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Presented by Greville Watson 2020
Rushden Amateur Operatic Society
Waltz Without End - 1953


Cover Operatic Waltz Without End 1953


RUSHDEN OPERATIC SOCIETY



"WALTZ WITHOUT END"


A Musical Comedy Romance
by
Eric Maschwitz and Bernard Grun

to Music from the works of Frederic Chopin

By arrangement with Samuel French, Ltd.


The Ritz -
Rushden
23rd-28th February, 1953
Evenings 7.30 p.m.
Matinee Saturday 2.30 p.m.


AN ENTIRELY NEW PRODUCTION
BY MAVIS WARD

A TALE OF CHOPIN

In writing a story which would carry the lovely melodies of Frederic Chopin there must have been great difficulties for Mr. Eric Maschwitz. He needed a setting happier and healthier than the romance between Chopin and “Georges Sand”, and “Waltz Without End” had to take shape as a fairy tale – one that the author hoped would not be out of keeping with the immortal music.

Wanda Woicinski, the young Polish noblewoman of the story, did in fact exist, and the figure of Pleyel, the publisher, is, of course, historical. On the other hand, Chopin, though educated at the Lyceum of Music in Warsaw, was never a teacher there, nor was he ever poor enough to have had to eke out a living by giving private music lessons.

The story opens in Warsaw, when the Conservatoire students are in boisterous end-of-term mood and Zoshia, the young and pretty cleaner, is seen to be an understanding champion of Chopin, a junior professor whose compositions have a habit of coming back from the publishers.

When the Countess Wanda Woicinski arrives as a prospective pupil she hears that Chopin, her intended tutor, has been calling her a “feather-headed dilettante”. Haughty and fiery at the best of times, she reacts with pardonable annoyance, and it is undoubtedly fortunate that on her first meeting with Chopin she mistakes his identity. Intrigued, amused, and not unaware of her charms, Chopin becomes known to her as “Joseph Fredericks” and promises to give her music lessons at her country castle.

At the end of Act I Chopin loses his job at the Conservatoire, but in Act II he has plenty on hand, for Wanda is a most refractory pupil and has to be bullied into taking a lesson.  Firmness, however, is the right approach, and under the spell of music romance is added to technical progress.

In the meantime Wanda’s father, Prince Anton, an important but impassioned old play-boy, constantly embarrassed by Pinkus, a debt collector, gives every encouragement to a rival suitor for Wanda – his old and affluent friend Vladimir Stokovski. Pinkus, comes with a writ, has agreed to assume a false name while staying at the castle. Zoshia, also in borrowed plumes, is another unwelcome guest of the helpless Prince, and it is she who, in a moment of jealousy at Wanda’s birthday party, reveals the true identity of the music teacher. Scandalised, Wanda will hear no explanation: she takes the arm of Vladimir.

Closing scenes are in the Post Hotel, Warsaw (where Pinkus is landlord), on the eve of a great wedding. Repentant of her outburst, Zoshia would gladly restore the romance she has broken. She is near to success, and Wanda’s intended marriage to Vladimir hangs in the balance. But the last word of advice is with a stranger – the great publisher who has rushed from Paris to find Chopin and make him famous. He foretells that the young genius will travel further than any woman can follow him.

It is Wanda who makes the decision. . . “to keep our dream unbroken; our midsummer night’s dream, and the waltz that will go on for ever in our hearts.”


William Clarke Operatic Waltz Without End 1953
Prince
Anton Woicinski
William Clarke

Chopin
Sam Houghton
Wanda
Pauline Farey

Vladimir Stokovski
Geoffrey Sanders

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
W.B.Sanders, Esq.
Our production this year is the seventh of the Operatic Society’s efforts. After our wonderful success last year with the popular “Bless the Bride”, we have now chosen a production dealing with an earlier period – a musical comedy based on the early life of Chopin, and set to his delightful music, with lovely costumes, attractive setting, and romance running through the story.

In presenting to you “Waltz Without End”, we do so with every confidence of your approval and support. No effort has been spared by the company over this production and it is our earnest hope to make it our most successful venture.

MUSICAL NUMBERS
Act I
1.

2.

3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
Vocal Exercise, "Land We Love"
"Let the World go round to Music"
"Farewell Yesterday"
"Sonato of Spring"
"Two Acres and a Cow"
"A Student Serenade"

"Dream a Dream"
"One Day Maybe"
Finale

Students

Zoshia and Chorus

Vronski and Vladimir
Chopin, Chorus and Dancers
Zoshia and Pinkus
Vronski, Vladimir, Prince and Men
Zoshia and Chopin
Wanda and Girls
Wanda, Zoshia, Chopin and Chorus

Act II
10.

11.
12.
13.
14.

15.
16.
17.

18.

