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The Vagabond King
The Vagabond King was performed at Roundhill County Junior School between Monday 28th October and Saturday 2nd November 1968.
By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd., London, this is a musical play founded upon Justin Huntly McCarthy's romance "If I Were King". The music is by Rudolf Friml and the book & lyrics are by W. H. Post & Brian Hooker.
The King learns that Katherine de Vaucelles, a lady of the Court who has refused to become his mistress, has arranged a meeting in a tavern of low repute with Francois Villon, the leader of the Paris underworld. Villon once saw her on the steps of the church, and instantly fell in love with her. Not daring to speak to her, he wrote some verses and sent them to her by Tabarie, one of his companions, and she is curious to learn what kind of man he is.
The King goes to the tavern in disguise, accompanied by Tristan, and meets Villon who calls the King a puppet, Louis-Do-Nothing, Louis-Dare-Nothing. He swears that if he were King of France he could defeat the Burgundians with only his rabble. Louis then reveals himself, and to be revenged on Katherine offered to make him Grand Marshal for one day and hang him the next unless he can win the heart of the lady. Villon agrees, knowing that he cannot hope to win her, but accepts that a day in her company is worth the penalty.
At the tavern Katherine tells him that the Grand Marshal, Thibaut D'Aussigny is plotting to open the gates of Paris to the Burgundians and begs Villon to kill him.
The following day she meets Villon in his Marshal's robes, and though she does not recognise him, still feels somehow attracted to him, but when in fairness to her he reveals his identy, she cannot bring herself to marry him.
On the following morning, after having defeated the Burgundians the previous evening, Villon is actually on the gallows when she declares that she loves him too much in spite of everything, and declares publicly that she will marry him. The King is reminded of his bargain, and furious at losing, confiscates Katherine's lands, then changes his mind, pardons Villon, and as usual all ends happily.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have very much pleasure in welcoming you to our show, "The Vagabond King" and hope you will enjoy your evening with us.
You may remember that your Operatic Society came into being only in April last year.
It presented its first show almost exactly a year ago on this very stage— "The White Horse Inn" and for six evenings and a matinee had the distinction of never playing to an empty seat. In March this year your Society had the privilege of assisting the Beeston Rotary Club by staging an operetta in one act entitled "The Batsman's Bride" in aid of funds for the Beeston Youth Centre.
The Society, at the invitation of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, recorded in July a half hour programme for Radio Nottingham which was subsequently broadcast on the 4th and 8th of September.
Since inception its Social Committee has constantly created opportunities for social evenings, "Bring and Buy Sales" and events of this sort to help the financial scene and to sustain interest in its affairs.
The past eighteen months has been, therefore, one of much achievement. Of course, the encouraging thing is the knowledge that our Urban District Council and the citizens of our area are behind our venture, because it is your support which, in the end, makes or breaks us.
If the past year particularly is a pattern for the future, I feel sure your Society will take its place among the best in the Midlands.
And now on with the show!
Brigadier G. F. Ayton, President
Scene 2 - The King's Garden.
Scene 3 - The Masque.
Love for Sale (Huguette and Chorus)
Drinking Song (Taberie and Male Chorus)
Entrance of Villon
Song of the Vagabonds (Villon and Chorus)
Some Day (Katherine)
Melos
Archer's Chorus
Melos
Only a Rose (Katherine and Villon)
Fight Music and Finaletto Act (Entire Company)
Entr'act
Hunting (Noel and Ensemble)
Melos
Melos
Reprise "Only a Rose"
Scotch Archer's Song
Reprise "Love for Sale"
Melos
To-morrow (Villon and Katherine)
Finale, Act 2 (Entire Company)
Entr'act
Ballet (Tarantella)
Reprise "Nocturne"
Serenade
Reprise "Nocturne" (Waltz)
Huguette Waltz
Melos
Love Me To-night (Duet) (Katherine and Villon)
Melos
Melos "Love for Sale"
Finaletto
Melos
Church Music
Victory March
Melos
Finale
Astrologer - William Buglass
Bishop - Albert Davis
Captain of the Scottish Archers - Jim Murdoch
Casin Chalet - Keith Reece
François - Howard Reese
Guy Tabarie - Grenville Stanley
Hangman - Graham Anderson
Huguette du Hamel - Brenda Shaw
Isabeau - June Baston
Jehan Le Loup - Henry Hall
Jehanneton - Elinor Green
Katherine de Vaucelles - Joan Hartshorn
Lady Mary - Marilyn Parker
Louis XI - Trevor Jones
Margot - Elsie Wright
Noel le Jolys - Geoffrey Drinkwater
Oliver le Dain - Jack Simmons
René de Montigny - Ted Morris
Rogati - Neil Jackson
The Queen - Jill Whiting
Thibaut d'Aussigny - Harold Whittington
Toison d'Or - William Buglass
Tristan L'Hermite - Dennis Armitage
Clarinet - B. F. Halesworth, S. Marsh
Double Bass - A. Racklyeft
Flute - Miss J. Brand
Horn - E. Chance
Oboe - Miss J. Shillitoe
Percussion - J. Webster
Piano - K. A. Plowman
Trombone - W. Pemberton
Trumpet - B. Mather, F. W. A. Tyler, G. Tyler
Viola - Mrs F. E. Hay-Heddle, Mrs N. Bosisto
Violin - G. Sheard, Mrs B. Hallam, Mrs J. Church, S. E. Cox
Dance Arrangements - Leonie Cox (Principal of the Leonie Cox School of Dancing)
Photographic Display - John Sumpter (Photographer, Long Eaton)
Programme Photographs - John Sumpter (Photographer, Long Eaton)
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.
