In January and February 1950 the Bristol Light Opera Club staged Ivan Caryll and Henry Hamilton’s The Duchess of Dantzic, “a romantic light opera in three acts” about Napoleon and the laundress “La Sans GĂŞne”, at the Victoria Rooms, Clifton, each evening at 7 p.m. The production was directed by Sydney Hunt, and the programme “sincerely thanks Mr. Hunt for taking over the production at short notice”. H. N. Wybourne was “Musical Director and Conductor” of the club’s Orchestral Section, and Eveline Hosegood played the title role. Proceeds went to charity, and the club announced that its donations “during the past two seasons have amounted to over ÂŁ300”. The programme cost sixpence and thanks British Red Cross detachments 12 and 20 “for attendance at all performances”.
Cast
- Lisette — Kathleen Houlden
- Jeanne — Jean Davies
- Louise — Hylda Keynton
- Sergeant Flageot — Bert Harvey
- Cpl. Gildon — Ivor Britt
- François Lefebvre — Ronald Downing
- Catherine Upscher (known as La Sans Gêne) — Eveline Hosegood
- Papillon — Brian Wicks
- Napoleon Bonaparte — Sydney Curwen
- Philippe, Vicomte de Bethune — Hugh Thomson
- Capt. Regnier — Arthur Tipples
- M. D’Alègre — Horace de Lacy Adams
- Caroline Murat, Grand Duchess of Berg and Cleves — Gladys Massey
- Pauline, Princess Borghese — Hilda Greenslade
- Renée de Saint Mézard — Cynthia Glover
- Mme. de Legrange — Esme Salter
- Mme. de Beauffremont — Doreen Stevens
- Adhémar, Vicomte de Bethune — Gordon Shotton
- Empress Josephine — Sheila Ley
- Page — Foster Payne