A Concert Of Musical Highlights From:

The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe & The Metropolitan Mikado

Louise Gold starred, as Katisha - Countess Of Grantham from The Metropolitan Mikado, at The Royal Festival Hall, (concert started at 3pm) on Sunday 30 March 1986

 

Cast

Introduced by

Ned Sherrin

 

The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe

Queen Of The Fairies - Gaye Brown

Saatchi 1 - David Firth

Chancellor Of The Exchequer - Doug Fisher

Phyllis - Gay Soper

Saatchi 2 - Dudley Stevens

Red Strephon - Denis Nelson

 

The Metropolitan Mikado

Yum-Yum - Rosmary Ashe

Sir Ko-Ko - Simon Butteriss

Pooh-Bach - Martin Connor

Sir Alistair Pish - David Firth

Katisha - Countess of Grantham - Louise Gold

The Prime Mikado - Robert Meadmore

Boy Ken - Martin Smith

Sir Robin Tush - Dudley Stevens

 

Chorus

Anthony Barratt, Sally Bradshaw, David Chilton, Carol Cox, Philip Curtis, Karl Daymond, Tamsin Dives, George Freeburn, Liza Hobbs, Debbie Holmes, Glyn Kerslake, Patrick McCarthy, Catherine McCord, Tim Menah, Laura Nayman, Meston Reid, and, Myra Sands

 

Production Team

Presented by - Raymond Gubbay in association with The GLC (Greater London Council)

Based on - the operetta’s of Gilbert And Sullivan

Adapted by - Ned Sherrin and Alistair Beaton

 Director - Ned Sherrin

Costume Designer - Daphne Dare

Musical Staging - Lindsay Dolan

Musical Director - John Owen Edwards

Lighting Designer - Benny Ball

Sound Design - Derek Zeiba

 

Programme

Act 1: The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe

Tripping Hither

In Any Regione, Our Creazione

From the Day That I First Entered

Tarantara

The Pound is the True Embodiment

Can I Inactive See My Fortunes Fade

When Britain Really Rules The Waves

O Foolish Fay

Fear, Fear of Failure Robs Me of My Rest

If You Go in You’re Sure To Win

If We’re Weak Enough to Tarry

Soon As We May, Off and Away

 

Act 2: The Metropolitan Mikado

Opening Pish/Tush Scene (based on If You Want To Know Who We Are) - Sir Alistair Pish and Sir Robin Tush with Men’s chorus (David Firth and Dudley Stevens, with: Anthony Barratt, David Chilton, Philip Curtis, Karl Daymond, George Freeburn, Glyn Kerslake, Patrick McCarthy, Tim Menah, and, Meston Reid)

A Gender Bender (based on A Wandering Minstrel)  - Boy Ken with men’s chorus (Martin Smith with: Anthony Barratt, David Chilton, Philip Curtis, Karl Daymond, George Freeburn, Glyn Kerslake, Patrick McCarthy, Tim Menah, and, Meston Reid)

Behold the Chief Police Commissioner ... Little List (based on Behold The Lord High Executioner... Little List) - Sir Ko Ko with Men’s chorus (Simon Butteriss with: Anthony Barratt, David Chilton, Philip Curtis, Karl Daymond, George Freeburn, Glyn Kerslake, Patrick McCarthy, Tim Menah, and, Meston Reid)

Three Little Maids (based on Three Little Maids From School Are We) - Yum Yum with Female Chorus (Rosemary Ashe with: Sally Bradshaw, Carol Cox, Tamsin Dives, Liza Hobbs, Debbie Holmes, Catherine McCord, Laura Nayman, and, Myra Sands)

I Am The Very Master of the Multi-purpose Metaphor (based on I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major General) - Pooh-Bach with Chorus (Martin Connor with chorus)