The Vagabond King
The Vagabond King was performed at Roundhill County Junior School between Monday 28th October and Saturday 2nd November 1968.
By arrangement with Samuel French Ltd., London, this is a musical play founded upon Justin Huntly McCarthy's romance "If I Were King". The music is by Rudolf Friml and the book & lyrics are by W. H. Post & Brian Hooker.
The Story of The Vagabond King
The play is set in Paris in the reign of Louis XI, a pious, ruthless man, and one of the craftiest of kings. He was commonly known as "the universal spider." Drawing his intimates and advisers from the middle classes, two of whom appear in the play, Tristan L'Hermite and Oliver le Dain, he antagonises the nobles, and finally an excess of taxation caused them to join Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy who then formed the League of Public Welfare and laid siege to Paris on 18th July, 1465.The King learns that Katherine de Vaucelles, a lady of the Court who has refused to become his mistress, has arranged a meeting in a tavern of low repute with Francois Villon, the leader of the Paris underworld. Villon once saw her on the steps of the church, and instantly fell in love with her. Not daring to speak to her, he wrote some verses and sent them to her by Tabarie, one of his companions, and she is curious to learn what kind of man he is.
The King goes to the tavern in disguise, accompanied by Tristan, and meets Villon who calls the King a puppet, Louis-Do-Nothing, Louis-Dare-Nothing. He swears that if he were King of France he could defeat the Burgundians with only his rabble. Louis then reveals himself, and to be revenged on Katherine offered to make him Grand Marshal for one day and hang him the next unless he can win the heart of the lady. Villon agrees, knowing that he cannot hope to win her, but accepts that a day in her company is worth the penalty.
At the tavern Katherine tells him that the Grand Marshal, Thibaut D'Aussigny is plotting to open the gates of Paris to the Burgundians and begs Villon to kill him.
The following day she meets Villon in his Marshal's robes, and though she does not recognise him, still feels somehow attracted to him, but when in fairness to her he reveals his identy, she cannot bring herself to marry him.
On the following morning, after having defeated the Burgundians the previous evening, Villon is actually on the gallows when she declares that she loves him too much in spite of everything, and declares publicly that she will marry him. The King is reminded of his bargain, and furious at losing, confiscates Katherine's lands, then changes his mind, pardons Villon, and as usual all ends happily.
Ladies and Gentlemen,I have very much pleasure in welcoming you to our show, "The Vagabond King" and hope you will enjoy your evening with us.
You may remember that your Operatic Society came into being only in April last year.
It presented its first show almost exactly a year ago on this very stage— "The White Horse Inn" and for six evenings and a matinee had the distinction of never playing to an empty seat. In March this year your Society had the privilege of assisting the Beeston Rotary Club by staging an operetta in one act entitled "The Batsman's Bride" in aid of funds for the Beeston Youth Centre.
The Society, at the invitation of the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, recorded in July a half hour programme for Radio Nottingham which was subsequently broadcast on the 4th and 8th of September.
Since inception its Social Committee has constantly created opportunities for social evenings, "Bring and Buy Sales" and events of this sort to help the financial scene and to sustain interest in its affairs.
The past eighteen months has been, therefore, one of much achievement. Of course, the encouraging thing is the knowledge that our Urban District Council and the citizens of our area are behind our venture, because it is your support which, in the end, makes or breaks us.
