The Pirates Of
Louise Gold
appeared as Isabel, one of Major General Stanley's daughter's, at Theatre Royal
Drury Lane, opening on 26th May 1982, she left on Saturday 26
February 1983, as part of first major cast change (there seems to have been a
few minor cast changes prior to this) . Like several of the cast she had
earlier appeared in the same producer's film version of The Pirates Of
Penzance, in her case playing Edith, a role she also understudied in this
production.
Perhaps one of
the most amazing things about this production was the cast, some of whom were
already names, and many of whom went on to become better known. In addition the
band of Noblemen-turned-Pirates included among their number a real nobleman.
Cast
Original
The Pirate King - Tim
Curry
Frederic -
Ruth, A Pirate Maid
- Annie Ross
Major-General
Edith - Karen
Lancaster
Kate - Bonnie
Langford
Isabel - Louise
Gold
Mabel - Pamela
Stephenson
Major-General
Stanley - George Cole
The Sergeant - Chris
Langham
Pirates and Police:
Timothy Bentinck,
Graham Bickley, Keith Binns, Peppi Borza, Ken Caswll,
Mark Davis, Kevin Feighery, Alan Forrester, Andrew
Golder, David Hampshire,
Back-up Singers:
Neil Braithwaite, Christina Collier, John
Denton,
Understudies:
Pirate King Chris Langham
Ruth - Sarah Shipton
Frederic - Graham Bickley
Edith - Louise Gold
Major-General - Kevin A. J. Ranson
Sergeant - David Hampshire
Mabel - Christina Collier
Kate - Carolyn Allen
Isabel - Jackie Downey
Swings - Ray Hatfield, & Anita Pashley.
Orchestra:
Conductor
Martin Koch
Clarinets
Richard Blewett & Martin Frith
Basson
David Miles
Flutes
Carol Brown & Alexa Turpin
Trumpets
Malcolm Gosden & Tim Hawes
Trombone
Peter Thorley
Keyboards
Tom Gilhooly & Andy Read
Mallets
Nigel Charman
Timpani
Julian Fairbank
Percussion
Tony Bourke
Bass
Lesley Hooson & Peter Trundley
Cast Listed In Programme Around
December 1982
The Pirate King - Tim
Curry
Frederic -
Ruth, A Pirate Maid
- Annie Ross
Major-General
Edith - Karen
Lancaster
Kate - Bonnie
Langford
Isabel - Louise
Gold
Mabel - Pamela
Stephenson
Major-General
Stanley - George Cole
The Sergeant - Chris
Langham
Pirates and Police:
Timothy Bentinck,
Graham Bickley, Keith Binns, Peppi Borza, Ken Caswll,
Mark Davis, Kevin Feighery, Alan Forrester, Andrew
Golder, David Hampshire,
Back-up Singers:
Christina
Collier, John Denton, Mike Holoway,
Understudies:
Pirate King - Timothy Bentinck
Ruth - Sarah Shipton
Frederic - Graham Bickley
Edith - Louise Gold
Major-General - Kevin A. J. Ranson
Sergeant - David Hampshire
Mabel - Christina Collier
Kate - Carolyn Allen
Isabel - Jackie Downey
Swings - Ray Hatfield, Anita Pashley
& Aidan Cook.
Orchestra:
Conductor
Martin Koch
Clarinets
Richard Blewett & Martin Frith
Basson
David Miles
Flutes
Carol Brown & Alexa Turpin
Trumpets
Malcolm Gosden & Tim Hawes
Trombone
Peter Thorley
Keyboards
Tom Gilhooly & Andy Read
Mallets
Nigel Charman
Timpani
Julian Fairbank
Percussion
Tony Bourke
Bass
Lesley Hooson & Peter Trundley
January 1983 (for three weeks -? possibly Sat 9 (eve) to 29 )
The Pirate King - Timothy
Bentinck
Frederic -
Ruth, A Pirate Maid
- Annie Ross
Major-General
Edith - Karen
Lancaster
Kate - Bonnie
Langford
Isabel - Louise
Gold
Mabel - Pamela
Stephenson
Major-General
Stanley - George Cole
The Sergeant - Chris
Langham
Pirates and Police:
Graham Bickley,
Keith Binns, Peppi Borza, Ken Caswll, Mark Davis, Kevin
Feighery, Alan Forrester, Andrew Golder, David Hampshire,
Back-up Singers:
Christina
Collier, John Denton, Mike Holoway,
Understudies:
Ruth - Sarah Shipton
Frederic - Graham Bickley
Edith - Louise Gold
Major-General - Kevin A. J. Ranson
Sergeant - David Hampshire
Mabel - Christina Collier
Kate - Carolyn Allen
Isabel - Jackie Downey
Swings - Ray Hatfield, Anita Pashley
& Aidan Cook.
