Programme Cover for The Matchgirls"

Elfed High School, Mill Lane, Buckley

September 1973

This was the first musical produced at the school.

THE MATCHGIRLS

PROGRAMME TEXT

By arrangement with Samuel French Limited, Elfed High School, Buckley presents the first production in North Wales of the musical

THE MATCHGIRLS

music by Tony Russell

director Graeme Malcolm

designer Vernon Hughes

choreographer Gale Ashfield

book and lyrics by Bill Owen

musical director Timothy Stuart

property mistress Lesley Wheldon

costume designer Mary Bowen

IN THE SCHOOL THEATRE, ELFED HIGH SCHOOL, BUCKLEY

Wednesday September 19th Saturday September 22nd 1973

at 7.30 p.m.

Whistling, shouting and standing on the seats most positively prohibited!

THE MATCHGIRLS was first performed on November 23rd, 1965 in Leatherhead. The essential events and many of the characters in the story are true. Bill Owen (book and lyrics) is perhaps best known as a character actor with well over thirty films to his credit. Tony Russell (music), until his tragic death a few years ago, was very well known as a composer and arranger, having worked with all the major artists in London. His first job in music was as an eight pounds a week trombonist - he was later leader of the London Jazz Orchestra.

THE MATCHGIRLS is the first musical to be presented by Elfed High School. All singing members of the cast and most of the members of the band have been students at Elfed during 1973. They and the offstage staff have worked under the direction of teachers at the school. We are using the orchestrations from the original West End production (at the Globe Theatre in 1966) and this is the first time since then that they have been heard in Britain.

Some members of the cast are now leaving school:- Elspeth Jenkins (Mrs Purkiss), Lesley Powell (Polly), Beverley Williams (Kate), Peter Baker (Policeman), Ralph Carr (Mr. Potter), David Jones (Docker), Richard Parkins (Mynel), and John Williams (Daniel). A number of these, besides being useful members of the school choir and drama group, had become well known locally as members of the Flintshire Youth Theatre, and they will be missed there as well as at school. Stephen Peers, well known around Buckley for his expertise with the tenor horn, is also leaving.

Assisting a section of the school band we welcome Hugh Black and Graham Jones, peripatetic instrument teachers at the school, and Ken Sage, music master at St. David's High School Saltney. Thanks to Pat Murray and Delyth Wynne, students at Rhyl High School and Ysgol Maes Garmon for helping us out, and also to Bernard Jones and Harry Jones of Wrexham. Delyth Wynne, Gareth Dunley, Mark Pearson and Paul Whitley have been members of the 1973 North Wales Youth Orchestra.

THE MATCHGIRLS

Music by Tony Russell

Book and lyrics by Bill Owen

Matchgirls

Nell Kim Ashfield

Winnie Lynne Ellis

Old Min Caroline Morris

Mrs Purkiss Yvonne Riley

Jessie Clare Smith

Dot Anne Aston

Frances Gillian Hughes

Louie Lesley Jones

Maggie Angela Morris

Beattie Jennifer Roberts

and

Alison Burrows Susan Ellis

Susan Hughes Julie Hulse

Helen Jones Gillian Jones

Cheryl Leicester Janet Reynolds

Julia Thompson Gillian Watson

Susan Weigh Pat West

KATE (A Matchgirl, Joe's girlfriend) BEVERLEY WILLIAMS

JOE (A Docker) JOHN WEBB

ANNIE BESANT (A Fabian and writer for "The Link") ALISON HUGHES

POLLY (A Matchgirl, Perce's girlfriend) LESLEY POWELL

PaulaWesterbyLynne FishburneDockersHerbert BurrowsTony HodginsPerceRussell WilliamsForeman MynelRichard ParkinsBertStephen ShoneMr. PotterRalph CarrDanielJohn WilliamsPolicemenKern RobertsandPeter BakerJeremy NewallClive ThomasScots girlMichele RumseyDavid Jones Michael Roberts

EXTRAS

Kevin Hands

Keith Cotton

Stuart Reed

Chris Vickers

The Band

Flute, Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Harry Dennis Jones

Clarinet I, Tenor Saxophone Hugh Black

Clarinet II Jacqueline Hewitt

Clarinet III Elaine Griffiths

Bassoon Pat Murray

Trumpet I Graham Jones

Trumpet II Mark Pearson

Flugelhorn Andrew Jones

Tenor Horn Stephen Peers

Trombone I Gareth Dunley

Trombone II and Bass Trombone Paul Whitley

Piano Paul Benyon

Harp Delyth Wynne

Double Bass Bernard Jones

Drums Kenneth Sage

Xylophone and Glockenspiel Alan Fox

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND MUSICAL NUMBERS

LONDON 1888

Act One

OVERTURE

SCENE 1 THE CUTTING ROOM IN THE MATCH FACTORY

Phosphorus The Girls

Look at that hat The Girls

SCENE 2 HOPE COURT

Look around Kate

Me Joe and the Dockers

Men Kate Polly Joe and Perce

SCENE 3 THE GLADSTONE UNVEILING

Something about you Kate Joe Winnie and Bert

SCENE 4 HOPE COURT

Mind you Bert The Girls and Dockers

SCENE 5 THE FREETHOUGHT BOOKSHOP

My dear Lady Kate and Annie

We're gonna show 'em Annie and the Girls

SCENE 6 ON THE WAY TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

We're gonna show 'em The Company

Act Two

SCENE 1 HOPE COURT

Cockney Sparrers The Girls and Dockers

Life of Mine Kate and Joe

SCENE 2 A HOP FIELD IN KENT

Hopping Dance Daniel and the Girls

SCENE 3 THE FREETHOUGHT BOOKSHOP

I long to see the day Annie

SCENE 4 HOPE COURT

SCENE 5 BY THE RIVER

SCENE 6 HOPE COURT

An amendment to a motion The Girls

We're gonna show 'em Annie and the Girls

SCENE 7 OUTSIDE THE COMPANY'S HEAD OFFICE

Waiting The Company

SCENE 8 CHARRINGTON'S BREWERY BALL

This life of mine The Company

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mrs Tony Russell for her kind interest and help with this production

Peter Palmer of the Welsh College of Music and Drama, for suggesting this musical

Production chairman Vernon Hughes

Assistant to the director Ian Brown

Stage manager Norman Phillips

Lighting Technician Dawn Probert

Production treasurer David Brannan

Raffle organiser Carole Ambrose

Set builders Norman Phillips

Keith Cotton

Kevin Hands

Stuart Reed

Chris Vickers

Costume makers Margaret Jones

Carol Foster

Petra Jones

Box Office managers Carole Ambrose

Noel Kerfoot-Owen

Publicity secretary Theo Rose

Production secretary Catherine Jones

Photographer Lynton Barton

Programme compiler Timothy Stuart

Programme Designer Lesley Wheldon

Poster designer Frank Underwood

Poster printer Michael Dunning

London Skyline by Mary Bowen

Refreshments by Brenda Morris Mavis Hughes

Margaret Jones

Music Librarian Alan Fox

Additional Costumes by Chester Theatre Club

Sound by K. G. Jones

Historical Material from Tower Hamlets Public Library

Bryant and May Ltd.

We would also like to record our appreciation of the interest and assistance given by Rowland Morris (County Music Adviser) and Derek Hollins (County Drama Adviser). Our thanks to them and to the headmaster, caretaker and his staff for their very necessary co-operation.

Author: Elfed High School

Programme Cover for The Matchgirls"

Elfed High School, Mill Lane, Buckley

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