110 In The Shade

Louise Gold starred as Lizzie Curry at The Fortune Theatre on 4, 11, 18 and 25 July 1999

110 In The Shade is a musical version of The Rainmaker. The leading lady herself decribed it thus

 “It’s more of a play with songs, which work wonderfully in the context of the show” Louise Gold to Robin Stringer, EVENING STANDARD (LONDON), 29 June 1999. (Article was titled ‘Louise strikes gold with hot Hepburn stage role’)

 

Cast

Fyle - Mark McKerracher

Toby - John Langley

H. C. Curry - Christopher Benjamin

Noah Curry - Neil McCaul

Jim Curry - Michael Matus

Lizzie Curry - Louise Gold

Bill Starbuck - John Capes

Snookie Updegraff - Suzy Bloom

Mrs Jessen - Jennifer Meldrum

Gil Demby - Paul Morrisey

Georgie - Neil Dutton

Olive - Arlene Coyle

Hannah - Hazel Ross

Belinda - Ann Adlem

 

Production Team

Music - Harvey Schmidt

Lyrics - Tom Jones (not The Tom Jones)

Book - N. Richard Nash

Based on a play "The Rainmaker" by N. Richard Nash

Original Production – The Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway, 1963, with Inge Swenson as Lizzie Curry

Musical Director - Gareth Valentine

Assistant Musical Director - Jason Carr

Director - Ian Marshall-Fisher

 

      For a full Review/Account of the show, please click here.

110 In The Shade marked Louise Gold's return to The Lost Musicals, after a year's absence in 1998, due to filming Topsy Turvy.

It also saw her returning to The Fortune Theatre, where she had appeared in Nunsense, some 12 years previously. She returned to The Fortune again some seven years later (with her hair nicely tousled) in a gala Happily Ever After, and two years after that in Flaunt It 2008.

It is perhaps worth noting that 110 In The Shade’s original Broadway production took place at The Broadhurst theatre, the same theatre that Godspell had it’s Broadway premier, after an Off-Broadway premier at The Cherry Lane Theatre, where Nunsense had one of it’s first major productions.

It is perhaps worth noting that The Fortune Theatre had (or possibly has) public right of way running through the auditorium and across the stage.

Michael Matus 's previous credits include acting in The Muppet Christmas Carol, thereby making him one of those actors who have found themselves working with Louise Gold in both her guises.

Louise Gold, and, Michael Matus, went on to appear together in Candide In Concert.

Louise Gold and Neil McCaul had previously appeared together in: The Pirates Of Penzance film, Billy The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire , Angry Housewives, and The Lost Musicals productions of Red Hot & Blue and Panama Hattie. They went on to take part in A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Dick Vosburgh.

Neil McCaul had previously appeared on The Royal Variety Performance (1982), he went on to appear on television on A Week In The West End.

Louise Gold and Christopher Benjamin had previously appeared together in a BBC Radio 3 production of Let ‘Em Eat Cake

Mark McKerracher who made his Lost Musicals debut went on to appear in Du Barry Was A Lady (2001 Production) where he also had Louise Gold as his leading lady.

Gareth Valentine’s recording credits include conducting on The Best Of The Musicals.

Note, although The Musical Director for this production was Gareth Valentine, who played the piano on stage for the show. During some of the rehearsals he was unavailable, so Jason Carr stood in.

Jason Carr may have previously taken part in Thing A Thon.

Jason Carr and Louise Gold have previously worked together on: Chicago & Company, Broadway To Brighton,  A Time To Start Living, ,  Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It (Recording), and, Oh Kay. They have gone on to work on: One Touch Of Venus (2000 Production), A Lost Musicals Occasion, Defiant Dames, Final Chic Cabaret 2003, Dead By 12 (as guests), Louise Gold...By Appointment, The Water Babies, and Somethin’ Good.

 

Critics Comments

  “Louise Gold stood out as Lizzie, as did John Capes as Starbuck.” Chris Buchanan, WORDS AND MUSIC, Issue 34 September 1999

 “Louise Gold also shines in the role of Lizzie, revealing her emotional torment in Old Maid, and an overwhelming joy in Is It Really Me?” Lisa Martland, THE STAGE, 22 July 1999, page 14

  “All the parts were well cast, especially that of Louise Gold doing some of her best work in the lead” Ken Sephton, WORDS AND MUSIC, Issue 34 September 1999

 

Links about 110 In The Shade

The Lost Musicals Charitable TrustTM: http://www.lostmusicals.org/  -. The site includes photographs from a number of past productions, including one of Suzy Bloom and Michael Matus in 110 In The Shade.

Reed Tickets’s page about the history of various productions of this musical: http://www.reedstickets.net/110-degrees-in-the-shade.html

 

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