Orchestra:
Conductor
Martin Koch
Clarinets
Richard Blewett & Martin Frith
Basson
David Miles
Flutes
Carol Brown & Alexa Turpin
Trumpets
Malcolm Gosden & Tim Hawes
Trombone
Peter Thorley
Keyboards
Tom Gilhooly & Andy Read
Mallets
Nigel Charman
Timpani
Julian Fairbank
Percussion
Tony Bourke
Bass
Lesley Hooson & Peter Trundley
From ?possibly 31 January 1983 Until
Saturday 26 February 1983
The Pirate King - Oliver
Tobias
Frederic -
Ruth, A Pirate Maid
- Annie Ross
Major-General
Edith - Janet
Shaw
Kate - Bonnie
Langford
Isabel - Louise
Gold
Mabel - Karen
Lancaster
Major-General
Stanley - Ronald Fraser
The Sergeant - Chris
Langham
Pirates and Police:
Timothy Bentinck,
Graham Bickley, Keith Binns, Peppi Borza, Ken Caswll,
Mark Davis, Kevin Feighery, Alan Forrester, Andrew
Golder, David Hampshire,
Back-up Singers:
Christina
Collier, John Denton, Mike Holoway,
Understudies:
Pirate King - Timothy Bentinck
Ruth - Sarah Shipton
Frederic - Graham Bickley
Edith - Louise Gold
Major-General - Kevin A. J. Ranson
Sergeant - David Hampshire
Mabel - Christina Collier
Kate - Carolyn Allen
Isabel - Jackie Downey
Swings - Ray Hatfield, Anita Pashley
& Aidan Cook.
Orchestra:
Conductor
Martin Koch
Clarinets
Richard Blewett & Martin Frith
Basson
David Miles
Flutes
Carol Brown & Alexa Turpin
Trumpets
Malcolm Gosden & Tim Hawes
Trombone
Peter Thorley
Keyboards
Tom Gilhooly & Andy Read
Mallets
Nigel Charman
Timpani
Julian Fairbank
Percussion
Tony Bourke
Bass
Lesley Hooson & Peter Trundley
During the run
of the show there were many cast changes (only the first cast plus a few minor
changes are listed here - in the first major cast change (28 February 1983) Anita
Pashley took over as Isabel). Perhaps one of the most notable changes,
though, was just after Christmas 1982, so probably around early January 1983,
when Tim Curry left, his replacement, Oliver Tobias did not
actually join the cast until 3 weeks later, hence why for those three weeks The
Pirate King was played by Timothy Bentinck.
According to
the Daily
Mail from 25 August 1982, Pamela
Stephenson had by that staged dropped out due to filming commitments on Superman
III (to be replaced by her regular understudy Christine Collier), however, Pamela
Stephenson was still listed in cast list in a programme dated December
1982.
