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1954-THE DESERT SONG

1955-SHOW BOAT

1956-ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

1957-WILD VIOLETS

1957-BRIGADOON

1958-WHITE HORSE INN

THE

PRESTON MUSICAL COMEDY SOCIETY

PRESENTS

THE DESERT SONG(By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd.)

Music by SIGMUND ROMBERG

at the

QUEEN'S HALL, PRESTON

MONDAY TO SATURDAY

14th March to 19th March1966

At 7.15 p.m.

Producer.' HARRY CROSSLEY

1959-0KLAHOMA

1960-CAROUSEL

1961-THE KING AND I

1962-S0UTH PACIFIC

1963-THE LILAC DOMINO

1964-THE STUDENT PRINCE

1965-THE MERRY WIDOW

Pagfl One

Affiliated to the National Operatic and Dramatic Association

THIE !DIESIERT SONGPresident: Lt.-Col. RUDOLF ORO, M.B.E., J.P.

E. T. White, Esq.Mrs. J. A. Wood

Under the Patronage of His Worship the Mayor of Preston and Members of the Corporation

Julian Amery, Esq., M.P.R. Balmer, Esq. M. I. MAR. E.S. Carwin, Esq.

G. E. Barnes, Esq.S. W. Birtle, Esq.Mrs. H. BradshawT. C. Charnley, Esq.J. Coulthurst, Esq.W. F. Dawson, Esq.Miss J. Fairlee

G. H. Baines, Esq.H. Battarbee, Esq.T. Bramley, Esq.Mrs. P. F. BradyR. Carnpbell., Esq.Mrs. T. Catterall

Lt.-Col. RUDOLF ORD, M.B.E., J.P.

VICE-PRESIDENTS:A Green, Esq.W. Hill, Esq.F. Hind, Esq.

A Harrison, Esq., M.B.E.J. Ingham, Esq.N. Warburton, Esq., O.B.E., J.P.

M. H. Seddon, Esq.W. Shorrock, Esq., M.B.E.Miss J. StewartL. B. Turner, Esq.J. C. Turner, Esq.

F. Spencer, Esq.Miss E. M. TannerW. Whalley, Esq.Miss A WinderMrs. H. YatesMiss J. Yates

PATRONS:T. R. Flintoff, Esq., M.B.E., J.P.E. Howse, Esq.C. Henthorn, Esq.L. Ingham, Esq.A. R. W. Jones, Esq.M. A Leighton, Esq.Mrs. M. Lindsay

Miss N. MarsdenW. Mercer, Esq.T. C. Nicholson, Esq.G. Nield, Esq.J. Renwick, Esq.R. Robinson, Esq.Miss M. A. Roscoe

Page Three

ASSOCIATES:Miss P. Farnworth S. G. C. Mathews, Esq,R. Gray, Esq. S. Morrison, Esq.M. Graham, Esq. Miss J. PattersonW. Hill, Esq. Miss K. R. SlaterD. Hilton, Esq. Miss M. SowerbuttsR. M. Jamieson, Esq. R. E. Strangeway, Esq.

And others too late for publication.

TlHIlE DIESIERT SONGPresident: Lt.-Col. RUDOLF ORO, M.B.E., J.P.

Chairman: NEVILLE WARBURTON, Esq., O.B.E., J.P.

Officers and Committee:Chairman. . NEVILLE WARBURTON, Esq., O.B.E., J.P.Hon. Stage Director, ...•••.••............................ Mr. H. YATESHon. Publicity and "l '" Mr. T. BRAMLEYHon. Programme Managers J Mr. J. LAMBERTHon. Secretary, ...................•...•.••••••••.•.................. Mr. W. WHALLEYHon. Assistant Secretary Miss K. R. SLATERHon. Booking Secretary. . . . . . .. . . •. •• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mrs. P. F. BRADYHon. Treasurer Mr. M. JOHNSON. A.C.A.Hon. Wardrobe Master Mr. R. E. STRANGEWAYHon. Stage Manager ...........••••.................................... Mr. J. FEWERY