If the past year particularly is a pattern for the future, I feel sure your Society will take its place among the best in the Midlands.
And now on with the show!
Brigadier G. F. Ayton, President
Synopsis of Show
Act 1
Fir Cone TavernAct 2
Scene 1 - The Court. That Night.Scene 2 - The King's Garden.
Scene 3 - The Masque.
Act 3
A gate of old ParisMusical Numbers
Act 1
Opening Chorus (Ensemble)Love for Sale (Huguette and Chorus)
Drinking Song (Taberie and Male Chorus)
Entrance of Villon
Song of the Vagabonds (Villon and Chorus)
Some Day (Katherine)
Melos
Archer's Chorus
Melos
Only a Rose (Katherine and Villon)
Fight Music and Finaletto Act (Entire Company)
Entr'act
Act 2
Opening (King, Tristan and Astrologer)Hunting (Noel and Ensemble)
Melos
Melos
Reprise "Only a Rose"
Scotch Archer's Song
Reprise "Love for Sale"
Melos
To-morrow (Villon and Katherine)
Finale, Act 2 (Entire Company)
Entr'act
Act 3
Opening "Nocturne" (Ensemble)Ballet (Tarantella)
Reprise "Nocturne"
Serenade
Reprise "Nocturne" (Waltz)
Huguette Waltz
Melos
Love Me To-night (Duet) (Katherine and Villon)
Melos
Melos "Love for Sale"
Finaletto
Melos
Church Music
Victory March
Melos
Finale
Photo Gallery
The Cast
Astrologer - William BuglassBishop - Albert Davis
Captain of the Scottish Archers - Jim Murdoch
Casin Chalet - Keith Reece
François - Howard Reese
Guy Tabarie - Grenville Stanley
Hangman - Graham Anderson
Huguette du Hamel - Brenda Shaw
Isabeau - June Baston
Jehan Le Loup - Henry Hall
Jehanneton - Elinor Green
Katherine de Vaucelles - Joan Hartshorn
Lady Mary - Marilyn Parker
Louis XI - Trevor Jones
Margot - Elsie Wright
Noel le Jolys - Geoffrey Drinkwater
Oliver le Dain - Jack Simmons
René de Montigny - Ted Morris
Rogati - Neil Jackson
The Queen - Jill Whiting
Thibaut d'Aussigny - Harold Whittington
Toison d'Or - William Buglass
Tristan L'Hermite - Dennis Armitage
The Chorus
Alan Hubbard, Albert David, Angela Smith, Anne Kirke, Anne Morris, Arthur Jones, Barbara Jordan, Dorothy Bebbington, Dorothy Corner, Elaine Kingsland, Elinor Green, Ethel Jordan, Ethel Lee, Geoffrey Drinkwater, Graham Anderson, Harold Whittington, Henry Hall, Jack Simmons, Jane Leith, Jean Redhead, Jean Simmons, Jenny Middleton, Jill Whiting, Jim Murdoch, Joan Hancock, Jose Stirland, Josephine Kilvington, Julia Hinde, June Baston, June Reece, Kathleen Paling, Keith Reece, Ken Smith, Len Cowley, Lesley Snaith, Lynne Macklam, Lynne Marston, Margaret Green, Neil Jackson, Paul Middleton, Robert Taylor, Roma Drinkwater, Ruth Dunn, Sheila Marshall, Sheila Stanley, Susan Anderson, Ted Morris, William BuglassDancers
Anne Smith, Julia Clarke, Lesley Miller, Maria McKaig, Patricia Taylor, Sharon ToppingThe Orchestra
Basoon - Miss M. BrownClarinet - B. F. Halesworth, S. Marsh
Double Bass - A. Racklyeft
Flute - Miss J. Brand
Horn - E. Chance
Oboe - Miss J. Shillitoe
Percussion - J. Webster
Piano - K. A. Plowman
Trombone - W. Pemberton
Trumpet - B. Mather, F. W. A. Tyler, G. Tyler
Viola - Mrs F. E. Hay-Heddle, Mrs N. Bosisto
Violin - G. Sheard, Mrs B. Hallam, Mrs J. Church, S. E. Cox
The Production Team
Costumes - Nellie SmithDance Arrangements - Leonie Cox (Principal of the Leonie Cox School of Dancing)
Photographic Display - John Sumpter (Photographer, Long Eaton)
Programme Photographs - John Sumpter (Photographer, Long Eaton)
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.
Newspaper Clippings
