The Bristol Light Opera Club staged Summer Song, “a story of the New World” built around the music of Anton Dvořák, at the Hippodrome, Bristol, from Monday 3rd to Saturday 8th November 1958. Billed on the cover as the Club’s “Silver Jubilee Production”, its programme carries a history of the Club’s first 25 years: formed on 30th October 1933 “by a small band of enthusiasts”, it opened with Cox and Box and The Pirates of Penzance at the Victoria Rooms with 60 acting members and “its own amateur orchestra of 33”. Founder member John Heming produced, with Vernon Jones as musical director and conductor, and dancers from the Bristol Ballet Club under Dorothy Woods. The back pages announced The Merry Widow for November 1959.
Cast
- Abe — Charles Andrews
- Milli — Margaret Stratford Day
- Blodek — Lance Clarke
- Karolka — Valerie Wright
- Uncle Marek — Roland Richardson
- Ma Flannagan — Gladys Massey
- Gilmore — Jim Cavilla
- Shaun — Alan Spencer
- Tomashek — Cyril Wiltshire
- Dvorak — Reginald Webb
- Feeney — Mark Murphy
- Joe — Cecil Hockin
- Barstow — David Harper
- Jake — Leslie Harris
- Priest — Bob Bradshaw
- 1st Reporter — John Hall
- 2nd Reporter — John McDonnell
- 1st Sailor — Bob Bradshaw
- 2nd Sailor — Norman Hunt
- Attendant — Cyril Blake