The Bristol Light Opera Club staged Lehár’s The Merry Widow, in Phil Park’s new book and lyrics, at the Hippodrome, Bristol, from Monday 9th to Saturday 14th November 1959. The programme notes that the production was “based on the original German version and not the lighter presentation which was popular earlier this century”. John Heming produced, Vernon Jones was musical director and conductor, and Rosemary Everett was both choreographer and principal dancer, with Sheila Dowling as Anna and Roderick Young as Danilo. The Hippodrome Orchestra was “augmented by” guest players, and the programme welcomed parties from almost thirty organisations attending during the week, among them operatic societies from Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Port Talbot and Weston-super-Mare.
Cast
- Baron Zeta — Reg Webb
- Valencienne — Valerie Wright
- Camille — Donald Williams
- St. Brioche — Cecil Hockin
- Cascada — Bob Bradshaw
- Kromov — John McDonnell
- Olga — Margaret Smith
- Bogdanovitsch — John Lloyd
- Pritsch — Ken Richards
- Sylvia — Gladys Massey
- Praskovia — Esmé Salter
- Njegus — Mark Murphy
- Anna — Sheila Dowling
- Danilo — Roderick Young
- Lolo (Grisette) — Judith Hockin
- Dodo (Grisette) — Sylvia Wiltshire
- Jou-Jou (Grisette) — Teresa Davey
- Frou-Frou (Grisette) — Jane Bragge
- Clo-Clo (Grisette) — Nan McDonnell
- Margot (Grisette) — Joan Barrett