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Kismet

Kismet was performed at the Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton, between Monday 27th October and Saturday 1st November 2003.

The first show under our new name of "Beeston Musical Theatre Group", Kismet replaced Copacabana as the show for 2003 - an older, much under-used show but with a great storyline and fantastic songs. It was also the break-through show for Cheryl Camm - after many years in the chorus she got the leading role she deserved.

The Story of Kismet

Kismet weaves a lush tapestry of romance and melody around one fateful day in the life of Hajj, an impoverished poet of legendary Baghdad.

Begging outside the Mosque, Hajj is kidnapped by a notorious bandit convinced that the poet cursed him with the loss of his son years ago. Tricking the credulous robber, Hajj returns in triumph to the bazaar with a purse of gold to shower on his lovely daughter, Marsinah, only to be arrested and brought before the evil Wazir. Saved from certain death by the Wazir's wife, Lalume, who plans a more entertaining fate for him, Hajj embarks on a dizzying series of adventures at court.

In the meantime, the young Caliph roams disguised through the bazaar and falls in love with Marsinah and she with him. Fate continues to play more tricks before the day is over and Allah's last prayer sung...

Musical Numbers

Act 1

Overture & Sands of Time
Rhymes Have I
Fate
Bazaar of the Caravans
Not Since Ninevah
Baubles, Bangles and Beads
Stranger in Paradise
Gesticulate
Fate - Finale, Act 1

Act 2

Night of My Nights
Stranger in Paradise (Reprise)
Baubles, Bangles and Beads (Reprise)
Night of my Nights (Reprise)
Was I Wazir?
The Olive Tree
Rahadlakum
And This My Beloved
Finale, Act 2

Photo Gallery

The Cast

Hajj the Poet - Colin Richmond
Silk Merchant - Val Sutton
Silk Merchant - Naomi Cummins
Pearl Merchant - Luis Ogando
Bangle Merchant - Erica Coleman
Slave Merchant - David Artiss
Princess Zubbediya of Zanzibar - Claire Farrand
Princess Samahris of Turkestan - Oriel Dudson
Marriage Arranger to Princess Zubbediya - Ruth Maddison
Marriage Arranger to Princess Samahri - Jane Cottee
Jawan - Jack Simmons
Fig Merchant - Mina Machin
Orange Merchant - Ruth Maddison
Marsinah - Cheryl Camm
The Wazir - Rob Corner
Lalume - Cheryl Mills
The Caliph - Paul Mills
Omar Khayyam - John Maddison
Ayah to Lalume - Carolyn Smith
Chief Policeman - David Heard
Imam of the Mosque - Steve Mills
Widdow Yusef - Anthea Hinchliffe
The Executioner - Tim Cummins
Luis Ogando - Hassan Ben

Harem Wives & Ladies

Claire Farrand, Erica Coleman, Jane Cottee, Katie Solomon, Mina Machin, Naomi Cummins, Oriel Dudson, Val Sutton

Policemen / Guards

David Artiss, Gary Peake, Guy Benson, John Carley, Tim Cummins

The Beggars

David Artiss, Guy Benson, John Carley

The Muezzins

David Heard, John Maddison, Luis Ogando, Steve Mills

The Slave Girls

Jacqui Almond, Katie Solomon

Three Princesses of Ababu

Alison Joesbury, Jennie Ashworth, Penny Carter

Townswomen

Barbara Doughty, Dorothy Woodall, Lisa Smith, Philippa Dean

The Orchestra

Bassoon - Nick Cutts
Clarinet - Peter Glenville, Sharon Salt
Conductor - Lisa Cokayne
Flute - Claire Husselbee
Horn - Joy Evans
Keyboard - Terry Bailey
Oboe / Cor anglais - Christine Glenville
Percussion - Graham Sykes
Trombone - Terry Tricker
Trumpets / Flugel Horns - Graham Cardwell, Matt Heywood

The Production Team

Director - John Blackwell
Stage Crew - Richard Poyze, Steve Biggs
Publicity - Oriel Dudson
Wardrobe - Nina Blackwell, Brenda Skeavington
Front of House - Tony Sutton
Production Manager - Stuart Veitch
Scenery Built By - Mike Cottee
Stage Crew - Bill Skeavington, David Hinchliffe
Lighting Engineer - Mike Beedham
Musical Director - Lisa Cokayne
Choreography - Anne Littlewood
Répétiteur - Ruth Viles, Fiona Ogando
Set Designer - Celia Birch
Stage Manager - Anita Boyer
Property Manager - Jane Hough
Sound Engineer - Andy Onion
Scenery Built By - David Hinchliffe

If you took part in this show and have memories to share or don't have a profile, and would like one, we'd love you to contact us.

Show Trivia

Our regular costumiers didn't have the appropriate outfits for this show but recognised that they would be a good long-term investment for their trade. They therefore had brand new costumes made - just for this show.

Newspaper Clippings

What They Said

The Press...

"With its exotic setting, romantic storyline and a musical score which includes favourites such as Baubles, Bangles and Beads, Stranger in Paradise and This Is My Beloved, it looks as if Beeston Musical Theatre Group will be starting a new era on a winning note."