1954 - 1955
Rose Marie
ACT I
The scene depicts the salon in Lady Jane's Hotel where the inhabitants of the northern town of Fond du Lac are accustomed to gather for an evening's entertainment. In attendance on Lady Jane is Sergeant "Bull-dog" Malone of the RCMP, who has been trying unsuccessfully to persuade her to marry him for some time. In town are two prospectors, Jim Kenyon and his partner, Hardboiled Herman. Jim is in love with Rose Marie La Flamme, whose fur trader brother, Emile, has more ambitious matrimonial plans for her in the form of the wealthy and unscrupulous Edward Hawley. Hawley is genuinely in love with Rose Marie, and is attempting to end his affair with Wanda, half-breed wife of Black Eagle, and Indian prospector, whose land borders on that of Jim Kenyon. Rose Marie and Jim have a few moments alone, and agree to see each other again at her summer home near Koontenay Pass the following week. The act ends as Rose Marie teaches Jim a traditional Indian love-call.
ACT II
That night, Jim arrives at Black Eagle's cabin hoping to settle a boundary dispute, and finding Black Eagle absent, leaves an explanatory map with Wanda. Later Black Eagle discovers Wanda and Hawley alone together in his cabin and, in the ensuing fight, Wanda saves her lover by stabbing her husband. The following week, Rose Marie, Emile and Hawley have arrived at Kootenay Pass. Hawley enlists the aid of his friend Ethel Brander to try to persuade Rose Marie to come to Quebec with him, in the hope that a taste of luxury may bring her to feel more favourably towards him. Wanda, who has followed Hawley to the Totem Pole Hotel, informs him that she has accused Jim Kenyon of the murder of Black Eagle. Meanwhile, Lady Jane, who has fallen in love with Herman, has followed him and Jim Kenyon south to Kootenay Pass. This romance develops, and Lady Jane and Herman decided to get married. Jim receives a long-awaited telegram offering him a mining job in Brazil which requires him to leave at once if he is to accept. He asks Rose Marie to come with him and she joyfully consents. However, because he is aware of Hawley's offer, as he goes to his cabin to pack, he tells Rose Marie that if she should change her mind, she need only sing to him the Indian love-call and he would understand, and go away alone. Sergeant Malone arrives, looking for Jim to arrest him for the murder of Black Eagle. Emile threatens Rose Marie that he will reveal Jim's whereabouts unless she goes to Quebec with Hawley. As the act ends, Rose Marie sings the Indian love-call ostensibly to Hawley, knowing that when Jim hears it, he will go away to safety.
ACT III
One year later, at Quebec, the scene is the newly-acquired dress salon of Herman and LadyJane, who has become Mrs. Herman. Preparations for Rose Marie's wedding to Hawley are in full swing. Jim arrives on the scene unexpectedly, bringing Wanda with him in the hope that she might be persuaded to clear his name. Rose Marie, overjoyed at first, misunderstands Wanda's presence, and sends Jim away, reaffirming her decision to marry Hawley. Later, as the wedding is about to take place, Wanda, in her anger at Hawley, reveals the truth about the killing, absolving Jim of all guilt. As the curtain falls, Jim and Rose Marie are reunited at last.
Producer/Director: Bernard McManus
Musical Director: Joseph B. Herdman
Dances: Nesta Toumine
Cast
Angus McDonald
Sergeant Malone
Betty Cowan
Lady Jane
Charlie Kerr
Jim Kenyon
Charlie Ogilvie
A Man
Clesson Goodhue
Hard-Boiled Herman
Freda Lyon
Rose-Marie La Flamme
Jim Ingram
Emile La Flamme
Margaret Leahy
Ethel Brander
Phil Weigand
Edward Hawley
Raymonde Decelles
Wanda
Sam Crivellaro
Half Breed
Tim Hynes
Black Eagle
Ann Chambers
Ensemble
Audrey Gignac
Ensemble
Audrey Stewart
Ensemble
Barbara Lepine
Ensemble
Barbara Morrison
Ensemble
Beverley Bourguignon
Ensemble
Cara Joy Hughes
Ensemble
Daisy Mae Checkley
Ensemble
David Dale
Ensemble
David Marani
Ensemble
Des Gibson
Ensemble
Dorothy Beale
Ensemble