Ron Drew's Music Page - Activities
Singing - South Shields Amateur Operatic Society
Chapter 5.1 - Snippets of Chorus Lines
From Issue No 1 (December 1995)
The 1996 production by the Junior Section was to be "PETER PAN" produced by Ray Spencer who wrote of the of the origins of Barrie's famous play.
".........J.M.Barrie found himself on holiday with some friends. Their young sons soon became bored, so Barrie made up stories of a fantasy land where lost boys went to and never grew up. Despite doubts expressed by some of Barrie's friends, "PETER PAN" was first staged at the DUKE OF YORK THEATRE in 1904. Barrie gave the rights of the show to the trustees of a hospital for sick children and GREAT ORMOND STREET continues to benefit to this day."
In 1992 Delia McNally took the principal role of 'Maria' in the the production of "THE SOUND OF MUSIC". In 'Re-decorating the Alps' she recalled an incident that happened during one of the performances.
" ........It was during our 1992 sojourn in the Salzkammergut that an incident took place which caused us much mirth and it may survive the odd re-telling.
Joyce Halliday, who has received NODA awards for bravery in that area where only the bravest will tread, that of 'theatrical dresser', was doing the honours for me on that occasion. Those who know the show will recall that "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" has a number of fast changes and the one relating to this story is the transformation from the von Trapp home to the Cathedral in the wedding scene. I think we had half a minute to go from day clothes to full bridal. The 'nuns' completed the dressing on stage whilst various things were flying around in the blackout. As usual Joyce did her stuff magnificently, kindly making the effort to utter soothing words of homespun philosophy all the while.
It was later in the performance that Joyce spluttered, "There's a coathanger on that Alp!". The rejoinder from Harry Halliday, Alan Hogarth et al was "Have you ever visited the Alps? You find shopping trolleys and all sorts up there!" Care was taken during subsequent performances to locate and remove the offending article as soon as the change was effected!
[Ron Drew's Home Page] [Music Page][SSAOS Index]
[History] [Shows] [Highlights] [Personalities] [Chorus Lines]
Copyright (c) 1999 - 2000 Ron Drew.
Last revised: October 14, 2002.