Hon. Solicitor ..................................•............... Mr. R. G. THURNHILLHon. Auditor .................•...•.................... Mr. D. E. NELSON, LL.B .. AC.A.Hon. Wardrobe Mistress .............••......................... . . Mrs. R. BAXTERHon. Stage Electrical Engineers, Messrs. A FAZACKERLEY and A WEBSTERHon. Property Master ...........••••••••.............................. Mr. H. KITCHINHon. Prompter ...............................••••••.....•.............. Mrs. BROOKEHon. Assistant Treasurer ...........•.•..••.••.••••................... Miss J. FAULKNERHon. Accompanist ...............................••••.••.............. Miss O. FODENDancing Mistress Miss M. SANDHAMDirector of Music ......................•••.••••.............. Mr. KEITH HALL, L.R,AM.Producer. ...............••.•.................................. Mr. HARRY CROSSLEY

SOCIAL COMMITTEEChairman: Mr. P. F. BRADY Vice-Chairman: Mr. F. SPENCERSecretary: Mr. E. PHILLIPS Treasurer: Mr. L. FARRERMesdames D. BELL, L. DAVIS, F. FARRER, H. LINDSAY, E. MERCER, D. MEYLER, H. REGAN,

M. SOWERBUTTS and Mr. T, BRAMLEY

Page Five

Mr. Harrv CrossleyPRODUCER OF

"THE DESERT SONG"

Sum up Harry Crossley in about a hundredwo:rds? Sorry not possible. You can men-tion the leadership and firm command thattake the chaotic loose pieces of a company'spreparatory work and fashion them into acoherent, flowing pattern; the calm profes-sionalism that takes every problem in itsstride; the shrewd, perceptive sense oftheatre that makes the very best of everyone of us; the impish, unfailing sense ofhumour; the wit that can sting when a flickof the lash is called for; the sympathetichandling of the nervous and unsure. Butyou haven't really started to describe HarryCrossley.

(Let us just say that no member of thiscompany has any doubt about who is thefinest producer of big shows in the North ;and that our most experienced players sayunanimously they have never met his peer.)

Mr. D. KEITH HALL, L.R.A.M.

Musical Director

Miss M. SANDHAMM.B.B.O., O.O,T,S., (Examiner),

M.I.S,T.O,(N.B), M,N.A.T.O., O,T.A.

Dancing Mistress

Page Seven

BRIAN FRANKLAND as The Red Shadow

P8{Je Nine

WYN TOOTELL as Margot

Page Eleven

\

.. When will these Western people be civilized ? ..MAVIS ROGERSON (Clementina) and FRANK MASON (Ali Ben Ali)

Page Nineteen

PRESTON MUSICAL COMEDY SOCIETY, 1966 THE(By arrangement with

Ladies of the Chorus

CI-SID EL KAR (The Red Shadow's LHASSI t Leading members of t~MINDAR J Red Shadow's band ..HADJ I (A Riff farmer) .........•NERI (His wife) .BENJAMIN KIDD (Society Corres;

E. ALCOCK C. PARKER

C. BATES J. PATTERSON

D. BELL J. SHARPLES

D. BROTHERTON J. STEWART

J. CAMPBELL M. WADDINGTON

P. ELLIS J. WESTRAY41

V. GORDON C. WHITEHEAD

P. HALE J. WHITESIDE

N. MARSDEN A. WINDERS

P. MERCER J. YATES

AZURI (A Moroccan dancer) ....CAPTAIN PAUL FONTAINE (A Fr'MARGOT BONVALET (GuestofGeGENERAL BIRABEAU (Governor 0

PIERRE BIRABEAU (His only sonSUSAN (Benjamin's secretary) ..EDITH (Her friend) .ALI BEN ALI (Caid of a Riff tribe)CLEMENTINA (A Spanish II Lady'LIEUTENANT LA VERGNE } OfSERGEANT DE BOUSSAC Fa