Production Team
Producer - Joseph Papp
Presented by -
Lyrics/Libretti - William S Gilbert
Music - Sir
Arthur Sullivan
Original Productions 30 December 1879 at The Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton, with Miss Kate Neville as Isabel and Miss Marian May as Edith, and then, 31 December 1879, at The 5th Avenue Theatre, New York, with Miss Billie Barlow as Isabel and Miss Jessie Bond as Edith
Director - Wilford Leach
Musical Arranger - William Elliott
Choreography - Graciela Daniele
Scenery by - Bob Shaw & Wilford Leach
Costumes by - Patricia McGourty
Lighting by - Jennifer Tipton
Sound by - Don
Ketteler
Musical Director - Martin Koch
Associate Producer (London) - Andrew Treagus
Hair & Make-up
originally designed by - J. Roy Helland
Production Team Members from 26 May 1982 to June 1982
Company Manager Nick Bromley
Stage Manager Joanne Connelly
Deputy Stage Manager Andrew
Flint-Shipman
Assistant Stage Managers Debi Turner,
and, Sarah Whiting
Dance Captain Peppi Borza
Sound Operators Richard Salzedo, Stephen
Williams, and, Miki Jablkowska
Wardrobe Mistress Eve Barnes
Assistant Wardrobe Mistress Alison Scott
Wig Supervisor/Stylist Hugo
Byron-Wiggins
Production Manager Alistair Smith
Assistant to Miss Daniele Roy Jones
Assistant to Miss Tipton Spike Gaden
Assistant to Mr Ketteler Ron Annas
Production Carpenter Robert Knight
Production Electrician Jenny Cane
Production Sound Engineer Philip
Clifford
Costume Supervisor Jean Turnbull
Property Buyer Buffy Kimm
Production Assistant Helen Nicholson
Production Photographer Zoe Dominic
Assistant to Miss Turnbull Karen Hore
Vocal Coach Marjorie Rivingston
Production Team Members from July 1982 to October 1982
Company Manager Nick Bromley
Stage Manager Joanne Connelly
Deputy Stage Manager Andrew
Flint-Shipman
Assistant Stage Managers Debi Turner,
and, Sarah Whiting
Dance Captain Peppi Borza
Sound Operators Richard Salzedo, Stephen
Williams, and, Miki Jablkowska
Wardrobe Mistress Eve Barnes
Assistant Wardrobe Mistress Alison Scott
Wardrobe Assistant Carol Mullins
Wig Supervisor/Stylist Hugo
Byron-Wiggins
Production Manager Alistair Smith
Assistant to Miss Daniele Roy Jones
Assistant to Miss Tipton Spike Gaden
Assistant to Mr Ketteler Ron Annas
Production Carpenter Robert Knight
Production Electrician Jenny Cane
Production Sound Engineer Philip
Clifford
Costume Supervisor Jean Turnbull
Property Buyer Buffy Kimm
Production Assistant Helen Nicholson
Production Photographer Zoe Dominic
Assistant to Miss Turnbull Karen Hore
Vocal Coach Marjorie Rivingston
Production Team Members from October 1982 to 29 January 1983
Company Manager Nick Bromley
Stage Manager Joanne Connelly
Deputy Stage Manager Andrew
Flint-Shipman
Assistant Stage Managers Debi Turner,
and, Sarah Whiting
Dance Captain Peppi Borza
Sound Operators Richard Salzedo, Stephen
Williams, and, Miki Jablkowska
Wardrobe Mistress Eve Barnes
Assistant Wardrobe Mistress Alison Scott
Wardrobe Assistant Elizabeth Coleman
Wig Supervisor/Stylist Hugo Byron-Wiggins
Production Manager Alistair Smith
Assistant to Miss Daniele Roy Jones
Assistant to Miss Tipton Spike Gaden
Assistant to Mr Ketteler Ron Annas
Production Carpenter Robert Knight
Production Electrician Jenny Cane
Production Sound Engineer Philip
Clifford
Costume Supervisor Jean Turnbull
Property Buyer Buffy Kimm
Production Assistant Helen Nicholson
Production Photographer Zoe Dominic
Assistant to Miss Turnbull Karen Hore
Vocal Coach Marjorie Rivingston
Production Team Members from possibly 31 January 1983 to 28
February1983
Company Manager Nick Bromley
Stage Manager Joanne Connelly
Deputy Stage Manager Andrew
Flint-Shipman
Assistant Stage Managers Debi Turner,
and, Sarah Whiting
Dance Captain Peppi Borza
Sound Operators Richard Salzedo, Stephen
Williams, and, Miki Jablkowska
Wardrobe Mistress Eve Barnes
Assistant Wardrobe Mistress Alison Scott
Wardrobe Assistant Elizabeth Coleman
Wig Supervisor/Stylist Hugo
Byron-Wiggins
Production Manager Alistair Smith
Assistant to Miss Daniele Roy Jones
Assistant to Miss Tipton Spike Gaden
Assistant to Mr Ketteler Ron Annas
Production Carpenter Robert Knight
Production Electrician Jenny Cane
Production Sound Engineer Philip
Clifford
Costume Supervisor Jean Turnbull
Property Buyer Buffy Kimm
Production Assistant Helen Nicholson
Production Photographer Zoe Dominic
Assistant to Miss Turnbull Karen Hore
Vocal Coach Marjorie Rivingston
All of the
original cast, had appeared in a number of charity previews including:
A Royal
Gala Performance preview of
this production The
Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Performance), In aid of Childrens Country Holidays Fund &
A Royal Gala Preview of this
production of The
Pirates Of Penzance (Gala Preview), in aid of KIDS, on 18 May 1982. (Although two of the Backing Singers: Anita
Pashley and Sarah Shipton, appear to have been uncredited).
