Cast

Synopsis

A highly entertaining jolly hockey sticks end of the pier musical play about the fun-filled fortunes of a touring concert party in the 1920s known as the Dinky-Doos. They are stranded in the English countryside when their manager absconds with the most recent box office revenue and the lady pianist. Fear not – help is at hand and a happy ending round the corner.

Directors Notes

Welcome to this end-of-season production. We’ve had a memorable season at BLT and we all very much hope that this final production will send you off whistling into the Summer sun in the happy footsteps of Jess, Miss Trant, Mitchum and Inigo. The cast and backstage crew can testify that Mercer and Previn’s music is highly infectious – irritatingly so when you wake in the middle of the night with tonight’s rehearsal tune fizzing around your head!

The roots of this show lie, as is eloquently expounded elsewhere in this programme, in the JB Priestley novel of the same name, first published in 1929, a novel, which, though not JB’s first was, it seems, his breakthrough into the big time. Since then it has given pleasure to countless numbers of people, including your director tonight. I loved it, and unhesitatingly recommend it to any of you who wish to follow further the adventures of our heroes.

JB’s connections with the Bradford (and Bingley) area are well-known; he is a local hero, as well as a national, and deserves more recognition than he perhaps currently receives, in my humble opinion. You will doubtless have noticed the Priestley Society’s display in our foyer. Further background information about Priestley’s local connections will appear in the October issue of BLT’s newsletter.

The story is a simple one. A group of “not very good” travelling players are joined at their latest Concert party by an unlikely accidental quartet of characters. Together they take their show on the road with some measure of success, culminating, after various trials in Happy Endings all round. (Come to think of it, that last sentence could very well describe our rehearsal process!)

As mentioned elsewhere this is my first attempt at directing a Play with Music. It has been an interesting experience, different in many ways from directing a “play without music”. All productions are the quintessence of teamwork, but this more than most, I think. I have to mention the wonderful support I have received from the very talented and committed colleagues who have together produced what you see before you tonight. Our aim from the outset has been to produce a slick, fast-moving, happy and entertaining evening. The talented wardrobes team, the props team, the lighting and sound technicians, the Stage managers, the workshop “boys”, the “Extras” who may have small parts but who – as you will witness – are vital. Above all, though, I thank three huge talents – our Choreographer, Julie Boldy, Musical Director, Audrey Glover, and set designer, John Penrose. Without all these people this show would not have gone ahead.

A jolly story, with memorable tunes, fun and some frolic. Who could want for more on a Summer’s evening? I hope you enjoy the show as much as we (mostly) have enjoyed rehearsing and performing.