Entire Production byHARRY CROSSLEY

Choreographer: MA:

Dancers

SYNOPSISA(

SCENE 1. Retreat of the Red ShSCENE 2. Outside General BirabSCENE 3. A room in General Bir

S. BILLINGTON D. GARSTANG

P. DEIGHTON H. TAYLOR

ACSCENE 1. The Harem of Ali Bel"!SCENE 2. A corridorSCENE 3. The room of the sltkeSCENE 4. The edge of the dese"SCENE 5. Courtyard of General

H. DAVIES J. KENWORTHY

C. FARE L. TAYLORThe action of the play

Page Twenty-two

RT SONG FOURTEENTH PRODUCTION

,MUEL FRENCH LTD.).T!utenant) ..... RICHARD WRIGHT........ { FREDERICK SPENCER... , .. .. DAVID WALSH.............. TERRY BRAMLEY.............. FRANCES FARRER[nderrt of the Paris Daily Mail) .. ..

TERRY BRAMLEY· .. BARBARA SAUNDERS JONES\ch officer) DONALD SEWELLeral Birabeau) WYN TOOTELLa French Moroccan Province) ....

JOHN LAMBERT............ BRIAN FRANKLAND.......... PAMELA FARNWORTHARILYN BRANDWOOD SPENCER................ FRANK MASON· MAVIS ROGERSONhe French {IAN LAMBERTlign Legion.. .. .. CLIFF REGAN

F. DAVIS E. SPENCER

Gentlemen of the Chorus

K. FOSTER A. SIDDALL

J. FLYNN J. STOTT

F. GILDAY I. THOMAS

R. I. LAMBERT J. TYRELL

H. McGUNNIGLE E. WHITE

R. J. POLDING E. WHITTLE

R. PYE M: WILSON

couch

Scenery by

SCENIC DISPLAY Bradford

Musical DirectorKEITH HALL, L.R.A.M.

3ARET SANDHAM

F SCENERY·Ilow in the Riff Mountainsu's house,eau's house

Amplification

By SMITH'S STERIOPHONIC SOUND

Bamber Bridge, Preston

Costumes by

S. & B. WATTS, LTD., Manchester

IIlli

rabeau's houseStage Furniture by

GIMBERTS LTD., Prestwiches place in North Africa

Page Twenty-three

Musical NumbersACT I

1. PRELUDE and OPENING CHORUS (High on a hill is our stronghold)2. SONG (Red Shadow and Riffs) " The Riff Song"

(Over the ground there comes a sound)2a. REPRISE (Ho ! Bold men of Morocco)3. FINALETTO-SCENE I3a. ENTRANCE OF AZURI3b. TRUMPET SOLO4. SONG (Paul and Soldiers) " Margot" (O! Pretty Maid of France)4a. FINALE-SCENE 15. OPENING SCENE II and SONG (Susan) (Has anybody seen my Bennie)6. OPENING CHORUS-SCENE III (Why did we marry soldiers)7. FRENCH MILITARY MARCHING SONG (Margot and Chorus) " .

(Oh! Girls, girls, here are Cavaliers)8. SONG (Margot and Girls) " Romance"

(Romance-A Play Boy who is born each Spring)8a. INCIDENTAL MUSIC9. DUET (Margot, Pierre and Chorus) " Then you will know"

(My passion is not to crash on)1O. TRIO (Margot, Paul, Pierre and Chorus) " I want a kiss .-

(What's the noise, What's the row?)11. DUET (Susan, Bennie and Dancers) " It" (There was a time)11a. INCIDENTAL MUSIC12. DUET (Margot and Red Shadow) " The Desert Song" (I open my arms)13. FINALE-ACT I (Won't you wish us luck)

ACT II14. ENTR 'ACTE15. OPENING CHORUS (Clementina and Girls) (Mv .Little Castagnette)16. SONG (Clementina and Girls) " Song of the Brass Key"

