Panama Hattie

Louise Gold starred as Hattie Maloney at Barbican Cinema 1 on 22, 29 September, 6 and 13 October 1996.

 

STOP PRESS: Louise Gold has two nominations in the Broadway World West End Awards: http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/vote2015region.cfm

In particular she has been nominated for Understudy of The Year Female: http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/liveupdate2015region.cfm?btype=4338&region=UK%20/%20West%20End#sthash.2TIlL8gx.dpbs  (for her performance as Momma Rose – she understudied Imelda Staunton)

Cast:

Mrs Gonzales - Samantha Peo

Mac (Bartender Of Tropical Shore) - Ian Sanders

Skat Briggs (Sailor From The S. S. Idaho) - James Vaughan

Windy Deegan (Sailor From The S. S. Idaho) - Jon Glover

Woozy Hogan (Sailor From The S. S. Idaho) - Neil McCaul

Gae - Joanne Redmond

Ty (Soldier)/ 'Mysterious Stranger' - Ian Caddick

Hattie Maloney - Louise Gold

Leila Tree - Tracy Keating

Mildred Hunter - Myra Sands

Kitty-Belle Randolph - Lisa Peace

Nick Bullett - Michael Fitzpatrick

Florrie - Mandy More

Geraldine (Jerry) Bullett - Lucy Page

Vivian Budd - Stewart Permutt

Mike - Jeremy David

Whitney Randolph - Reg Eppey

'Mysterious ' Stranger - Carl Sanderson

 

Production Team

Music/Lyrics - Cole Porter

Book - Herbert Fields and B. G. De Sylva

Original Production – 30 October 1940, 46th Street Theatre New York, with Ethel Merman as Hattie Maloney

Music Director - Gareth Valentine

Director/Producer - Ian Marshall-Fisher

 

Having already appeared in the Lost Musicals productions of Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production) , Red Hot & Blue, and, Something For The Boys, as well as a West End revival of Anything Goes, be doing Panama Hattie, Louise completed the set, becoming one of the few performers to have played Ethel Merman's part in all five of the shows Cole Porter wrote for Miss Merman. She subsequently appeared in a further Lost Musicals production of Du Barry Was A Lady (2001 Production).

Prior to this Concert Staging Panama Hattie the only previous occasion when this musical had been seen in this country was it’s original London production, starring Bebe Daniels in the title role, at The Piccadilly Theatre (a theatre where Louise Gold would subsequently appear in The Soap Opera and Noises Off).

Myra Sands is one of the Lost Musicals gang’s regular members, and has appeared with Louise Gold in: By Jupiter | One Touch of Venus (1992 Production) | Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production)  | New Girl In Town | Red Hot And Blue | Something For The Boys | Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | One Touch of Venus (2000 Production) , and, Darling of The Day. They had previously appeared in a concert of highlights from Ratepayers' Iolanthe & Metropolitan Mikado, and, Camberwell Pocket Opera’s First Fundraising Gala, and have since appeared together on the commercial stage in Follies, and, Oliver!.; They can also be heard on the cast album Oliver! (Recording).

For some strange reason, it seems that all three of the sailors in this production have at one time or another found themselves chasing or being chased by Ms Gold in other Lost Musicals on the stage of Barbican Cinema 1: Jon Glover in By Jupiter, Neil McCaul in Red Hot & Blue, and James Vaughan in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (at least!).

Louise Gold and James Vaughan had previously appeared together in: One Touch Of Venus (1992),  Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production)  and Of Thee I Sing, They went on appear in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Du Barry Was A Lady (2001 Production). They also went on to appear in the film Crush. James Vaughan also helped out on the film Muppet Treasure Island on which Louise Gold puppeteered.

Louise Gold, James Vaughan, Stewart Permutt, and, Jeremy David all went on to appear in Du Barry Was A Lady (2001 Production).

Louise Gold and Neil McCaul had previously worked together on: The Pirates Of Penzance film , Billy The Kid And The Green Baize Vampire and Angry Housewives and would be reunited in The Lost Musicals production of 110 In The Shade. They also took part in A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Dick Vosburgh.

Louise Gold and Jon Glover were both voice-artistes for Spitting Image, and in that capacity appear on the album Spit In Your Ear, and in the documentary Best Ever Spitting Image.

It is perhaps worth noting that at least two of the actors in this production, have made somewhat noteworthy contributions to the world of pre-school-children’s television. Jon Glover is a former presenter of BBC TV’s Play School, and, Louise Gold has puppeteered on CTW’s Sesame Street.

Louise Gold and Ian Sanders went on to appear in Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate.

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

Myra Sands may have previously taken part in Thing A Thon.

Louise Gold, Stewart Permutt, and, Myra Sands went on to appear in Mexican Hayride.

Louise Gold has appeared in quite a number of Cole Porter musicals, besides the Ethel Merman quintet of shows, she has also appeared in Kiss Me Kate, Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, and, Mexican Hayride. However, she has made all too few recordings, the only albums of her singing Cole Porter are Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It (Recording) (where she was involved in singing a version of I’m Throwing A Ball Tonight), and the JAY/TER studio cast album of Anything Goes (recording) - Website Recommended Album.

The final performances of this production (on Sundays) may have overlapped with Ms Gold's appearances in The RSC production of The Cherry Orchard in Stratford Upon Avon (the rest of the week).

 

Links about Panama Hattie

Muppet Central/Tibby's Bowl Interview with Louise Gold http://www.muppetcentral.com/articles/interviews/gold.shtml Although she does not give name them, Louise mentions playing the Ethel Merman parts in The Lost Musicals.

Ian Sander’s Homepage: http://www.iansanders.co.uk/ lists the show and his part in it.

 

 

Return to Site Guide | Return to Lost Musicals | Panama Hattie Review