East Kilbride Light Opera Club - Rose Marie

Rose Marie - 1960

Index

History

Rose Marie - Synopsis

cover of programme The play opens in a saloon in Sasketchewan, pretentiously styled Lady Jane's Hotel, as kept by a damsel thus called. Jane is wooed both by Sergeant Malone, of the Mounted Police, and by the bold, bad, desparate product of the gold-diggings, known as Hard-Boiled Herman. One of Herman's associates at the goldfields was the former "Wild Jim" Kenyon, who, while staying at Lady Jane's Hotel, has been captivated by the primitive charms of Rose Marie. the pride of the neighbourhood. Rose Marie is the sister of a French-Canadian fur-trader, Emile La Flamme, who prefers marrying off the girl to a rich man like his scheming employer, Edward Hawley, rather than to the reckless Jim. The latter, however, Rose Marie really loves. Hawley has been previously attracted by Wanda, the ardent half-caste spouse of a degenerate Indian, Black Eagle. Thinking her husband to be out of action, following a drinking bout, Wanda invites Hawley to her cabin, where their love- making is surprised by the unexpected appearance of the Indian. To save her lover, Wanda stabs Black Eagle to death and puts the blame of the murder upon Kenyon, who had previously quarrelled with the Indian about a gold claim. Thus, Jim becomes a fugitive, hiding in a charmingly placed "castle" in the mountains. Rose Marie is heart-broken, but to protect her lover from the mounties, promises to marry Hawley, who knows of Jim's whereabouts.

The scene now moves to Quebec, where Lady Jane and Herman, now married, have opened a ladies' dress shop. Jim, who has been searching the country for Wanda, in the hope that she will clear him of the charge, arrives with her. He tries to explain to Rose Marie, but Hawley's innuendos prevail, and Rose Marie sends Jim away. Arrangements are complete for the wedding of Rose Marie and Hawley when Wanda appears and in her jealous rage avows that Hawley has been her lover, and that she killed Black Eagle. Rose Marie, now aware of Jim's innocence and love, sets out to find him. She discovers him lonely and alone in their mountain retreat known as "The Castle." Here the lovers are reunited and, we presume, live happily ever after.

Some Pictures

dancers Mounties These are the only pictures I have from this show. If anyone knows of any others and would like them to be seen here please let me know.

Rose Marie - 1960
by permission of Samuel French Ltd.

Book & Lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd
Music by Rudolf Friml and Herbert Stothart

Production Team
Producer - Jack Tait
Musical Director - James McRae, L.T.C.L.
Dancing Mistress - Gillean Dickson

Cast
Sergeant Malone - John Cannon
Lady Jane - Myra Cook
Black Eagle - John Johnson
Edward Hawley - Jim Caullay
Emile la Flamme - Alistair Currie
Wanda - Moira Peirce
Hard-Boiled Herman - Douglas Stewart
Jim Kenyon - William McRuvie
Rose Maris la Flamme - Nan Tait
Ethel Brander - Cathie Barrett
A Caretaker - Arthur McLuskey

Ladies of the Chorus
J. Adam, I. Hornal, M. Mann, F. Doyle, M. Law, F. Reid, M. Gray, M. McCombe, C. Stirling, I. Hartley, M. McRuvie, R.Thomson.

Gentlemen of the Chorus
W. Barr, W. Keenan, A. McLuskie, N. Carroll, L. Leighton, W. Struthers, J. Dunnery, T. Lennon, D. Waters, J. Johnson, H. McCombe, D. Yule.

Dancers
M. Crowney, E. Crozier, M. Dickson, H. Gunn, C. Murphy, J. Reid, M. Scott, E. Struthers, C. Thomson.

Stage Manager - Ken Denton
Hon. Accompanists - Fiona Stewart, A.R.C.M., A.A. King, E.Gray
Lighting - David Roberts
Wardrobe Mistress - Sheena Stewart
Leader of Orchestra - Jack Nugent
Prompter - Irene Roberts, Jeanette Knott
Make-up - Jean Hamilton

East Kilbride Light Opera Club Committee
Hon. President - Alex McWilliam
Hon. Vice-Presidents - J.D. Mitchell and N.J.M. Tait
President - Jack Tait
Vice-President - Alistair Currie
Secretary - Hugh Gray
Treasurer - Andrew Ferguson
Committee
Myra Cook, Jim Caulley, Margaret McCombe, Ken Denton, H.G. Wale.

Synopsis of Music and Scenes

Act I
Overture - Orchestra
Prelude and Opening Chorus—"Vive la Canadienne!" - Ensemble
Hard-Boiled Herman - Herman and Girls
Rose Marie - Jim and Malone
The Mounties - Malone and Mounties
Lak Jeem. - Rose Marie and Mounties
Reprise—"Rose Marie"
Indian Love Call - Rose Marie and Jim
Camp Fire Impression No.1—"Far Over the Snow"
Cabin Mime
Camp Fire Impression No.2—"Of all the Queens that ever lived"
Introduction—Scene III—"Now listen, Oo-oo-oo-"
Pretty Things - Rose Marie and Chorus
Eccentric Ballet - Herman and Dancers
Why shouldn't we - Jane and Herman
Totem Tom-Tom - Wanda and Girls
Finale, Act I - Ensemble

Scene 1 Lady Jane's Hotel, Fond du Lac, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Scene 2 The Camp-fire
Scene 3 Black Eagle's Cabin (1 hour later)
Scene 4 The Camp-fire again
Scene 5 Totem Pole Lodge, near Kootenay Pass, in the Canadian Rockies

Act II
Reprise—"Pretty Things" - Girls
Only a Kiss - Jane, Herman and Malone
Finaletto—"I love him, I love him"
Empire March and Gavotte
The Minuet of the Minute - Rose Marie, Herman, Chorus and Dancers
Bridal Procession and Song—"The Door of My Dreams" - Rose Marie
Bridal Finale—"Come, Rose Marie, the happy 'groom is waiting"
Reprise—"Indian Love Call" - Rose Marie and Jim
Finale - The Company

Scene 1 Novelty Shop in Quebec—(8 months have passed)
Scene 2 A Gavotte Interlude
Scene 3 Grand Ballroom, Chateau Frontenac, Quebec—(1 month later).
Scene 4 The Cellar at an Hotel on the River Front, Quebec—(The same night).
Scene 5 On a hill near Kootenay Pass—(1 month later).
Scene 6 The "Castle."