The Bristol Light Opera Club presented “the South of England amateur premiere” of Johann Strauss’s The Gipsy Baron, in an English book by Phil Park and Conrad Carter, at the Hippodrome, Bristol, from Monday 12th to Saturday 17th November 1956, with nightly performances at 7.15 p.m. and a Saturday matinee. The scenery and décor were designed by Bobbie Burn and John Heming and “executed by Frederick’s Studios, Weston-s-Mare”, and the ballet came from the Bristol Ballet Club, directed by Dorothy Woods, who also appeared as solo dancer. Frank Duggan conducted the Hippodrome Orchestra, augmented by extra players, and the Club thanked local shops for “giving window space for display purposes”.
Cast
- The Butcher (Tradesman of Zrinyi) — Jim Porter
- The Baker (Tradesman of Zrinyi) — Lance Clarke
- The Candlestick Maker (Tradesman of Zrinyi) — Geo. Knight
- Mishka — Bob Bradshaw
- Pali — Malcolm Daw
- Franzi — Beryl Holmes
- Vanya — Valerie Gibbs
- Otto (The Mayor’s Secretary) — Cecil Hockin
- Arletta (The Mayor’s Daughter) — Enid Naish
- Kalman Zsupan (Mayor of Zrinyi) — Reg Webb
- Mirabella (The Mayor’s Housekeeper) — Barbara Fryer
- Czipra (Queen of the Gipsies) — Gladys Massey
- Saffi (Her Grand-daughter) — Joyce Martin
- Count Kareska (Civil Commissioner) — Leslie Harris
- Sandor Barinkay — Tony Williams
- Captain of Hussars — Mark Murphy
- Graf Peter Homonoy (Governor of the Province) — Hugh Thompson