(On the streets of Spain)16a. SPANISH DANCE16b. REPRISE (Give him the key)17. DUET (Clementina and Bennie) " One good boy gone wrong"

(Bold woman, please unhand me)18. CONCERTED NUMBER (Red Shadow, Sid, Ali and Men)

Eastern and Western Love(a) "Let love come"(b) "One flower grows alone in your garden"(c) "One alone"

18a. INCIDENTAL FINALETTO-SCENE II19. OPENING-SCENE III20. SCENE (Margot and Red Shadow) " The Sabre Song"

(I find the simple life entrancing)21. FINALETTO-SCENE III (You love me)22. SCENE IV " Farewell "23. OPENING SCENE V and Entrance of Susan and Bennie (All hail to the General)24. REPRISE (Susan, Bennie and Girls) "It" (Because I didn't know)25. DANCE OF TRIUMPH (Azuri) (As we are drinking)26. FINALETTO (Soldiers when the battle is over)

Musical Director: KEITH HALL, L.R.A.M.

Page Twenty-five

" Frenchmen are shieks only to the women they don't intend to marry"#I DONALD SEWELL and WYN TOOTELL

" Even we don't know where the Red Shadow comes from"FREDERICK SPENCER, RICHARD WRIGHT, FRANCES FARRER (Neri) and

DAVID WALSH (Mindar)

Page Thirty-one

.-----The Story of " The Desert Song"

The legend of Robin Hood, robber of the rich, friend of the poor, scourge oftyrants, is here translated in time and locality from the forests of medieval Britainto the mountains and deserts of 20th Century Morocco, where French garrisonsstrive to keep the peace among the proud and turbulent Riffs. A young officer,Pierre Birabeau, sickened 'of the harshness and injustice inflicted 'On the tribesmen,resigns his commission on the pretext that a blow on the head has left him almosthalf-witted. Secretly, he organises a picked band of Riff guerrilla fighters, leadingthem brilliantly on raids which frustrate the more oppressive measures of the French.Soon, all Morocco rings with the exploits of the legendary Red Shadow, the raiderin crimson mask and cloak; but none can guess the secret of his identity.

Then a new Commandant is appointed to hunt down the Red Shadow. Of allpeople, it is Pierre's own father, General Birabeau. Forced to continue playing thesimpleton at home, Pierre finds the pose is costing him not only the respect of hisfather but also his chance of winning the girl he loves, Margot Bonvalet. Margotbecomes engaged to Captain Paul Fontaine, the tough, efficient young commanderof a force hunting the Red Shadow. With the marriage imminent, Pierre sees noalternative flut to kidnap Margot and woo her as the Red Shadow, knowing that thedesert raider has already stirred her romantic imagination. He carries her off intothe mountains, to the harem of the chieftain Ali Ben Ali.

Though Margot is rapidly falling under the spell of her desert lover, her prideforces her to defy him. Soon, the Red Shadow has ather troubles on his hands.His own men accuse him of endangering them all for his own selfish ends, by kid-napping a Frenchwoman. He quells them. Then comes the dilemma he cannotsolve. A native dancing girl, Azuri, former lover of Paul Fontaine and now crazedwith jealousy over her rejection in favour of Margot, treacherously leads GeneralBirabeau to the Red Shadow's hide-out.

The cloaked and masked Pierre, challenged to a duel by his own father, refusesto fight and is branded a coward by his 'Own men. By the law of their tribe, theyturn him out into the desert, unarmed and without food or water. The Generalreturns with Margot to his garrison and orders out troops to hunt down the RedShadow and kill him. Only then, to hi:s horror, does he learn from the drunkenAzuri that he has signed the death warrant of his own son.

The troops return with the news that they found in the desert Pierre, carryingtrophies which proved he had" killed the Red Shadow." Grief-stricken, Margotdeclares her love for the Red Shadow. Suddenly she hears again the love song ofthe desert raider and turns-to the joyous recognition that the man who won herheart was Pierre.

Page Forty-two