Red Hot And Blue

Louise Gold and Don Fellows starred, at Barbican Cinema 1 on 18, 25 September, 2 and 9 October 1994

One has to say that these co-starred, on account of this being the show where the famous "Battle of the Billing" (between Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante) occurred. But really it was the leading lady's show.

It should perhaps be explained that this show is an original 1936 Book-musical, not to be confused with the well known, Broadway, Aids Benefit Concert of the same title from the 1980s/1990s.

The main plot of this musical centres around running a lottery!

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:

Mulligan/Fingers - Paul Stewart

Jeff/Mettali - Simon Joslin

Bill/Marine - Garrick Forbes

Warden/Senator Malvinsky - Trevor Jones

Nails O'Reilly Duquesnsne - Louise Gold

Policy Pinkle - Don Fellows

Anne Westcott - Danielle Carson

Kay/Ethelyn - Maria Rawlings

Bob Hale - Neil McCaul

Sonny Hadley - Phillip Day

Arnita/Fat Girl/Grace - Rachel Izen

Peaches La Fleur - Myra Sands

Vivian/Mrs Peabody - Kate Dyson

Olive/Eleanor - Sarah Redmond

Senator O'Shauhnessy - Godfrey Charles

Dugan Decorator - Peter Prentice

Production Team

Music/Lyrics - Cole Porter

Book - Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse

Original Production – 20 October 1936, The Alvin Theatre New York, with Ethel Merman as Nails O’Reilly Duquesnsne

Musical Director - Mark Warman

Director - Ian Marshall-Fisher

For a fairly full review of the show, please click here.  

Red Hot And Blue was the second show that Cole Porter wrote for Ethel Merman, he had previously written Anything Goes with Lindsay and Crouse. It was also the second Merman Show that The Lost Musicals did, having done the third Merman/Porter show Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production) the previous year. They went on to do the last two in the set, Something For The Boys, and Panama Hattie. They also went on to repeat Du Barry Was A Lady (2001 Production).

Myra Sands is one of the regulars in The Lost Musicals, having appeared with Louise Gold in: By Jupiter | One Touch of Venus (1992 Production) | Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production) | New Girl In Town | Something For The Boys | Panama Hattie | Gentlemen Prefer Blondes | One Touch of Venus (2000 Production) , and, Mexican Hayride. 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 album Oliver! (Recording).

Danielle Carson is another regular, having also appeared with Louise Gold in By Jupiter and Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production) . They also appeared together on Anything Goes - Website Recommended Album, and on the JAY/TER recording of Stop The World I Want To Get Off.

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 later be reunited in the Lost Musical productions of: Panama Hattie and 110 In The Shade. They also went on to take part in A Celebration Of The Life And Work Of Dick Vosburgh.

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

Danielle Carson’s recording credits include The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes, Blushing Maidens, Magic Of The Musicals, and, 100 Hits Musicals.

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

Louise Gold, Myra Sands, and, Paul Stewart have gone on to appear in Darling of The Day, for which Mark Warman also played the piano.

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 It’s Delovely), and JAY/TER’s studio cast album of Anything Goes (recording) - Website Recommended Album.

Links about Red Hot And Blue

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

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