The Bristol Light Opera Club presented “the West of England amateur premiere” of Johann Strauss’s Night in Venice, a carnival-night tale of mistaken identities, at the Victoria Rooms, Bristol, from Monday 14th to Saturday 19th November 1955. The programme records the “serious illness” of Harold N. Wybourne, musical director of so many past productions, and thanks Frank Duggan “for taking over at short notice”. In a note headed “Floral Gratitude” the producer thanks members who made “well over 5,000 artificial flowers and vegetables” for the auditorium and stage decorations. The ballet was danced by the Bristol Ballet Club, directed by Dorothy Woods, and furniture for Act II was lent by James Phillips & Sons of Union Street.
Cast
- Giacomo Pappacoda (A Macaroni Cook) — Leslie Harris
- Vecchi (A Vintner) — Malcolm Daw
- Enrico Piselli (A Dandy) — Leslie Weston
- Centurio (Major Domo to the Duke) — Mark Murphy
- Annina (An Oyster Seller) — Joyce Martin
- Barbara Dell’Acqua (A Venetian Beauty) — Barbara Fryer
- Ciboletta (Barbara’s Maid) — Enid Naish
- Alessandro Dell’Acqua (A Senator of Venice) — Bob Bradshaw
- Lodovico Caramello (The Duke’s Barber) — Foster Payne
- Balbi (A Servant) — Cyril Blake
- The Duke of Urbino (A Famous Philanderer) — Reginald Webb
- Francesco (A Gondolier) — Valdemars Nikovskis
- Rosa (A Flower Seller) — Gladys Massey