I have been loaned a photo of some of the cast from the 1947 St. Mary’s Amateur Operatic Society’s production of Jacques Offenbach’s “The Grand Duchess,” and I decided to find out more about it. The photo is reproduced later in this piece, so if anyone can put names to faces on it please do let me know.
I’ll start with some details about the show’s background to illustrate that this marked a significant production for the St. Mary’s amateurs. First performed in Paris in April 1867, this transglobally successful operetta was a hilarious tale of a sultry, spoiled and tyrannical Grand Duchess who rules the tiny Duchy of Gerolstein. Having a keen eye for attractive young men, she promotes a certain Fusilier (Private) Fritz to the rank of General in no time at all in an attempt to seduce him. But Fritz has a fiancée, Wanda, and ideas of his own, and when it becomes clear he will not succumb to her charms the Grand Duchess just as quickly demotes him. In the end the she has to settle for the absurdly foppish, but politically expedient, Prince Paul.
Alongside their confidence in taking on such a well-known production, the St. Mary’s group demonstrated their stamina. For if endurance was the hallmark of a good show, the Society’s end-of -September 1947 production was an absolute triumph in this department, running to over three hours.
The pleasing-to-the-eye St. Mary’s production also managed to instill in it a degree of freshness, despite the fact it was a show with which many were familiar. The credit for this went to producer and stage director, Mr. Anthony T. Farrar (who the following year commenced training for the priesthood). Not only did he arrange the dances and ensembles, but he also designed the stage settings.
The compactness of the stage, the avoidance of overcrowding it with chorus members, the compressed scenery, alongside colourful costumes, combined to give it “a show in miniature” vibe which proved effective.
The downside of not overcrowding the stage with chorus did mean a loss of volume in the choral numbers, and a piano could not fill the gaps left by the lack of an orchestra. But overall, the general consensus was this was a minor issue.
The production benefited from some very pleasing singing by the three leads – Rita Kelly, Thomas B. D. Pickles and Marie Judge (Wanda). As the Duchess, Miss Kelly’s delightful voice lent suitable poise to the role. She and Mr. Pickles, as Fritz, carried the bulk of the show on their shoulders.
The best scene in the show was the one in which the principals and chorus sang the melodious “Song of the Sabre.” The four ladies-in-waiting (Iza, Amelie, Olga and Charlotte) were similarly praised for their delivery of the “Letter Song.”
The characters in order of appearance were: Vivandiere and premier danseuse, Miss Kathleen Sheridan; Fritz, Mr. Thomas B. D. Pickles; Wanda, Miss Marie Judge; Sergeant-Major, Mr. James Prendergast; General Boum, Mr. Anthony Corley; Baron Puck, Mr. Leonard Moore; Capt. Nepomuc, Mr. Kevin Oram; Iza, Miss Moira Kelly; Amelie, Miss Kathleen Munns; Olga, Miss Helen Lynch; Charlotte, Miss Alice Townsley; The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, Miss Rita Kelly; Prince Paul, Mr. Robert Munns; Baron Grog, Mr. Joseph Kelly; Capt. Hertzog, Mr. Kenneth Cunningham; Capt. Mannlicher, Mr. Joseph Stubley; Black Pages, Masters Colin Phillips and Keith Judge; Chorus of Peasants, Ladies of the Court, Officers and Privates of the Grand Duchess’s Army.
Dancers: Misses Josephine Senior, Eileen Walker, Mary Heaps, Elaine Gallagher, Kathleen Breheney, Edna Mullins, Dorothy Levitt and Agnes Cunningham.
Gentlemen of the Chorus: Messrs. K. Cunningham, J. Stubley, F. Scanlon, P. Scanlon, B. Oram, B. Gallagher, B. Moore, J. Scally, F. Lyles, and D. Sheridan.
Ladies of the Chorus: Misses K. Scally. E. Sharpe, A. Mulcahy, A. Bromley, R. Harkin, M. Mennell and Mrs. N. Moore.
No production would be complete without those working behind-the-scenes. This show was under the musical direction of Society founder, and St. Mary’s school teacher, Miss Margaret Lucy Scanlon, A.L.C.M., the accompanist was her brother Mr. Henry Scanlon L.L.C.M. Stage manager was Rev. Matthew Farrelly. Miss N, Colleran and Mr. D. Healy were the prompters. Master J. Lyons was the call boy. Mr. T. Brennan was the electrician. Wardrobe mistresses were Miss M. Kilbride, Miss G. Brennan, Mrs. J. Kelly and Mrs. P. Cain. Mrs. T. Brennan was the main perruquier (the person in charge of wigs).
Overall, the conclusion was that – although perhaps a tad long – St. Mary’s could look back on this production with immense pride, it being one of the prettiest they had ever staged. It was also one in which all the cast had reached the standard required to give credibility to their parts and maintain audience interest. The Society had without doubt rung up the curtain on the local amateur theatrical season with a grand flourish,
Postscript:
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