In November 1964 the Bristol Light Opera Club presented Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella, billed by the theatre as “The American Hit Musical” and based on Sidney Howard’s play “They knew what they wanted”, for a week at the Bristol Hippodrome. Charles Andrews played Tony, the ageing Napa Valley grape grower, with Peggy Rocke as Rosabella. Eileen Vaughan directed, Vernon Jones was musical director and conductor, and the Hippodrome Orchestra was “augmented” by thirteen extra players led by Dudley Lucchesi. Monday was “Civic Night”, welcoming the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kenelm A. P. Dalby, and the programme thanked local firms for props including a wheelchair, a farm cart and sacks. It closed by announcing Brigadoon for November 1965.
Cast
- The Manager — Pat Mortimer
- Cleo — Sylvia Jordan
- Rosabella — Peggy Rocke
- The Postman — Hugh Bellamy
- Tony — Charles Andrews
- Max (Photographer) — Ronald Slade
- Maria — Barbara Bradshaw
- Herman — Roderick Young
- Al — John Bennett
- Clem — Derek Arkinstall
- Jake — George King
- Joe — Bob Bradshaw
- Pasquale — David Leat
- Giuseppe — Roger Cromwell
- Ciccio — Ken Jordan
- Country Girl — Joan Barrett
- City Boy — David Hockin
- Doc — Cecil Hockin
- The Priest — Michael Woods
- Tessie — Pauline Florey
- Gussie — Simon Florey / David Malin
- 1st Truck Driver — Monty Banks
- 2nd Truck Driver — Fred Burgess
- 1st Woman — Beryl Hockin
- 2nd Woman — Jean Licence