East Kilbride Light Opera Club - Die Fledermaus

Die Fledermaus - 1981

Index

History

Die Fledermaus - Synopsis

cover of programme The "Bat" of our story is Dr. Falke, a lifelong friend of the hero, Gabriel Eisenstein. To avenge a trick played on him by Gabriel some time before. Dr. Falke arranges for his friend to be invited to a ball given by Prince Orlofsky. Gabriel, who is due to go to gaol for eight days, accepts the invitation - but does not tell his wife, Rosalinda. She, meanwhile, has foolishly invited an old flame to visit her while her husband is in prison. When the prison governor comes to take Gabriel into custody, he finds Rosalinda and Alfred, her admirer, enjoying a cosy tete-a-tete. Alfred, to save Rosalinda's reputation, agrees to go to prison in Gabriel's place.

Rosalinda, thanks to the silver-tongued Dr. Falke, also goes to Orlofsky's ball, disguised as a Hungarian Countess. He has sent her a message to come quickly to the ball to see her husband. There she sees not only her errant husband, but her maid Adele, calling herself Ma'moiselle Olga. To add to the confusion the prison governor, Frank, arrives calling himself Le Chevalier Chagrin! Gabriel is enchanted by the mysterious Countess and starts flirting with her. He shows her his famous watch which had been used many times as "bait" for the ladies. To his dismay she seizes it. Time runs out for Gabriel and he goes off to report to the prison governor to begin his sentence.

Alfred, meanwhile, has been enjoying himself in gaol. He is hustled out when Frank arrives. Hardly has Frank got his bearings when Gabriel enters. They recognise each other and confess their deceits. Frank cannot understand how Gabriel can be in front of him and in a cell at the same time. Gabriel realises what has happened and to get some more "evidence" of his wife's infidelity he disguises himself as Blint, his lawyer, and appears before Alfred and Rosalinda.

Just when all seems lost for Rosalinda, Gabriel decides to forgive her. At that moment, Dr. Falke enters and clears up the mystery. He has had his revenge and the story ends where it began - with a hymn of praise to love and champagne.

The Cast

Die Fledermaus - 1981
by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd

Music by Johan Strauss
Book and Lyrics by Phil Park
Music Adapted and Arranged by Ronald Hanmer

Production Team
Producer - Jack Tait
Musical Director - S. Gordon Lang
Choreographer - Margaret Hay

Cast
Rosalinda - Nan Tait
Gabriel Eisenstein - Jim Barr
Adele - Margaret Berry
Doctor Falke - Leonard Johnson
Alfred - Bill Walker
Frank - Denis Hannigan
Prince Orlofsky - Colin Thomas
Ida - Pauline Moscardini
Dr Blint - James Mooney
Frosch - Bob McCrae
Flunkies - Lance Pearson

Ladies of the Chorus
Elaine Anderson, Frances Baird, Sheena Brough, Isobel Davidson, Frances Doyle. Aileen Finlay, Anne Harris, Maureen Hughes, Betty McAulay, Barbara McElroy, Lori McElroy, Rona McGregor, Fiona McKechnie, Heather Miller, Eileen Montgomery, Elizabeth Rennie, Betty Roberts, Anne Robertson, Gillian Smith, May Smith, Ann Struthers, Dorothy Taylor, Morag Wilson.

Gentlemen of the Chorus
Jack Allen, Bruce Arthur, John Cameron, Robbie Crawford, John Dwyer, Gordon Hughes, Peter Kelly, Peter King, Desmond McCarthy, Jim McCormack, Bob McCrae, Robert McDermott, Jim Maxwell, Tom Montgomery, Lance Pearson, Bill Roberts, John Rooney, William Russell, Harry Sheridan, David Smith, Bill Struthers, Bob Turnbull, Gilbert Wedgewood.

Dancers
Morag Arthur, Dorothy Bedford, Evelyn Bovill, Sandra Goodfellow, Carol Hannigan, Geraldine Moore, Mairi Steele, Jim Maxwell.

Performance Details
27th February - 7th March
The Village Theatre,
East Kilbride

Synopsis of Acts

Act I - The Eisenstein Apartment
Act II - A Salon in Prince Orlofsky's Villa
Act III - The Prison Governor's Office

Musical Synopsis

Overture

Act I
"Life is a Song" - Adele, Alfred and Servants
"Never Go to Law" - Gabriel, Rosalinda, Blint
"What a Night" - Falke, Gabriel
"How Sad we Were" - Rosalinda, Gabriel, Adele
"Here's to Love" - Alfred, Rosalinda, Frank and Chorus
"A Married Couple, a Home Serene" - Rosalinda, Alfred, Frank and Chorus
Finale, Act I

Act II
"What a Feast" - Chorus
"Chacun a Son Gout" - Orlofsky and Chorus
"Laughing Song" - Adele, Orlofsky, Falke, Gabriel and Chorus
"Homeland" - Rosalinda, Chorus and Dancers
The Tick-Tock Polka - Gabriel and Rosalinda
"Champagne" - Principals and Chorus
"Brother Mine" - Ensemble
Blue Danube Ballet - Dancers
Finale Act II

Act III
Opening Act III - Alfred and Men
After the Ball - Frank and Dancers
"How Can You Be So Ungallant?" - Adele and Chorus
"The Legal Profession" - Rosalinda, Alfred and Gabriel
Finale Act III - Principals and Chorus

Stage Manager - David Waters
Club Accompanist - Nan McKechnie
Lighting - Carrick McGhie
Property Mistresses - Susan Struthers & Pauline McElroy
Wardrobe Mistress - Edna Porter
Leader of Orchestra - Andrew Wilson
Prompter - Marie Hannigan

East Kilbride Light Opera Club Committee
Hon President - Hugh C. Gray
Hon. Vice-President - W. Gordon McNay, OBE
President - Tom Boreland
Vice-President - Gordon Hughes
Secretary - Elaine Anderson
Treasurer - William Walker
Committee - Jack Tait, Elizabeth Struthers, Colin Thomas, Morag Arthur, Ann Struthers, Robert McCrae, MBE