In November 1983 the Bristol Light Opera Club marked its 50th anniversary with The Great Waltz, a story of Johann Strauss father and son, chosen “to celebrate our Jubilee”, at the Bristol Hippodrome. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne attended a Royal Gala Performance on Friday 18th November, after which the Save the Children Fund took a collection, and the Duke of Beaufort was among the guests. The 50p programme carries a history of the Club since its inaugural meeting on 30th October 1933, noting that “some £30,000 must be taken at the box office to cover expenses compared with £300 for that first show”. Ian Burton directed, with David Clarke as musical director and Gail Gordon choreographing in her “first season for BLOC”.
Cast
- Organ-Grinder — Peter Marlow
- First Composer — Christopher Ladkin
- Second Composer — Andy Marchant
- Third Composer — Kevin Swailes
- Fourth Composer — Alexander Turasiewicz
- Ebeseder — Brian Harding
- Albert — Roland Kitchen
- Katie — Suzanne Parrott
- Hirsch — Peter Townsend
- Dommayer — Dennis Dew
- Resi — Christine Parker
- Helene Vernet — Meirion Ashton
- Captain Elliot — Eric Arnold
- Johann Strauss, Jr. (Schani) — Roderick Young
- Hartkopf — Bob Bradshaw
- Johann Strauss, Sr. — Frank Hobson
- Clerk — Peter Day
- Fritz — John Lloyd
- Drexler — Ken Matthews
- Ling Ching — Tony Holly
- Doorman — Hugh Quintrell
- Frau Haberwatzel — Barbara Graeme-Drury
- Countess von Lugenstein — Dorothy Bambury