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King's Rhapsody
King's Rhapsody was performed at the Co-Operative Arts Theatre in Nottingham between Monday 7th October and Saturday 12th October 1996.
By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd., the show was devised, written and composed by Ivor Novello and lyrics were by Christopher Hassall.
King Peter of Norselan has received a request for this hand of his daughter, Princess Cristiane, from the Kingdom of Murania. The King of Murania has died, his dominating widow, Queen Elena, takes charge and is determined that her exiled son, Nikki, should return and assume the throne. A Queen was necessary to provide an heir and hence the request to King Peter. Nikki exiled himself some 20 years earlier, along with his mistress, Marta Karillos, to Paris, due to the dominating attitude of his parents. The death of his father and King offers an opportunity to return.
Queen Elena, along with Vanescu the Prime Minister, visit Nikki in Paris and the story evolves around ths plotting and planning of Nikki's return; the arranged marriage between Nikki and Cristiane; their first meeting, where Cristiane poses as a maid and is seduced by Nikki, and their first official meeting at The Royal Ball to celebrate her arrival. Meanwhile, Cristiane is aware of Nikki's past, invites Marta Karillos to the Ball and arouses Nikki's anger. Nikki responds by preferring Marta as a dancing partner to her as his bride and future Queen. Cristiane considers an immediate return to Norseland, but decided against it and becomes a much loved and respected Queen by the Muranian people.
Nikki maintains his liaison with Marta Karillos, which angers the people and an attempt is made on her life. This attempt is thwarted by Cristiane and Nikki. By this time, Cristiane has found that she is expecting Nikki's child, which was apparently conceived at their first meeting. Nikki is deposed and it is at this moment that Nikki and Cristiane release that they are in love with each other. Nikki, however, leaves for Paris and lives with Marta Karillos; Cristiane gives birth to a son and assumes the mantel of Regent.
The story ends where the Boy King is crowned and Nikki, despite being warned against it, appears alone, in the cathedral immediately following the coronation.
Scene 2 - A sitting room in a small hotel in Paris in the year 1880. Morning.
Scene 3 - Outside the palace at Bledz, Murania
Scene 4 - A boudoir in the palace of Bledz, Murania. Late afternoon.
Scene 5 - The boudoir. A week later. Evening
Scene 6 - Outside the palace, under the boudoir window
Scene 7 - The ballroom of the palace
Finale Act 1 - Ballroom of the palace
Scene 2 - The drawing room of Marta's villa. Six months later. Later afternoon.
Scene 2 - The Summer Palace garden. The same evening
Scene 3 - An afternoon in the palace
Scene 4 - The Royal Box at the Palace Opera. Ten years later
Scene 5 - The Cathedral at Bledz, Murania.
Scene 1
Birthday Greetings (Chorus & Dancers)
Someday My Heart Will Awake (Cristiane)
Scene 3
he National Anthem of Murania (Chorus)
Scene 4
Fly Home Little Heart (Vera)
Scene 5
Mannequin Parade (Mannequins)
Mountain Dove (Cristiane)
If This Were Love (Cristiane)
Scene 6
Mountain Dover (Chorus)
Scene 7
Ballroom Scene (Chorus)
Finale Act 1
Some Day My Heart Will Awake (Cristiane)
Scene 1
Opening Dance (Dancer)
The Mayor of Perpignan (Marta & Chorus)
The National Anthem of Murania (Chorus)
The Mayor of Perpignan - Reprise (Marta & Chorus)
Scene 2
The Gates of Paradise (Cristiane, Vera & Egon)
Scene 1
Take Your Girl (Vera, Chorus & Dancers)
The Violin Began to Play (Cristiane)
Scene 2
The Violin Began to Play - Reprise (Chorus)
Scene 5
The Coronation Scene (Cristiane, Vera & Chorus)
1st Rough - Alan Richmond
2nd Rough - John Henson
3rd Rough - Paul Lemon
Count Egon Stanieff - John Maddison
Countess Olga Varsov, a lady in waiting - Anthea Hinchliffe
Countess Vera Lemainken - Barbara Saville
Flunkey - Rob Corner
Jules, Nikki's valet - Steve Mills
King Peter of Norseland - John Maddison
Madame Koska, a modiste - Sheila Millington
Major Domo - Rob Corner
Manservant - Rob Corner
