1949 - 1950
The Firefly
In the annals of music in America, the name of Rudolf Friml has long stood out as a symbol of robust musical scores. With more than twenty-five hit shows to his credit, Friml has given to this continent memorable productions including Rose Marie, The Three Musketeers, Katinka, The Vagabond King and this production, The Firefly. Born in Prague and trained in Europe, Friml has done most of his composing in the United States. He came to America for the first time in 1903 as accompanist for Kubelik, the violinist. Later he toured America as a concert pianist, introducing many of his own works. His success was such that he remained in America to become one of its greatest composers of light classics.
To those who have seen only the motion picture version of The Firefly a word of explanation is due. For reasons best known to Hollywood, the story and locale were so changed in the picture as to be scarcely recognizable. In our production we have adhered closely to the original play, although we have introduced "The Donkey Serenade" in response to many requests.
Producer: Joseph E. Webb
Musical Director: H. Bramwell Bailey
Dances: Jack Neil
Cast
Alison Thomas
Suzette (Maid to Geraldine)
Beatrice Perkin
Geraldine Van Dare (Mrs. Van Dare's Niece)
Dermot Sladen
Correlli (Nina's Guardian)
Eileen Mahoney
Nina (A Street Singer)
Freda Lyon
Antonio Columbo (A Pickpocket)
George Dupuis
Jack Travers (Geraldine's Sweetheart)
George Wetzstein
Ship's Captain
Grace Schultz
A Flower Vendor
James G. Scott
Herr Franz (A Choirmaster)
Jean Tickner
Mrs. Oglesby Van Dare
John H. Fish
John Thurston (Jack's Uncle)
Joseph E. Webb
Jenkins (Her Confidential Secretary)
Margaret Leahy
Sybil Van Dare (Mrs. Van Dare's Daughter)
Reg W. Harvey
Pietro (Valet to Mr. Thurston)
Rudge Whitworth
A Policeman
Adele Roy
Ensemble
Agnes Bourassa
Ensemble
Aileen Ryan
Ensemble
Al Hussey
Ensemble
Alan Holmes
Ensemble
Arthur Pownall
Ensemble
Barbara Tepley
Ensemble
Bernice McFadyen
Ensemble
Brenda Plet
Ensemble
Desmond Arthur
Ensemble
Doris Myles
Ensemble
Earl Larocque
Ensemble
Edna Peters
Ensemble
Elsie Parkes
Ensemble
Ernest Whittle
Ensemble
Grant Glennie
Ensemble
James Mackersie
Ensemble
Jean Halley
Ensemble
Jean Wilson
Ensemble
Joe Pelisek
Ensemble
Juliette Sabourin
Ensemble
Kathryn Kay
Ensemble
Ken Ristow
Ensemble
Lorna Nash
Ensemble
Margaret Coldwell
Ensemble
Marguerite Allan
Ensemble
Marilyn Moor
Ensemble
Marion Deavy
Ensemble
Mary Allen
Ensemble
Melva Anthony
Ensemble
Moya Meade
Ensemble
Norma Besserer
Ensemble
Norman Tepley
Ensemble
Peggie Highley
Ensemble
Rita DeRaspe
Ensemble
Ruby Rutkowski
Ensemble
Ruth Piers
Ensemble
Ted Hothersall
Ensemble
Theresa Doyle
Ensemble
Wendy Brooks
Ensemble
Production
Betty Nuth
Properties
Christine Allan
Prompting
Dermot Sladen
Business Manager, Tickets
Fred Pereira
Publicity
George Wetzstein
Programme
Hubert Kennedy
Make-Up
Jim Fawcett
Workshop, Head of Stage Crew
Mallabar
Costumes
Marguerite Allan
Librarian
Mildred Ker
Costumes
Neil O'Donnell
Lighting
Ted Hothersall
Entertainment
Verne Ridgeway
Set design
Winifred Canty
Accompanist