A Benefit
Preview of this production of
The Pirates Of Penzance
(Benefit Preview), in aid of The
International Theatre Institute, on 21 May 1982
Apart from
Musical Director Martin Koch, the
musicians in the orchestra pit are not credited in the programme. It is however
known that Kate Young sometimes
deputised as a pianist in the pit orchestra (one of her first West End jobs).
It is also known that that Assistant MD was Andy Reed.
Amusingly,
given that at the end of the Operetta The Pirates get let-off because they are
noblemen, in this production Louise Gold found herself waltzing around
the stage with a real nobleman, namely Timothy Charles Robert Noel Bentinck,
who went on to inherit the title of 12th Earl Of Portland,
Tim also went on to play David Archer in the BBC Radio 4 soap The Archer's
.
Louise Gold, Timothy Bentinck, Peppi Borza, David
Hampshire, and Simon Howe had previously appeared in the Papp film
version of The Pirates Of Penzance.
It is perhaps
worth noting that most of the auditions for chorus and minor roles this
production of The Pirates Of Penzance (according to a cutting
from The Stage) took place on Tuesday 3 November 1981. But it is not quite
clear whether those actors who had already appeared in the film were required
to audition again.
In the film of
The Pirates Of Penzance Louise
Gold played the role of Edith, which she understudied in this stage
production The Only one of the three girls whom Louise Gold has not
played is Kate, interestingly in the second ever production of The
Pirates Of Penzance, at The 5th Avenue Theatre in New
York, that role was played by Miss Rosina Brandram, whom Louise Gold
would later portray in the film Topsy Turvy.
Coincidentally, at some point during the Doyly Carte tour of the
Anita Pashley joined the cast of The Pirates of Penzance a few weeks
into rehearsals, on 26 April 1982, a week before her final performance as
Electra in Cats.
Most of the
cast took part, largely as The Pirates Of
Penzance cast, and orchestra, in the 1982 Royal Variety Performance,
which that year was actually at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Bonnie Langford had previously made theatrical history appearing at
It is perhaps worth noting that Theatre Royal Drury Lane has witnessed many historical occurrences, in particular connected with royalty, including assassination attempts on two of the King Georges
Queen
Elizabeth The Queen Mothers 82 Birthday was marked by the Queen Mother
visiting The Pirates of Penzance and cutting a huge white, pink and green birthday cake which she graciously
declined to eat. According to William Hickey writing in The Daily Express
(Friday 6 August 1982) it was demolished in about five minutes flat by members
of the cast and staff at
On the
Thursday 6th January 1983 the cast, still headed by Tim Curry
(probably just before he left the cast) played their part in a theatrical
tradition, when they did the honours at the annual ceremonial cutting of the Baddeley
Cake. Robert Baddeley was a pastry cook and actor, in his will
he left a sum of money in perpetuity so that each year on Twelfth Night a cake
and a drink would be partaken of by his fellow actors in his memory. It is West
End tradition that this ceremonial event is always carried out by the members
of the cast of whichever production is occupying Theatre Royal Drury Lane
at that time.
It seems quite
likely that one of Louise Golds performances in The Pirates Of
Penzance took place nine years to the day of her professional stage
debut in Dick Whittington.