Marta Karillos, an acress - Kathlyn Phillips
Mr Trontzen, the dancing master - Paul Lemon
Nikki - Guy Benson
Princess Cristiane - Cheryl Mills
Princess Hulda - Claire Farrand
Princess Kirsten - Wenda Smith
Queen Elena of Murania - Jane Cottee
The Archbishop - Rob Corner
The Boy King - Robin Singleton
Vanescu, Prime Minister of Murania - Pete Prentice
Cello - Abbe Rockall
Clarinet - Mal Trott, Owen Edwards
Conductor - Pauline Toone
Flute - Roy Harrison
Oboe - Hilary Olison
Percussion - Tony Whilde
Trombone - Carl Fletcher
Trumpet - Frank Stubbs, Kevin Dye
Violin - Eric Wileman, Gwen Hall, Rachel Bolton
Box Office - Jill Dawson, Margaret Lambert
Choreography - Christine Kilbourn
Front of House - Jill Dawson & Team
Make-up - Sandra & Team
Musical Director - Mel Seal
Producer - Michael Wright
Prompt - Beryl Henson
Props - Margaret Knight, Zoe Smith
Rehearsal Pianist - Arthur Ploughman, Mark Slater
Set Design/Painter - Michael Dowdeswell
Stage Crew - David Hinchliffe, Richard Phillips
Stage Manager - Martyn Wright
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
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.
King's Rhapsody
King's Rhapsody was performed at the Co-Operative Arts Theatre in Nottingham between Monday 7th October and Saturday 12th October 1996.
By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd., the show was devised, written and composed by Ivor Novello and lyrics were by Christopher Hassall.
The Story of King's Rhapsody
King's Rhapsody, one of the jewels in the crown of Ivor Novello, set in the late nineteenth century.King Peter of Norselan has received a request for this hand of his daughter, Princess Cristiane, from the Kingdom of Murania. The King of Murania has died, his dominating widow, Queen Elena, takes charge and is determined that her exiled son, Nikki, should return and assume the throne. A Queen was necessary to provide an heir and hence the request to King Peter. Nikki exiled himself some 20 years earlier, along with his mistress, Marta Karillos, to Paris, due to the dominating attitude of his parents. The death of his father and King offers an opportunity to return.
Queen Elena, along with Vanescu the Prime Minister, visit Nikki in Paris and the story evolves around ths plotting and planning of Nikki's return; the arranged marriage between Nikki and Cristiane; their first meeting, where Cristiane poses as a maid and is seduced by Nikki, and their first official meeting at The Royal Ball to celebrate her arrival. Meanwhile, Cristiane is aware of Nikki's past, invites Marta Karillos to the Ball and arouses Nikki's anger. Nikki responds by preferring Marta as a dancing partner to her as his bride and future Queen. Cristiane considers an immediate return to Norseland, but decided against it and becomes a much loved and respected Queen by the Muranian people.
Nikki maintains his liaison with Marta Karillos, which angers the people and an attempt is made on her life. This attempt is thwarted by Cristiane and Nikki. By this time, Cristiane has found that she is expecting Nikki's child, which was apparently conceived at their first meeting. Nikki is deposed and it is at this moment that Nikki and Cristiane release that they are in love with each other. Nikki, however, leaves for Paris and lives with Marta Karillos; Cristiane gives birth to a son and assumes the mantel of Regent.
The story ends where the Boy King is crowned and Nikki, despite being warned against it, appears alone, in the cathedral immediately following the coronation.
Synopsis of Show
Act 1
Scene 1 - A room in the summer palace of the family of NorselandScene 2 - A sitting room in a small hotel in Paris in the year 1880. Morning.
Scene 3 - Outside the palace at Bledz, Murania
Scene 4 - A boudoir in the palace of Bledz, Murania. Late afternoon.
Scene 5 - The boudoir. A week later. Evening
Scene 6 - Outside the palace, under the boudoir window
Scene 7 - The ballroom of the palace
Finale Act 1 - Ballroom of the palace
Act 2
Scene 1 - The drawing room of Marta's villa on the outskirts of Bledz. Evening.Scene 2 - The drawing room of Marta's villa. Six months later. Later afternoon.