19.
Opening Chorus, "Gallop Along"
"Love like a Rose"
"Vodka"
"The Music Lesson"
Opening Scene and "Send me a Lancer"
"Lady of the Moon"
"Grand Mazurka"
"The Village Band"

"Waltz Without End"

Reprise, "Love like a Rose"



Alycia
Prince, Pinkus and Men
Wanda and Chopin
Girls

Wanda, Chopin and Chorus
Guests
Zoshia, Prince, Pinkus and Chorus
Wanda, Chopin, Chorus and Dancers
Wanda and Chorus

Act III
20.

21.
22.
23.
24.

25.
Opening Chorus, "Give me a Glass of Wine"
"Fools follow a Rainbow"
"Gloria in Excelsis"
"The Candle Light Ballet"
Reprise, "Lady of the Moon" and "Dream a Dream"
Finale and Finale Ultimo



Chopin and Chorus
Chorus
Dancers
Wanda and Chopin

The Company

THE CAST
MARKOV (A professor of Music)
ZOSHIA (Cleaner at the Conservatoire)
POSTMAN
VLADIMIR STOKOVSKI (A Diamond Merchant)
VRONSKI (Head of the Conservatoire)
MARIA. . . . )
KATRINKA . )- (Ballet Students)
TANIA . . . . )
FREDERIC CHOPIN (A Junior Music Teacher)
PINKUS (A Debt Collector)
PRINCE ANTON WOICINSKI
COUNTESS WANDA
(Woicinski's Daughter)
LISA . . . . .)
PAULA . . . )- (Wanda's Friends)
LYDIA . . . .)
SONIA . . . .)
COUNTESS ALYCIA
IGNAZ
(A Piano Tuner)
THE STRANGER











RAYMOND SHAW
KATHLEEN DENT
GEORGE DANGERFIELD
GEOFFREY SANDERS

FRANK STOCK
JOSE EAGLE
AUDREY DARNELL
JEAN HARDWICK
SAM HOUGHTON

GEORGE JOHNSON
WILLIAM CLARKE
PAULINE FAIREY

BETTY GARRATT
PAULINE BAILEY
CHRISTINE CARTER
SYLVIA OATES
EILEEN HORNER
VICTOR GARLICK
JOHN TEE
Students, Dancers, Guests at the Castle,
Hotel Servants, Travellers, Etc.,

Chorus Operatic Waltz Without End 1953
The Chorus

The Corps de Ballet

THE BALLET
Audrey Darnell (Principal)

Pamela Bettles, Jacqueline Dilley, Jose Eagle, Sheila Eaton, Freda Faulkner, Dorothy Garley, Moyra Groome, Jean Hardwick, Sylvia Haley, Rosemary Shatford, Elizabeth Smith, Patricia Waite


THE VILLAGE BAND
William Scholes, George Sayers, Cyril Tew, Harry Hartwell, Sam Denton, Colin Clarke, Roland Lawman


THE LADIES' CHORUS

Pauline Bailey, Christine Carter, Betty Garratt, Sylvia Oates, Carol Bunning, Audrey Cave, Phyllis Clarke, Jean Stevens, Valerie Curtis, Sheila Crickman, June Cockerill, Vera Denton, Rose Drage, Norah Gibbs, Eileen Garner, Margaret Harris, Bertha Harbour, Hilda House, Hilda Howes, Lilian Keech, Maureen Pridmore, Mary Shaw, Dorothy Sculthorpe, Rita Stapleton



THE GENTLEMEN'S CHORUS

William Ainge, Harold Clayton, Tom Daniels, Arthur Frost, Alan Groome, Percy House, John Hearn, Alan Ives, Michael Morris, Brian Neville, Victor Parsler, Reginald Roberts, Sidney Smith, Raymond Shaw, Ray Sibley, Robert Wilkins


Synopsis of Scenery
Act I
The Conservatoire of Music in Warsaw.
Act II
Scene 1.

Scene 2.
Scene 3.


Salon in the Woicinski Castle
(some weeks later).
The Castle Park.
Same as Scene 1.
Act III
Scene 1.

Scene 2.

The Post Hotel in Warsaw
(Afternoon)
Same as Scene 1 (Late that night).

(There will be an Interval of
10 minutes between each Act)

Costumes by B.J. SIMMONS & CO. (1941), LTD.
Scenery by WATTS & CORRY , LTD.


