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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

The Desert Song
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