Act I Finale - Your Revels Cease (based on The Mikado Act 1 Finale) - Yum Yum, Pooh Bach, Sir Alistair Pish, Katisha, Boy Ken, Sir Robin Tush, and chorus (Rosemary Ashe, Martin Connor, David Firth, Louise Gold, Martin Smith, Dudley Stevens, and, chorus)

The Sun Gave Me (based on The Sun Who’s Rays) - Yum Yum (Rosemary Ashe)

Er’s an Ow’s Yer Dad (based on Here’s A How-De-Do) - Yum Yum, Boy Ken, and, Sir Ko Ko with chorus (Rosemary Ashe, Martin Smith, and Simon Butteris, with chorus)

A More Sincere Mikado (based on A More Humane Mikado) - The Prime Mikado with chorus (Robert Meadmore with chorus)

In A Cell in a Prision (based on Titwillow) - Pooh-Bach (Martin Connor)

Beauty in the Bellow (based on There is Beauty In The Bellow Of The Blast) - Katisha and Pooh-Bach (Louise Gold and Martin Connor)

Act II Finale - There’s A Little Place They Call the Isle of Dogs (based on ?) - Boy Ken, Sir Alistair Pish , Sir Robin Tush and Company (Martin Smith, David Firth, Dudley Stevens and company)

Soon As We May Off And Away

 

This concert was a compilation of highlights from actual productions of two Gilbert And Sullivan spoofs, with their actual casts.

The Ratepayer’s Iolanthe ran at The Phoenix Theatre from 24 August - 3 November 1984. It’s stars had included Gaye Brown, David Firth, Doug Fisher, Gay Soper, and Dudley Stevens, it had also featured Sally Bradshaw, Myra Sands, and Denis Nelson and it’s chorus included: David Chilton, Carole Cox, Liza Hobbs, Patrick McCarthy, Tim Menah, and, Meston Reid.

It should perhaps be mentioned that in the actual production of The Ratepayers’ Iolanthe:

Denis Nelson was actually in the chorus, the role of Red Strephon was played by David Kernan.

Sally Bradshaw and Myra Sands actually played the feature roles of the fairies Celia and Leila respectively.

The Metropolitan Mikado ran at The Queen Elizabeth Hall from 1 - 17 August 1985. It had starred: Rosemary Ashe, Simon Butteris, Martin Connor, David Firth, Louise Gold, Robert Meadmore, Martin Smith, and Dudley Stevens, all of whom appeared in this concert of highlights, and it’s chorus included: Anthony Barratt, David Chilton, Carol Cox, Philip Curtis, Karl Daymond, possibly Tamsin Dives, George Freeburn, Liza Hobbs, Debbie Holmes, Glyn Kerslake, Tim Menah, and, Meston Reid.

It is noted that chorus members Catherine McCord and Laura Nayman had appeared in neither of the original productions. However, there were also a number of members of each production who were not in this concert of highlights.

 

Rosemary Ashe, Louise Gold, Robert Meadmore, Gay Soper, and, Dudley Stevens went on to appear in a concert staging of Dudley Stevens’s musical The Soap Opera .

Some twelve or thirteen years later, Louise Gold and The Mikado's Katisha would cross paths again. In the film Topsy Turvy, which focuses on the making of The Mikado, and in which Louise played Rosina Brandram, the actress who created the role of Katisha in the original production of The Mikado. Louise sings one of Rosina’s original numbers (which she had sung a spoof version, Mitsubushi, Marubeni in The Metropolitan Mikado, From Every Kind Of Man Obedience I Expect on the Topsy Turvy (Soundtrack album)

Simon Butteris also went on to appear in Topsy Turvy, where he played a Chorus member and appears on the film soundtrack album Topsy Turvy (Soundtrack album)

Robert Meadmore comes from a family tradition of being involved with G&S: His father and brother have both run World Of Gilbert And Sullivian (aka WOGS), the major rival to G&S For All. In addition, his father variously: was an ASM for The Doyly Carte, handled the business side of G&S For All, and encouraged his comrades in The old Romford Civil Defence Force to performer various G&S operettas, including The Mikado where he too played the title role.

