Little Mary Sunshine

York House, Twickenham

10th-14th November 1987

Producer – Jessica Joyce

Musical Director – Carl Smith

Production Manager – Barbara Thomas

Little Mary Sunshine is an American musical in emulation of older operetta, with book, music, and lyrics by Rick Besoyan. It premiered on November 18, 1959 at the Orpheum Theatre in New York.

This musical was conceived and executed as a loving sendup of the operettas of Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml, and Sigmund Romberg.

There are even hints of Noel Coward. Its villainous “Indians” and gallant “forest rangers” (thinly disguised mounties) are taken in particular from Friml’s Rose-Marie.

The original West End cast of the show was directed by Paddy Stone and starred Patricia Routledge.

CAST

Little Mary Sunshine – Margaret Boughton

Captain Big Jim Warrington – Robert Salter

Mme Ernestine von Liebedich – Patricia Vandepeer

Chief Brown Bear – Mark Holliday

Corporal Billy Jester – Michael Carver

Fleet Foot – Richard Matthiae

General Oscar Fairfax – Roger Roseboom

Yellow Feather – Nicholas Green

Nancy Twinkle – Anne Campbell

Young Ladies from Eastchester Finishing School – Lesley Cox, Melanie Edwards, Merian Ganjou, Sally Hester, Rachel Marks, Jacquline Pearson, Sonya Raymond, Mandy Stenhouse, Louise Stevenson, Barbara Thomas, Janet Turner, Claire Walker, Francis Warhurst

Gentlemen of the United States Rangers – Tim Ablitt, Will Brooks, Iain Calder, David Cole, Norman Marks, John Powter, Rick Ratcliffe, Kit Stratfull, Paul Viney, Andy Yeates

Tim Ablitt, Jonathan Heitler, Tim Ramply, Alison Campbell, Roy McKinley, Roy, Mary Banks, Andy Weeks, Dennis Gomm, Callum Yule, Iain Hodge

CREW

Producer’s Assistant – Jackie Osborne

Designer – David Casey

Stage Manager – Barbara Mitchell

Assistant Stage Manager – John Mitchell

Rehearsal Pianists – Dennis Gomm, Nick Beedham

Prompt – Carol Brown

Box Office – Paul Hester

Props – Peter Sporle

Costume Co-ordinator – Mandy STenhouse

Costumes – Alan Scott Costumes & Harvey’s of Hove

Lighting Design – Paul Viney

Lighting – Steve Brown

Stage Crew – Trevor Marland, Anne Newton

Front of House – Helen Jenkins

Make up Supervisor – Wendy Edwards

BAND

Flute – Jonathan Heitler

Oboe – Tim Ramply

Clarinet – Alison Campbell

Bassoon – Roy McKinley

Horns – Roy & Mary Banks

Trumpet – Andy Weeks

Piano – Dennis Gomm

Bass – Callum Yule

Drums – Iain Hodge