1987 show boat

The

Rathmines & Rathgar Musical Society presents

Jerome Kern’s

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Toesday 17th to Saturday 28th November 1987

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(by arrangement with Chappell & Co. Ltd) Music by jzrom e Kern Book & Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II Music Director, Gearoid Grant Chorus Master, Heather Hewson Choreographer, Dex McGloughlin Stage Setting Designed by Stanley Mills Sets Constructed by Arena, Dublin Costumes by P. J. Bourke & Co.

Entire Production, James Belchamber

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Showboat is the classic story of some very lovable people set against the richly romantic background of the great Mississippi river. It has been hailed as the first modem American musical play.

T he origins of Showboat can be traced back to one day back in 1927 when Jerome Kern called Oscar Hammerstein and said “How would you like to do a show for Ziegfield?. . . it’s got a million-dollar title . . . it’s callew Showboat.

Kern had picked up a copy of Edna Ferber’s novel of the same name.

Before he finished it, he was convinced that it was a perfect story for the musical he wanted to write with Hammerstein. It was a colourful story, the plot and characters believable, losing no time he bought the stage rights from the author, got Hammerstein’s agreement to work with him and persuaded Ziegfield to produce the show. The same year, 1927, Showboat was premiered in Washington.

Kern & Hammerstein were careful that each of the songs should have a definite purpose in the story and wrote the three nostalgic numbers — “ Only Make Believe”, “You Are Love” and “Why Do I Love You” with the lovers Ravenal and Magnolia in mind. Julie underlines her own life story with “Can’t Help Lovin’ dat M an” while Ellie’s comedy song “Life Upon the Wicked Stage” tells of the lack of glamour behind the lights. To complete the show it was necessary to incorporate two more songs, and so, “After the Ball” and “ Bill” were written.

Hamm erstein’s gentle philosophy enabled him to write with compassion and understanding of the negro’s problems which were at their height in the Twenties. When the famous song “01 M an River” was completed, he decided that it should go to one of the coloured characters, Joe the dock worker, rather than a principal character. It is sung early in the show and is reprised several times before the end.

Stanley Green, in his biography of Hammerstein says “ At last an author’s concern for his fellow man can be used logically within the framework of a Broadway musical” .

Showboat opened in London’s Drury Lane on May 3rd 1928 and ran for 350 performances until March 2nd 1929. T he play is in two acts, Act One is set in the late 1880s on the Mississippi aboard the Cotton Blossom. While Act Two has the Chicago World Fair in 1893 as its background, bringing the story up to 1927. Showboat has been filmed twice to date.

Nora Pat Slowey

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Rathmines & Rathgar Celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 1988 1988 sees the R&R celebrate its 75th Anniversary. As a result, the Society will provide a host of activities and entertainment for its loyal supporters to enjoy throughout the year. Included in the line-up is The Sound o f Sondheim — which will be presented at the National Concert Hall from March 18di to March 24th, 1988.

STEPHEN SONDHEIM

The Sound ofSondheim National Concert Hall, March 18th - 24th, 1988. with Full Orchestra, Chorus & Soloists Leonard Bernstein has said that Stephen Sondheim is “ now the most important theatre man writing” and Jule Styne says “I adore him” . Bom in New York in 1930, Sondheim displayed a singular interest in writing musicals from a very early age, his mentor was Oscar Hammerstein. H e began his musical career writing the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy with Leonard Bernstein and Jule Styne. However, Sondheim’s real ambition was to write music and from 1962 he wrote both music and lyrics, his first production being A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This show was not an immediate success but later enjoyed two revivals on Broadway.

In 1970, Sondheim won a Tony Award for Company, this was to be the first of six Tony and New York Drama Critic Awards which he has received to date. The others were for Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd and Sunday in the Park with George, almost all of the musicals he has written since 1970. In 1976 Ned Sherrin and David Kem an devised and presented Side by Side by Sondheim — a montage of songs from Sondheim shows, which was acclaimed in London and New York not to mention two successful productions by Noel Pearson here in Dublin.

Stephen Sondheim is now enjoying perhaps his best period of public acclaim, two o f his shows opened in London this year. Pacific Overtures and Follies, the latter being described as one of the best musicals ever to be seen in London.

Tom Singleton

OTHER FORTHCOMING R&R ATTRACTIONS January 8th 1988 at 8 p.m.