Many of the
cast stand out in their contribution to theatre, and a surprising number of
them either had worked together before, or would later be reunited. For
example:
Chris
Langham had been both a
script-writer and a Guest Star on The Muppet
Show, so he already knew Louise Gold in her
puppeteer guise. Chris Langhams writing credits with the Muppets
include: Muppet Show Music Album, and
The Muppets Go To The Movies.
Louise Gold and Chris Langham had previously appeared
in The All Time Get Around Sometimes Play
Together Every Other Friday Night Vaudeville Show, and on the
documentary Of
Muppets And Men.
Roy Jones had previously worked as assistant to the choreographer on the film The Great Muppet Caper.
Anita
Pashley and Bonnie Langford had
previously appeared together in the original company of Cats, immediately prior
to their appearing in The Pirates Of Penzance.
Tim Curry later starred as another Pirate, Long John Silver,
in the film Muppet Treasure Island,
which of course Louise Gold puppeteered on. .
Louise Gold left The Pirates Of Penzance to become a leading
puppeteer on Spitting Image, naturally she also did voices, and Pamela
Stephenson went on to do voices for Spitting
Image, and Chris Langham wrote some material for that show.
Louise Gold, Kevin A. J. Ranson, and, Anita Pashley
later worked together on Anything Goes
(stage show). Incidentally, during her
time on The Pirates Of Penzance Anita had taken over Louises role of
Isabel. This productions orchestra also included Martin Frith, plus Kate
Young as a dep pianist.
Sylvester
McCoy went on to appear on many
Children's TV programmes including: Jigsaw,
Louise Gold and Mike Holoway subsequently starred on
the JAY/TER Studio Cast recording of
Stop The World I Want To
Get Off.
Bonnie
Langford went on to appear in Broadway To Brighton
Martin Koch went on to become Musical Supervisor for Mamma Mia, and in that capacity was interviewed on television in ABBA - The Reunion
Jenny Cane
went on to become the lighting designer for Follies.
Louise Gold and Sylvester McCoy have gone on to appear
in Noises Off.
Graham Bickley, and, Louise Gold have
gone on to appear in Mexican Hayride.
Louise Gold
continued her association with
the work of Gilbert and Sullivan appearing in the stage show The
Metropolitan Mikado and the film Topsy Turvy.
Graham
Bickleys recording credits
include The Best Of Broadway
Musicals , Encore The Very Best From The
Musicals , Great Duets From The
Musicals , Cole Porter - Night And
Day, The Great Musicals - Wonderful Tales,
The Great Musicals Glamour And Majesty,
Magic Of The Musicals, and, The Great Musicals - From Broadway to
Hollywood.
Mike
Holoways recording credits
include: The History Of The Musical
Louise
Gold has gone on
to appear on stage in another G&S operetta, The Gondoliers
Graham
Bickley and Mike Holoways
recording credits include Simply Musicals,
and, The Great Musicals Dashing
Heroes, Blushing Maidens.
Many years
later, while appearing at The Prince
Edward Theatre, Louise Gold,
recalled Theatre Royal Drury lane in
Tim McArthur Interview.
Kate Young went on to help out as a rehearsal pianist on Assassins .
Kate Young, Martin Koch, and, Sylvester McCoy may have gone on to take part in Thing A Thon.
Backstage crew members Nick Bromley, and, Miki Jablkowska went on to work on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .
Louise Gold subsequently returned to Theatre Royal Drury Lane in Oliver!.
Tim Curry,
Louise Gold, and, Chris Langham went on to appear in the
documentary I Love The Muppets.
George Cole went on to appear in
the documentary ITVs 50 Greatest Shows.
Links about The Pirates Of
Timothy
Bentinck's website, see section
on his work: http://www.bentinck.net/frame1.htm This link includes a picture of
Bonnie
Langfords Website, section on
her theatre work: http://www.bonnielangford.co.uk/theatre.html
Details of the
original productions of the Pirates of
A Review of dep pianist Kate Young many years later being a dep pianist on an RAFA
Charity Show: http://www.qsulis.demon.co.uk/Reviews/Sams_Bar.htm
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