Louise Gold, meanwhile, comes from a family tradition of being involved with political satire, amongst other things, Her mother appeared in Lionel Bart’s Nyebevanthe or The Budget Opera skit on Iolanthe in the 1953 Unity Theatre revue Turn It Up.

Louise Gold and Robert Meadmore would be reunited some 14 years later in Side By Side By Sondheim, the 25th Anniversary Gala of Side By Side, Hubert Gregg’s Memorial Service, and, Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala. They have also appeared together on television in Julia And Company

Ned Sherrin and Martin Smith went on to appear in A Time To Start Living, for which Lindsay Dolan also did choreography.

Gaye Brown, Robert Meadmore, Ned Sherrin, and Martin Smith went on to appear in Kids At Heart

Ned Sherrin has also appeared in: Noel/Cole: Let’s Do It, Ned Sherrin’s Review Of Revue, the Side By Side By Sondheim 25th Anniversary Gala, and, Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala

Ned Sherrin, Gaye Brown and Glyn Kerslake also appeared in Chicago & Company, for which Lindsay Dolan also did choreography.

Ned Sherrin, Gaye Brown and Martin Smith went on to appear in Broadway To Brighton.

Ned Sherrin and Martin Smith may have gone on to appear in Comedy Tonight

Ned Sherrin and Alistair Beaton went on to write material for Ziegfeld (stage show), some of which found its way onto Ziegfeld (recording)

Robert Meadmore may have on to appear in Will-Aid, under the direction of Ned Sherrin. He has gone on to appear in A Love Letter To Dan.

Louise Gold and David Firth went on to appear in Assassins and Man Of La Mancha

Sally Bradshaw, Louise Gold and David Firth went on to appear in Love Life

Gay Soper went on to appear at Dress Circle Grand Reopening the Regents Park 70th Anniversary Gala, and, Side By Side By Sondheim 30th Anniversary Gala.

John Owen Edwards went on to conduct on numerous JAY/TER recordings including: On The Town (featuring: David Firth, and Liza Hobbs), Cabaret (featuring and Gay Soper), and Anything Goes (recording) - Website Recommended Album (starring Louise Gold, and featuring David Firth and Liza Hobbs). His work also features on the JAY/TER compilation albums: Great Duets From The Musicals  The Great Musicals - Wonderful Tales, and, The Great Musicals – Glamour And Majesty (those three all featuring Martin Smith), The Best Of Broadway Musicals, Encore The Very Best From The Musicals, Cole Porter - Night And Day, Simply Musicals (featuring Robert Meadmore), The Greatest Musicals of the 20th Century, Centre Stage Showtime! (including Gay Soper), The Great Musicals – Dashing Heroes, Blushing Maidens (including Robert Meadmore), The Great Musicals – Laughter And Tears (including Martin Smith) and, The History Of The Musical.

Myra Sands and Louise Gold have gone on to become stalwarts of The Lost Musicals appearing together in such productions as: By Jupiter, One Touch of Venus (1992 Production), Du Barry Was A Lady (1993 Production), New Girl In Town, Red Hot & Blue, Something For The Boys, Panama Hattie, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and One Touch Of Venus (2000 Production). In addition some 16 years after this show, they again appeared together at The Royal Festival Hall in Follies, which was also produced by Raymond Gubby Limited.

Louise Gold crossed paths with the legacy of Miss Rosina Brandram again in 2003, by appearing in The Gondoliers (as The Duchess Of Plaza Toro) where she also had to sing some additional  lyrics by Alistair Beaton.

After Ned Sherrin’s deayh The Company Of Mary Poppins’s late night FUNdraising special was dedicatedto him.

Rosemary Ashe went on to originate the role of Miss Andrew in the stage version of Mary Poppins, a role which Louise Gold took over in the West End.

 

Critics Comments

 

 

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