75th Anniversary Celebration Concert with Army No. 1 Band at M ount Argus.

January 28th 1988, “ 75 Years of the R&R” Lectures by Robert McCullough at the R.D.S.

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Friends T he Society welcomes this opportunity to acknowledge the generous and continuing support from our Friends.

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Mercantile Credit of Ireland Ltd. Johnston Brothers Ltd. H. A. O ’Neill & Co. Ltd. Nokia Ltd. Thomas Lenehan & Co. Ltd. Coyle Hamilton Ltd. K M G Reynolds McCarron Sean MacHale & Associates Noel McCabe Distributors Ltd. McCullough Pigott Hibernian Insurance Company C. Morton & Sons Dr. Karl Mullen Educational Building Society Bank of Ireland W. P. & R. O. Holdings Allied Irish Banks Ltd. Esso Ireland Ltd. Irish Distillers Group Ltd. James Crean pic T h e Cross Chemical Group M rs. Helen Timoney Smurfit Ireland

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PADDY FORDE — An Appreciation His many friends are going to miss Paddy’s genial presence in the Gaiety Theatre this season.

Ever a cheerful host, he was always there to meet the Associates and Friends of the Society who enjoyed a discussion with him on innumerable subjects whether inside or outside the theatre. If you agreed with him, all was well. If you disagreed, he invariably won you round to his way of thinking!

T o Paddy, the R&R and its affairs were of paramount importance and one was easily persuaded to accept his point of view as being the best regarding the management and future of the Society.

T he Society regrets the passing of someone who as Honorary General Secretary and President of the Society for many years and whose contribution to the Society was immeasureable.

A stalwart has passed from the Dublin theatrical scene — we must keep to his standards.

GMacN.

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CAST Steve : Donal Dixon Pete : Paschal Walsh Queenie : Heather Hewson ParthyAnn : Grace Brophy Captain Andy : Eddie Guilmartin Ellie : Tara Buckley Gaylord Ravenal : Damian Smith Frank : Jimmy Dixon Julie : Anne Maria Smith Vallon : Henry Kennedy Magnolia : Marie Hogan Joe : Robert McKevitt Card Dealer : Brendan Galvin Backwoodsman : Hugo Dillon-Malone Landlady : D odoO ’Hagan Jake : Marty Dunne Charlie : Paschal Walsh Max : Merven Grealey Jeb : PatLawlor Windy : Jimmy Carroll Ethel : Cecilia Redmond Rubber Face : Billy Blood Smyth Man with guitar : Eamonn Eaton Lottie : Anne Crossan

White Chorus Joan Brittan Paula Hannan Anne Crossan Imelda Bradley Lorraine O ’Halloran Antoinette Carroll Marie-Therese Duffy Sandra Oman Catherine Timoney Joe Griffin

Paul Purcell Eddie Corry John Sweetman Eamonn Eaton Sean Heritage Billy Blood Smyth Paddy Yeates Ronan O ’Hara Robert Doyle Dominick Daly

Black Chorus Iris Neylan Eileen Gildea Eva Staveley Lyn Branagan Phil Traynor Cecilia Redmond Grainne Walsh Germaine Carlos Michelle Foynes Deirdre Fitzgerald Carol Keane

Larry Shelley Clem Forde John Lambert Merven Grealey Michael Lavelle Peter Lewis Tom Ladd John Tracy Peter Shannon John O ’Hare

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Dancers Rae Cullen Leo O ’Kennedy Louise O ’Neill Leonie McGloughlin Bairbre Murphy

Christopher Keogh Dermot Snedker Gerry McCann John Stanton Eamonn Eaton

Synopsis o f Scenes ACT I Scene 1

The Levee at Natchez on the Mississippi.

In the late eighteen-eighties.

Scene 2

Inside the Waterfront Gambling Saloon.

Scene 3

Outside the Waterfront Gambling Saloon.

Scene 4

Auditorium and stage of the Cotton Box. One hour later.

SceneS

Box Office, on foredeck of the Cotton Blossom.

Three weeks later.

Scene 6

Auditorium and stage of the Cotton Blossom during the Third Act of “T he Parson’s Bride” .

Scene 7

T he top deck of the Cotton Blossom.

Later that night.

Scene 8

The Levee. Next morning.