Cast Operatic Waltz Without End 1953
IGNAZ
Victor Garlick
VRONSKI
Frank Stock
LISA
Betty Garratt
SONIA
Sylvia Oates
LYDIA
Christine Carter
PAULA
Pauline Bailey

Sam Houghton Operatic 1953
FREDERIC CHOPIN
Sam Houghton

Pauline Farey Operatic 1953
WANDA
Pauline Farey

Cast Operatic Waltz Without End 1953
ZOSHIA - Kathleen Dent
PINKUS - George Johnson

Eileen Horner Operatic 1953
COUNTESS ALYCIA
Eileen Horner

Kathleen Dent Operatic 1953
ZOSHIA
Kathleen Dent

Mavis Ward
Mavis Ward Operatic 1953
Our company, with all who saw last year's performances of "Bless the Bride," welcomed the re-engagement of Miss Mavis Ward as producer for the present searson. With Brighton and London as her main centres of activity, Miss Ward has continued to advance in setatus as author, producer and dancing expert, her successes in recent months including the first amateur production of "Dear Miss Phoebe" (at the Scala Theatre, London) and Brighton's first full-scale amateur pantomime. She has also done some work for the films and is now producing for Peterborough Operatic Society as successor to our own esteemed friend Miss Madge Macklin.

Orchestra
Violins




Viola
'Cello
D. Bass
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet
Trumpets

Trombones

Timpani
Harp
Piano

Leslie T. Heggs
(Leader)
R. Gibson
G. R. Pearson
G. Pettit
S. Seamarks
E. Kenny
A. Gates
O. Nevitt
C. Smith
J. Hornsey
W. Groom
G. Groom
R. Benning
E. Webster
E. West
C. Janes
E. Hart

Oswald L. Lawrence
Oswald Lawrence Operatic 1953
Musical Director
A natural flair for playing and conducting, an R.A.M. training and intensive work and study have brought our musical director, Mr. Oswald Lawrence, of Raunds, to his present position as one of Northamptonshire's leading musicians. As a young man he conducted orchestral concerts at Raunds, was in musical charge of operatic work there and directed choirs. Kettering Operatic Society engaged him as musical director for several years, and after the war he conducted the Mid-Northants Symphony Orchestra, taking up the direction of Northampton Symphony Orchestra about two years ago.

Chairman:
Secretaries:

Musical Director:
Producer:
Accompanist:
Wardrobe Mistress:

W. A. Sherwood
Phyllis G. Bryant and
Bernard R. Palmer

Oswald L. Lawrence
Mavis Ward
Joan Hart
Nellie Hart
(assisted by Gladys Mann & Ivy Smith)

Vice-Chairman:
Treasurer:

Auditor:
Deputy Musical Director:
Stage Manager:
Chief Steward:
Prompter:
Property:
Make-up Artist:
E. J. Rowlett JP
Roy T. Saint
E. W. Pacey
John W. Cooke
Charles Mitchell (for the Ritz)
Edward Wadsworth

Kathleen March
Dorothy Johnson & Eva Bryant
Helen Eldridge

Costumes and Wigs
B. J. SIMMONS & CO.
Scenery STAGE SCENERY LTD.



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

are very sincerely and gratefully made to

Mr. W. Hewitt, his co-directors, Charlie Mitchell and the staff of the Ritz, for their continued interest and co-operation.
Northamptonshire education Committee (Mr. G. E. Churchill MA, Chief Education Officer) and Mr. W. A. E. Sherwood, who have given every help in the arrangement of rehearsals at the Rushden Evening Institute, and to the headmasters, headmistresses and caretakers of the schools.
Nursing Sisters and St. John Ambulance.
All the stewards and programme sellers.
Northamptonshire Newspapers, Ltd., for publicity.
Capt. C. E. Abbott, Mr. Ralph Sanders, and the Wollaston St. John Ambulance Association for booking facilities at Irthlingborough, Raunds and Wollaston.
Mr. George Miller for help with properties.
Mr. Leslie Priestley, Mr. Leslie Clark and the many voluntary workers, for help throughout the production.
Mr. Bernard Clowes and The Grafton Studios for their kind co-operation in the preparation of the photographs reproduced in this programme.
Mr. William Scholes and the Rushden Temperance Band for their co-operation and assistance in “The Village Band”, Act II.

Our patrons for their support and our advertisers whom we hope our patrons will support.


Committee
W. Ainge
Eva Bryant
W. Clarke
J. W. Cooke
L. V. Elliott
A. Frost
Nellie Hart
Dorothy Johnson
G. R. Johnson
O. L. Lawrence
Renee Parker
V. Parsler
E. Wadsworth
Rene Welsford

Stewards
E. Clark
H. Ingram
J. T. Jones
E. C. Knight
G. Knight
M. Knight
S. Knight
G. T. Macpherson
C. Perkins
C. Robinson
S. Spurr
D. Summerfield
Chief Steward: E. Wadsworth

Programme Sellers
Lily E. Cooke (Principal)
Nancy Bailey
Beatrice Daniels
Rose Frost
May Garley
Ivy Ingram
Kathleen Jeeves
Lilian Page
Audrey Perkins
Audrey Tompkins
Stella Wicks
Elizabeth Wilson

An Amateur Production
These performances of "Waltz Without End" are given by amateurs under professional tuition. The members of the Company attend the Operatic and Ballet Classes of Rushden Evening Institute.

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