Comedy Tonight!

A Glittering Celebration of Comedy

A Tribute To Roy Kinnear

Louise Gold was scheduled to feature as a singer in Comedy Tonight - a fundraising event in aid of The Roy Kinnear Trust, at The Royal National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre, on Sunday 12 June 1994

Note: Please note the cast listing and running order is not necessarily accurate, the webmaster wasn’t present and so is having to use the original printed programme of events as a guide. I don’t even know whether Ms Gold actually took part in this!

Cast

Umpired by - David Kernan and Hugh Wooldridge

Individuals: Keith Baxter, Marti Caine, David Frost, Eddie Izzard, Trevor Nunn, Peter O’Toole, Michael Palin, Ned Sherrin, Martin Smith, and, Richard Wilson

Performers (Subject To Availability): Nicholas Amer, Robert Bathurst, Gillian Bevan, Helena Bonham-Carter, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Rhonda Burchmore, Clive Carter, Kenneth Cope, Barry Cryer, Larry Dann, Frances de la Tour, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Frank Finlay, David Frost, Louise Gold, John Gould, Sheila Hancock, Linzi Hately, Melvyn Hayes, Charlton Heston, Alan Howard, Lila Kaye, David Kernan, Diane Langton, George Layton, Johnny Lyons, Millicent Martin, Joe Melia, Claire Moore, Brian Murphy, Richard O’Brien, Lance Percival, Bryan Pringle, Willie Rushton, Ned Sherrin, Victor Spinetti, Richard Stilgoe, Peter Ustinov, Michael Williams, and, Michael York

Ensemble: Mark Blythe, Lesley Cox, Lisa Donmall, Sharon Eckman, Luke Hope, Matthew McRae, Johanne Murdock, Loretta O’Neill, Tober Reilly, Lisa Reynolds, Peter Sutherland, Claire Taylor, Simon Truby, and, Paul Westhead

 

 

Production Team

 Choreographers: Kenn Oldfield and David Toguri

Directors : Frank Hauser, and, Trevor Nunn

Musical Directors: Glen Roven and Kevin Amos

Writers : Anton Chekov, John Gould, Frank Hauser, David Monico, Richard Stilgoe, and, David Wood

Musicians:

     Trombone - Brian Archer

     Trumpet - Andy Bush

     Drums - Richard Cole

     Bass - Steve McManus

     Keyboards - Andy Linwood

     Woodwind  - Nick Moss

Set Design - Mark Thompson (actually it was his Pericles set)

Design Consultant - Richard Hornsby

Lighting Designer - Paul McLeish

Sound Designer - Paul Groothuis

 

Running Order

Act 1

Comedy Tonight - Gillian Bevan, Louise Gold, David Kernan and Ensemble (staged by Kenn Oldfield)

David Frost - David Frost

I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue - Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, and, Willie Rushton

Tap Your Troubles Away - Rhonda Burchmore

Ned Sherrin - Ned Sherrin

A Transgression (By Anton Chekov, dramatised by Frank Hauser) - Nicholas Amer, Robert Bathurst, Frances de la Tour, Helena Bonham-Carter, Frank Finlay  (Directed by Frank Hauser)

Ahab The Arab - Richard O’Brien

Richard Wilson - Richard Wilson

Mr Snow - Janie Dee

You’re The Top! - Claire Moore

The Boy From... - Millicent Martin

Rob Wilton - Michael Williams

Brief Encounter - Judi Dench and Alan Howard (directed by Trevor Nunn)

Trevor Nunn - Trevor Nunn

An Excerpt from An Actor’s Life For Me  - Courtesy of The BBC

Broadway Baby - Diane Langton

 

Act 2

The Dubliners

Tributes - from Peter Ustinov, Charlton Heston and Michael York

David Frost - David Frost

Drill Scene (from Oh What A Lovely War) - Victor Spinetti with Larry Dann, Johnny Lyons, Brian Murphy, and, Bryan Pringle