ACT II Scene 1

Chicago World’s Fair, 1893.

Scene 2

A room on Ontario Street, 1904.

Scene 3

Trocadero Music Hall. Two weeks later.

Scene 4

Trocadero Music Hall. New Year’s Eve 1904.

Scene 5

T he Cotton Blossom.

Scene 6

T he Levee.

Scene 7

Levee at Natchez. The next night.

The R&R — “It just keeps rolling along?”

O f course it does, but only with a great deal of effort by a large number of dedicated people and support from its audience. The R&R is always changing, always looking for new shows, always working to improve the standard of its chorus and membership and the projection of that extra ingredient into its productions that makes the R&R special.

T he R&R has presented almost every musical show worth doing, in addition to each of the G&S operettas which it has presented a number ot times.

T he 75 th Anniversary Scholarship Scheme which was held in 1987 (in anticipation of the 75th Anniversary of the Society in 1988) attracted singers of a very high calibre. Some ten members of the chorus of Showboat are scholarship members in addition to ten who are new 1987 members. All this bodes well for the future of the Society and our commitment to maintaining the highest possible standards.

We remember the past achievements of the Society with great pride and look forward to the future with confidence — but not complacency. The Society has been fortunate over many years with the great support which it has received for its shows and concerts and we are very grateful to you our audience for this.

T he R&R builds no monuments in stone, but only golden memories in the hearts o f its audience — and long may it do so.

S . A / ’.

For Rathmines & Rathgar Musical Society President, Clem Ryan Chairman and Honorary General Secretary, Stephen A. Faul Honorary Treasurer, Bernard Cullen Honorary Business Secretary, Ted Ryan Assistant Honorary Treasurer, Dodo O ’Hagan Honorary Marketing Secretary, Tony Sweeny Honorary Booking Secretary, Catherine Ryan Assistant Honorary Booking Secretary, Malcolm McCambridge Honorary Production Secretary, Brendan Galvin Public Relations Officer, Nora Pat Slowey Honorary Social Secretary, Barbara Graham Rehearsals Secretary, Eva Staveley Wardrobe Master, Arthur Salmon Wardrobe Mistress, Cynthia Taylor Assistant Wardrobe Mistress, Dymphna Bevan Stage Management by Clodagh Foley, Daphne Miller, Nora O ’Rourke BLOCK BOOKING ENQUIRIES R&R 67 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin 6. Tel: 971577

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Gaiety Theatre Information and Services Booking Information: The Box Office is open on Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. for advance bookings. Visa, Access and American Express Bookings are accepted at the counter, or by telephone 771717. Postal Bookings are processed in order of receipt. Please make cheques payable to Gaietystage Productions Ltd. and enclose SAE, or add postage to your remittance.

Gift Vouchers: May be purchased at the Box Office.

Car Parking: We offer car parking facilities, in association with Dublin Corporation. You will receive, with your tickets, a voucher for Drury Street Car Park; this enables you to use the car park for 50p, between 6 p.m. and midnight. The Car Park is closed on Public Holidays.

Latecomers: In response to general request, latecomers will not be admitted until there is a suitable break in the performance.

Fire Procedure: In the event of an emergency, please follow the instructions of the staff, who are trained in evacuation procedure, and walk quickly through the nearest Fire Exit, which is clearly marked.

General Information: Smoking is prohibited in the auditorium. Glasses and bottles may not be brought into the auditorium. The use of cameras and tape recorders is prohibited.

Kiosk: The Gaiety Kiosk is situated in the foyer and is open before the performance and during the interval. The kiosk stocks minerals and confectionery.

Ices: Ices are sold on each level of the auditorium during the interval. For the benefit of party organisers, orders may be placed in advance.

Bars are situated on the Parterre, Dress Circle and Grand Circle levels.

All bars are open half an hour before the performance and during the interval.

To avoid queueing for your interval drinks, you may pre-order your drinks and reserve a table in any of the Bars.

The interval order form is displayed in the Foyer and in each Bar. Coffee is available in all the Bars.

At the end of the performance the Bars on the Dress Circle and Parterre levels will remain open.

The Gaiety Bars offer an attractive setting for Conferences, Press Receptions, Fashion Shows and Meetings.

The Management reserves the right to refuse admission and to make any alteration in the cast or programme which may be rendered necessary by illness or other unavoidable cause.

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