Happily Ever After

A celebration of the music and poetry of Stephen Sondheim, in memory of Denis Quilley

Louise Gold appeared as herself, one of the experienced Sondheim singers taking part in this gala in aid of The Samaritans at The Fortune Theatre, on Sunday 29 January 2006

 

Cast

Barbara Cook

Lorna Dallas

Daniel Evans

Liz Robertson

Sally Ann Triplett

Louise Gold

Josie Lawrence

Jeroen Aarts

Andrew Alexander

Tracy Baxendale

Jodie Beth Meyer

Joseph Evans

Marain Haf Roberts

Aoife Nally

Ray Rackham

and introduced by Stella Quilley

 

Production Team

 Producers – Sarah Trapani, Lynne Chapman, and, Ray Rackham

Direction and Staging – Aoife Nally

Musical and Vocal Director – Anthony Davie

Stage Management – Cleo Maynard

Production Assistants – Ursula Goniszewska, and, Mark Spry

Sound Equipment Supervision – ABC Entertainments

Lighting Designer – Sebastian Petit, and, Curzon Productions

Lighting Operator – Sebastian Petit, and, Serena Dodd

Wardrobe Supervision – National Theatre Costumes, BBC Costumes, Angels of London

Company Hair & Makeup – Tracey Leonard

For Samaritans

Charlotte Vere (Young Ambassadors with Samaritans), Kirti Shah, Matthew Robinson-Royle, and Vanda Scott

For Ambassadors Theatre Group

Concert and Hirings Manager – Katie Griffiths

Theatre Management – Mel Whitney, and, Deborah

Chief Electrician – Ted Tomiak

For Barbara Cook

 Pianist – Eric Stern

     Bassist – Steve McManus

 

For a review/account of the gala Happily Ever After, please click here.

Louise Gold’s performance in this show of Children Will Listen, is similar to the way she performs it in her cabaret act LOUISE GOLD...By Appointment., with the arrangement borrowed from Jason Carr.

Several of the performers in this gala had at one time or another appeared with Denis Quilley, namely: Lorna Dallas, Sally Ann Triplett, and, Liz Robertson (in her legendary performance of My Fair Lady); while Louise Gold had appeared on the radio with him in Let ‘Em Eat Cake, and, been introduced by him at the Regents Park 75th Anniversary Gala.

Louise Gold has previous appeared at The Fortune Theatre in Nunsense (where she stopped the show), and, 110 In The Shade.

Louise Gold is not the only member of her theatrical family to have connections with The Fortune, many years ago her mother understudied Adele Strong and Constance Chapman at this theatre. 

Note, Nigel Harman was billed to appear in the gala, but did not actually do so.

Lorna Dallas, and, Liz Robertson may have previously appeared across the road in The Royal Variety Performance (1982). Their recording credits include The Great Musicals – Laughter And Tears.

Lorna Dallas had previously appeared in Kids At Heart, sung Sondheim in Broadway To Brighton, and, appeared on the radio as a contestant on Let’s Do The Show Right Here. Her recording credits include The Greatest Musicals Of The 20th Century, The Great Musicals – Glamour And Majesty, and, The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes, Blushing Maidens.

Lorna Dallas, Liz Robertson, Sally Ann Triplett, and, Louise Gold had previously appeared singing Sondheim in the Side By Side By Sondheim 25th Anniversary Gala.

Liz Robertson may have previously appeared in Will-Aid, and sung Sondheim in Chicago & Company. She did appear in the Regent’s Park 70th Anniversary Gala, and her recording credits include Cole Porter – Night And Day. They also include a very good recording of My Fair Lady with Denis Quilley.

Liz Robertson had previously appeared in A Time To Start Living, for which Steve McManus may have been playing in the orchestra.

Liz Robertson had previously appeared, along with Louise Gold, in Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, and on that show’s cast album Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It (Recording). Steve McManus’s playing was also featured on the cast album recording.

Liz Robertson had previously appeared, singing Sondheim, along with Louise Gold in Side By Side By Sondheim.

Sally Ann Triplett had previously appeared, along with Louise Gold, in the Metropolitan Mikado.

Sally Ann Triplett has gone on to appear in A Love Letter To Dan, her recording credits include Simply Musicals, and her television credits include Rita Rudner.

Sally Ann Triplett and Josie Lawrence had previously appeared in Acorn Antiques The Musical.

Josie Lawrence had previously starred on television in Rachel And The Roarettes, and appeared on television in A Week In The West End.

Josie Lawrence played Dunyasha in a particular RSC production of The Cherry Orchard, in Stratford Upon Avon, when the following year that production was revived to play London and tour the country, Ms Lawrence had by then left the RSC, and her role was taken by Louise Gold.

Steve McManus may also have played for Comedy Tonight, he has previously played in the pit for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and is recording credits include Defiant Dames.

Daniel Evans, Louise Gold, Liz Robertson, and, Sally Ann Triplett went on to appear in Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala, which Ray Rackham was also involved with.

 

Critics Comments

  “Louise Gold gave a moving performance of Children Will Listen (which, I am sure, included many additional lyrics which we do not normally hear in productions of the show)” David Thomas, SONDHEIM THE MAGAZINE, Issue 36, March 2006

 

Links about Happily Ever After

The Samaritans, fundraising page for Happily Ever After: http://www.justgiving.com/happilyeverafter

The Stephen Sondheim Society: http://www.sondheim.org/ 

Save The Theatre Museum – there’s a petition to save The Theatre Museum in London, see: http://www.theatremuseumguardians.org/

Dress Circle’s page for the gala: http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/sectionitemdetails.asp?ContentID=1541

Official London Theatre Guide’s page for the gala: http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display?contentId=87728

 

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