Music From The Movies - John Gould

Taking The Mikado (by John Gould and David Wood) - George Layton and John Gould

Ned Sherrin - Ned Sherrin

TW3 - Kenneth Cope, David Frost, David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Ned Sherrin, Lance Percival, and, Willie Rushton

Marti Caine - Marti Caine

Thou Swell - Janie Dee and Clive Carter

Michael Palin - Michael Palin

A Father’s Lullaby - written and performed by Richard Stilgoe

Every Bloody Gala Is The Same - written and performed by Richard Stilgoe with: Frances de la Tour, Lila Kaye, Barry Cryer, and, Melvyn Hayes

Martin Smith - Martin Smith

Peter O’Toole With Keith Baxter - Peter O’Toole with Keith Baxter

Parlato In Italiano - (by David Monico) - Sheila Hancock, Joe Melia, and, Brian Murphy

Eddie Izzard - Eddie Izzard

Finale - Linzi Hateley and the Company

 

As Roy Kinnear was known for his work in the world of political satire, particularly with regards to TW3. It is perhaps worth noting the various people presumably involved with this gala who also occupy their place in that world

Firstly: like Roy Kinnear himself: Kenneth Cope, David Frost, David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Lance Percival, Willie Rushton, Ned Sherrin all worked on That Was The Week That Was itself.

But more modern political satirists are also billed as appearing in this gala; indeed Spitting Image’s original leading puppeteer (who may also have connections with Roy Kinnear’s hometown) was scheduled to sing in the opening number!

Michael Palin contributed a Biggles sketch to the album Utterly Utterly Live Comic Relief

Ned Sherrin wrote material for both The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe and The Metropolitan Mikado

Louise Gold and Martin Smith both appeared in The Metropolitan Mikado

While Peter O’Toole was actually a victim of the satirists, being lampooned on Spitting Image, and that satire actually found its way onto the Spitting image compilation album Spit In Your Ear.

David Frost is also credited as having been involved in a bit of directing for Spitting Image.

 

Louise Gold, David Kernan, and, Ned Sherrin appeared together in Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, for which Umpire Hugh Wooldrige went on to do the lighting design at Chichester, Guildford and Richmond, and for which Peter Sutherland was a standby. While Choreographer David Toguri did the choreography for the Oxford performances of that show.

Louise Gold, David Kernan and Steve McManus’s recording credits include Nole/Cole: Let’s Do It (Recording)

Gillian Bevan, Marti Caine, Larry Dann, Louise Gold, David Kernan, Claire Moore, Ned Sherrin, and, Martin Smith had previously appeared in Kids At Heart which David Kernan also directed. It’s possible that Loretta O’Neill could also have appeared in it, as a dancer named Loretta O’Neal.

Louise Gold, Diane Langton, and, Ned Sherrin had previously appeared in Chicago & Company which David Kernan also directed.

Louise Gold, David Kernan, Ned Sherrin, and, Martin Smith had previously appeared in Broadway To Brighton.

Louise Gold, David Kernan, Millicent Martin, Claire Moore, Ned Sherrin, and, Martin Smith had previously appeared in A Time To Start Living which David Kernan also directed, and for which the musicians also included Brian Archer, Andy Bush, Steve McManus.

Louise Gold and David Kernan had previously appeared in Sondheim At The Barbican.

Louise Gold and David Kernan went on to appear together in Side By Side By Sondheim, which David Kernan also directed

David Kernan went on to appear in and direct the Side By Side By Sondheim 25th Anniversary Gala, which Millicent Martin and Ned Sherrin also appeared in. And where “Millie” also song The Boy From....

Ned Sherrin had previously written material for Ziegfeld (stage show) some of the latter was included in Ziegfeld (recording). He went on to present Ned Sherrin’s Review Of Revue.

Ned Sherrin and Martin Smith went on to appear in a concert of highlights from the Ratepayer’s Iolanthe & The Metropolitan Mikado.

Martin Smith’s recording credits include Great Duets From The Musicals, and, The Great Musicals – Glamour And Majesty.

