1975 - 1976
The Desert Song
Morocco, 1925...
French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow", a Frenchman. The Red Shadow, his Arab lieutenant, Sid El Kar, and their wealthy host, Ali Ben Ali, discuss the relative merits of the Eastern tradition of love for a harem of women (like having a garden full of fragrant flowers), and the Western ideal of loving one woman for life. Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the French fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Meanwhile, Benny, a reporter, and Susan, the girl who loves him, provide comic relief.
Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her. To her surprise, Margot's mysterious abductor treats her with every Western consideration. Benny and Susan are captured too. When the Red Shadow comes face to face with General Birabeau, the old man challenges the rebel leader to a duel. Of course Pierre will not kill his own father, so he refuses to fight, losing the respect of the Riffs. Azuri, the sinuous and secretive native dancing girl, who knows the secret of the Red Shadow's true identity, might be persuaded to reveal the information if she could capture the attention of Captain Fontaine. Eventually, the Red Shadow's identity is discovered, a deal is struck with the Riffs, and Pierre and Margot live happily ever after.
Director: Richard Elichuk
Musical Director: William Gordon
Choreographer: Judy Hayes
Cast
Andre Danyliu
Benjamin Kidd
Chris Terry
Hadji
David Hayes
Ali Ben Ali
Eddie Nunn
General Birabeau
George Wilson
Paul Fontaine
Gerry Morris
Hassi
Jeannette Matthey
Edith, ensemble
Jocelyn Crain Spaull
Margot Bonvalet
Les Bonhower
De Boussac, ensemble
Liane Marshall
Susan
appearing by permisson of Actor's Equity Association
Liliane Winter
Neri, ensemble
Meredith Lee Pudney
Clementina
Nick Michelis
Sid El Kar
Nina Alexandor
Azuri
Roger Charron
Mindar, ensemble
Tony Keenleyside
La Vergne, ensemble
York Davis
The Red Shadow/Pierre Birabeau
Cher Daley
ensemble
David Beckett
ensemble
David Campbell
ensemble
David Howden
ensemble
Dean Wright
ensemble
Dieter Meynecht
ensemble
Eleanor Cowburn
ensemble
Ernie Dean
ensemble
Esmee Whitaker
ensemble
Frank Burke
ensemble
Gail Mildren
ensemble
Gail Sturgeon
ensemble
Isabel Hornstein
ensemble
Jack Wallace
ensemble
Jean Wheeler
ensemble
Jeremy Phillips
ensemble
Joy Phillips
ensemble
Karen Stobbe
ensemble
Karen Wood
ensemble
Ken Vye
ensemble
Laura Belton
ensemble
Lesley Hibberd
ensemble
Linda Hunter
ensemble
Lloyd Burton
ensemble
Margaret Leigh
ensemble
Martha Collins
ensemble
Michael Gareau
ensemble
Peggy Sample
ensemble
Sheila Shields
ensemble
Tom Kemeny
ensemble
Delyuth Hudson
Dancing Girl
Joan Galbraith
Dancing Girl
Roberta Sametz
Dancing Girl
Sandye Hayes
Dancing Girl
Sheila Weeks
Dancing Girl
Valerie Fournier
Dancing Girl
Production
Alex Milne
Stage Manager
Bill McKinnon
House Manager (Orpheus & Commerce)
Brian Jackson
Set Designer, Costume Designer, Properties Designer
Casey Krzyzanowski
Master Carpenter
Cher Daley
Hair Stylist
Chris Terry
Properties Master, Production Photographer
Dorothy Gough
Social Director
Eileen Lemmon
Assisant to Costume Designer
Faye Lavell
Ticket Manager
J. A. Wallace
Publicity Director
Lesley McHugh
Make-Up Artistry
Lorna Rice
Accompanist
Marg Mahony
Assistant to the Director
Margot Rothwell
Assisant to Set Designer
Marylin Day
Assistant to the Director
Nancy Turner
Lighting Designer
Paul Isaacs
Audio
Peter Vandesande
Audio
Rick Matheson
Production Co-ordinator
Tom Shields
Workshop Chairman
Tony Keenleyside
Programme Director