In November 1980 the Bristol Light Opera Club presented Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow, set in turn-of-the-century Paris around “the twenty millions” of the widowed Anna Glavari, for a week at the Bristol Hippodrome, produced by Lis Soloman with David Clarke as musical director. Anna was sung by Glynis Tyrrell, who had trained at the Royal Academy of Music and spent “two years with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Co.”, and Camille by Kenneth Crowhurst of the Bristol Opera Company. On Friday 14th November the Club welcomed the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, “M.P.s and other guests to the Gala Night Supper”. The 20p programme, with a cover designed by Les Soloman, also appeals for singers and dancers for the 1981 production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Cast
- Anna (Madame Glavari), the Merry Widow — Glynis Tyrrell
- Danilo (Count Danilovitsch) — Frank Hobson
- Baron Zeta — Kenneth Matthews
- Valencienne — Teresa Davey
- Camille (Count de Rosillon) — Kenneth Crowhurst
- Njegus — Dennis Dew
- St. Brioche — Alex Turasawicz
- Cascada — Malcolm Daw
- Kromov — Rod Young
- Olga — Faith Roberts
- Bogdanovitsch — John Broomhead
- Pritsch — John Reason
- Sylvia and Praskovia (lady guests at the Embassy) — Zia Kruger, Betty Carver
- Lolo, Dodo, Jou-Jou, Frou-Frou, Clo-Clo and Margot (grisettes at Maxim’s) — Christine Parker, Carrie Bishop, Judith Bright, Cicely Ling, Liz Salmon, Gaye Wright