Merrie England
The Church Hall, Kitson Barnes
May 1962
Producer – Chris Ekin-Wood
Musical Direction – Eric Griffiths
Chorus Master – Harry Newell
Merrie England is an English comic opera in two acts by Edward German to a libretto by Basil Hood.
It opened at the Savoy Theatre in London on April 2, 1902, then under the management of William Greet, and ran for a total of 176 performances.
It starred Henry Lytton, Louie Pounds, Rosina Brandram, Robert Evett and Walter Passmore among other regulars of the Savoy.
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CAST
The Earl of Essex – Bernard Mitchell
Sir Walter Raleigh – Kenneth Kendrick
Walter Wilkins – Chris Ekin-Wood
Silas Simkins – Vyn Mulligan
Long Tom – Lesley Cooper
Big Ben – Clive Jones
The Queen’s Fool – John Cornwell
A Butcher – Bob Kirkby
A Baker – Liam Christian
A Tinker – Geoffrey Bishop
A Tailor – Richard Stringer
A Lord – David Catford
A Soldier – Roger Price
First Royal Page – John Fothergill
Second Royal Page – Alison Needs
Queen Elizabeth – Margaret Brown
Miss Bessie Throckmorton – Elizabeth Bushby
Jill-all-Alone – Barbara Webster
The May Queen – Vivienne Farrage
Marjory – Veronica Stockwell
Kate – June Whitby
Dancer – Marjorie Ellene
June Allen, Jill Andrews, Ann Bacon, Pat Brian, Joy Cooper, Marjory Doughty, Jean Farnworth, Pauline Grundy, Diane Howard, Ruth Price, Mary Robinson, Elizabeth Rowe, Ann K Smith, Lotta Smith, Jill Truman, Peter Cooke, Brian Hague, Peter Whitby, Ian Worth
CREW
Dances arranged by – Marjory Ellene
Stage Manager – Kitty Reeve
House Manager – Geoffrey Needs
Wardrobe Supervisor – Lilian parry
Box Office – Daphne Needs
BAND
Orchestra Leader – Betty Oglethorpe