Act 3
Scene 1 - The garden of the Summer Palace at Kalacz. A year later.Scene 2 - The Summer Palace garden. The same evening
Scene 3 - An afternoon in the palace
Scene 4 - The Royal Box at the Palace Opera. Ten years later
Scene 5 - The Cathedral at Bledz, Murania.
Musical Numbers
Act 1
Scene 1
Birthday Greetings (Chorus & Dancers)
Someday My Heart Will Awake (Cristiane)
Scene 3
he National Anthem of Murania (Chorus)
Scene 4
Fly Home Little Heart (Vera)
Scene 5
Mannequin Parade (Mannequins)
Mountain Dove (Cristiane)
If This Were Love (Cristiane)
Scene 6
Mountain Dover (Chorus)
Scene 7
Ballroom Scene (Chorus)
Finale Act 1
Some Day My Heart Will Awake (Cristiane)
Act 2
Scene 1
Opening Dance (Dancer)
The Mayor of Perpignan (Marta & Chorus)
The National Anthem of Murania (Chorus)
The Mayor of Perpignan - Reprise (Marta & Chorus)
Scene 2
The Gates of Paradise (Cristiane, Vera & Egon)
Act 3
Scene 1
Take Your Girl (Vera, Chorus & Dancers)
The Violin Began to Play (Cristiane)
Scene 2
The Violin Began to Play - Reprise (Chorus)
Scene 5
The Coronation Scene (Cristiane, Vera & Chorus)
Photo Gallery
The Cast
1st Rough - Alan Richmond2nd Rough - John Henson
3rd Rough - Paul Lemon
Count Egon Stanieff - John Maddison
Countess Olga Varsov, a lady in waiting - Anthea Hinchliffe
Countess Vera Lemainken - Barbara Saville
Flunkey - Rob Corner
Jules, Nikki's valet - Steve Mills
King Peter of Norseland - John Maddison
Madame Koska, a modiste - Sheila Millington
Major Domo - Rob Corner
Manservant - Rob Corner
Marta Karillos, an acress - Kathlyn Phillips
Mr Trontzen, the dancing master - Paul Lemon
Nikki - Guy Benson
Princess Cristiane - Cheryl Mills
Princess Hulda - Claire Farrand
Princess Kirsten - Wenda Smith
Queen Elena of Murania - Jane Cottee
The Archbishop - Rob Corner
The Boy King - Robin Singleton
Vanescu, Prime Minister of Murania - Pete Prentice
The Chorus
Alan Richmond, Anthea Hinchliffe, Barbara Doughty, Caroline Maxwell, Cheryl Camm, Claire Farrand, Dorothy Woodall, Frances Johnson, Jim Blackmore, John Henson, John Maddison, Kate Richmond, Liz Draper, Margaret Wright, Mollie Harwood, Paul Lemon, Peter Prentice, Rob Corner, Roma Drinkwater, Ruth Maddison, Steve Mills, Trina Dinnis, Val Sutton, Wenda SmithThe Orchestra
Bass - David Scott-SavageCello - Abbe Rockall
Clarinet - Mal Trott, Owen Edwards
Conductor - Pauline Toone
Flute - Roy Harrison
Oboe - Hilary Olison
Percussion - Tony Whilde
Trombone - Carl Fletcher
Trumpet - Frank Stubbs, Kevin Dye
Violin - Eric Wileman, Gwen Hall, Rachel Bolton
The Production Team
Assistant Stage Manager - Mike CavesBox Office - Jill Dawson, Margaret Lambert
Choreography - Christine Kilbourn
Front of House - Jill Dawson & Team
Make-up - Sandra & Team
Musical Director - Mel Seal
Producer - Michael Wright
Prompt - Beryl Henson
Props - Margaret Knight, Zoe Smith
Rehearsal Pianist - Arthur Ploughman, Mark Slater
Set Design/Painter - Michael Dowdeswell
Stage Crew - David Hinchliffe, Richard Phillips
Stage Manager - Martyn Wright
Wardrobe - Barbara Doughty
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.
