Rushden Secondary Modern School for Boys, and the Caretakers for their help.

The local traders who have taken advertising space or donated pages in this programme.

Batola (Rushden Secondary Modern School for Boys) who have made the steins used by the Students.

The Stewards and Programme Sellers.

The Nursing Sisters and St. John Ambulance for attendance at the Theatre.

Mr.W.R.Hewitt, his co-directors, Mr.Knighton the Manager and all the Staff of the Ritz, Rushden, for their continued interest and 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 "The Student Prince", whether or not mentioned in these pages.