Keith Baxter, David Kernan, Claire Moore, Andy Bush may have previously appeared in Will-Aid which David Kernan, along with Ned Sherrin, directed, and for which Kenn Oldfield did some of the choreography. Trevor Nunn may have contributed some song lyrics.

Clive Carter had previously appeared in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (York Production) and My Fair Lady.

John Gould went on to play the piano on Let’s Do The Show Right Here, which Barry Cryer was a guest contestant on.

Louise Gold, Barry Cryer and Johanne Murdock had previously appeared in Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production).

Diane Langton, Millicent Martin, Victor Spinetti, and Richard Stilgoe had previously appeared in The Royal Variety Performance (1982).

Diane Langton went on to appear in Follies.

Janie Dee, and Diane Langton’s recording credits include Defiant Dames, on which Steve McManus was a Bass player

Diane Langton’s recording credits include Cole Porter - Night And Day.

Judi Dench and Claire Moore’s recording credits include Cabaret.

Claire Moore’s recording credits include Encore The Very Best From The Musicals, and, Simply Musicals.

Peter Sutherland and Louise Gold had previously appeared together in Blood Brothers.

Louise Gold and Simon Truby went on to appear together the following month in New Girl In Town.

Kevin Amos had previously been the Musical Director & Pianist on One Touch Of Venus (1992 Production) and went on to be a Musical Director & The Conductor on One Touch Of Venus (2000 Production).

Kenn Oldfield and Louise Gold had previously appeared together in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Touring Production).

Kenn Oldfield also choreographed a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Regents Park, which Louise Gold appeared in.

Gillian Bevan and Louise Gold had previously appeared together in The Boys From Syracuse, which was choreographed by Kenn Oldfield. They went on to reprise one of their The Boys From Syracuse numbers in the Regents Park 70th Anniversary Gala, also with Kenn Oldfield’s choreography.

Janie Dee, and, Judi Dench also went on to appear in the Regents Park 70th Anniversary Gala.

Judi Dench had directed The Boys From Syracuse.

Mark Thompson went on to design Mamma Mia.

The Australian singer-dancer Rhonda Burchmore was over hear appearing in London with the rest of the Australian cast of The Hot Shoe Shuffle. The following year that same show toured the UK but with a British cast headed by Louise Plowright who went on to star in Mamma Mia. It is perhaps also worth noting that Rhonda Burchmore has also appeared in a production of Stop The World I Want To Get Off and featured in the photographs in The Musicals Collection’s magazine for that show, but Louise Gold sang her part on the CD that accompanied the magazine.

Millicent Martin had previously appeared on television in Julia And Company.

Janie Dee, Richard O’Brien, and, Trevor Nunn have gone on to appear on television in A Week In The West End.

Clive Carter, Janie Dee, John Gould, and, George Layton may have previously appeared in Dear Ralph, with George Layton and John Gould also performing Taking The Mikado.

Bass-player Steve McManus has gone play in the pit orchestra for the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Victor Spinnetti and Louise Gold went on to appear in that show, but in different casts.

Frank Finlay had previously appeared on television in BlackAdder.

Peter Ustinov went on to do voice-work on the TV Film Animal Farm.

Steve McManus went on to work on Happily Ever After.

Millicent Martin, David Kernan, Janie Dee, Judi Dench, Louise Gold, and, Ned Sherrin went on to appear in Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala.

Sheila Hancock and Peter Ustinov’s TV film credits include Alice In Wonderland.

Janie Dee went on to appear in A Love Letter To Dan.

Tim Brooke-Taylor had previously appeared on television in Roland Rat The Series.

Diane Langton, Claire Moore, and, Martin Smith’s recording credits include The Great Musicals - Wonderful Tales.

Gillian Bevan’s recording credits include Centre Stage Showtime!.

David Kernan, Diane Langton, and, Martin Smith’s recording credits include The Great Musicals – Laughter And Tears.

After Ned Sherrin’s death The Company Of Mary Poppins’s late night FUNdraising special was dedicated to him. In that show puppeteer Louise Gold sang a very different version of the song Comedy Night.

Diane Langton has gone on to appear, along with Louise Gold, in Mary Poppins.

 

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