Townsville Theatrical Society King and I May 1962

‘The King and I’ was performed on the 10th May to Wed 16th May, 1962, at the Theatre Royal.

Townsville Theatrical Society
‘The King and I’, Theatre Royal
Thurs 10 to Wed 16 May, 1962
Cast
(In order of appearance)
CAPTAIN ORTON.................................................................. MICHAEL LILWALL
LOUIS LEONOWENS............................................................. KENNETH BROWN
ANNA LEONOWENS............................................................. BETTY BROWN
PHRA ALACK......................................................................... GLEN POWER
THE KRALAHOME................................................................. JOHN FOX
THE KING.............................................................................. JACK GRASSO
LUN THA............................................................................... RAY CAMPBELL
TUPTEM ............................................................................... LESLEY WYER
LADY THIANG........................................................................ MARY SUMMERFIELD
PRINCE CHULALONGKORN ................................................... RONALD STANNETT
PRINCESS YING YAOWLAK..................................................... BARBARA MITCHELL
SIR EDWARD RAMSAY ........................................................... ALAN TEALBY
SUPPORTING CAST:
WIVES :
Susan Bensted, Beverley Hansen, Barbara Hansen, Glen Kaye, Pat McCarthy, Hazel Need,
Margaret Norton, Lynette Porter, Pauline Taylor, Kay Bonnett, Anne Reeves.

CHILDREN:
Pamela Bookless, Cheryl Brown, Marcia Chockman, Cynthia Dick, Colleen Gill, Judith Jensen,
Julie Meeson, Maria McFarlane, Jan Torkington, Lindie Ward.
THE ANN ROBERTS SCHOOL OF DANCING:
Susan Beaver, Cheryl Bennett, Kay Bennett, Robin Bennett, Jo Anne Dick, Marlene Fisher,
Ann Gardner, Pat Huston, Carol Jones, Maureen Lucas, Kay Raynor, Gail Sturges, Mary Turner,
and Gary Hill.
SPECIALTY DANCING:
Getting To Know You: Maureen Lucas Procession March, Siamese Children :
ALSO IN CAST:
Mavis Colban, Freda Greske, Gary Hill, Bruce Shanks, Eddie Goon Chew.





Producer and Director………………………………………JACK GRASSO
Assistant .............................................................Alan Tealby
Ballet Arrangements............................................Ann Roberts
Pianist .................................................................Russell Coxon
Prompt ................................................................Hope Carruthers
Make-up...............................................................Bettina Smeaton, Terry Clark
Pat Snell, Phyl Marsh.
Electricians ..........................................................Albert Casey, John Hielscher
Principal Costumes executed by .......………………..Mrs. R. Shanks
Designed by..........................................................Alan Tealby, Jack Grasso
Set Designed.........................................................Jack Grasso
Stage Manager......................................................Alan Tealby
Assistant Stage Manager.......................................Michael Lilwall
Stage Assisants .....................................................Bruce Shanks, Leszik Kaczmarski
General Assistants……………………………………………….Dell Nott, E. Ellery, Jo Bonnett, Phyl Marsh,
Lyn Weston
Spot Lights..... ........................................................Fred Bargent
Booking Office........................................................Gray's Newsagency
House Management...............................................Dell Nott
Box Office................................................................Lil Fraser
Usherettes and Programme Sellers—
Mesdames E. Downey, G. Mitchell, E. Ellery, G. Turner, H. Davis, E. Wallace, E. Upritchard,
M. Sinclair, A. Doig, Miss J. Doig and Mr. D. Downey.
ORCHESTRA under the baton of LILIAN BENSTED
Piano: RUSSELL COXON
Violins: L. BENSTED, B. BROWN, N. O'DEA, W. RIDDELL, C. CAREY, F. FEATHER.
Cello: A. DEMAREZ
Clarinet: H. NOTT
Flutes: D. MacINTOSH and G. BROADBENT
Drums: P. MILLER and J. DIXON
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT I
I Whistle a Happy Tune Anna and Louis
My Lord and Master Tuptim
Hello Young Lovers Anna
March of the Siamese Children Anna, The King, Wives and Children
A Puzzlement The King
The Royal Bangkok Academy Anna and Pupils
Getting To Know You Anna, Wives and Children
We Kiss in a Shadow Tuptim, Lun Tha
Reprise A Puzzlement Prince and Louis
Shall I Tell You What I Think of You Anna
Something Wonderful Lady Thiang
Finale Entire Company
ACT II
Western People Funny Lady Thiang, Wives
I Have Dreamed Tuptim, Lun Tha
Reprise Hello Young Lovers Anna
Ballet—The Small House of Uncle Thomas-
Narrator .......................................Lesley Wyer
Uncle Thomas .............................. Maureen Lucas
Topsy ............................................Gail Sturges
Little Eva .............................. ........Ann Gardner
Eliza ...............................................Carol Jones
King Simon ....................................Gary Hill
Angel .......:..................,..................Mary Turner
Royal Dancers—
Susan Beaver, Cheryl Bennett, Kay Bennett, Robin Bennett, Jo Ann Dick, Marlene Fisher,
Pat Huston, Kay Raynor.
Shall We Dance Anna and the King
Finale Company
Townsville Daily Bulletin 1962
Musical ‘first’
for Townsville
TOWNSVILLE.— This week's opening of "The King and I" marks the first musical comedy production ever attempted by a dramatic society in Townsville.
It will be produced by Jack Grasso, who also plays the King. Anna is played by Betty Brown.
Pianist is Russell Coxan with the orchestra conducted by Lilian Benstead. Choreography is by Ann Roberts.
The production will run for six days, until Wednesday May 16.
TDB Thurs 11 May 1962
COLOURFUL
MUSICAL
BIG SUCCESS
"The King and I" is one of those famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals from which one comes away humming familiar melodies, but it takes more than
tuneful music to make it a memorable show.
There were few details left unattended in the Townsville Theatrical Society's colourful and ambitious production at the Theatre Royal last night.
This must be one of the most successful and spectacular plays presented for some time in Townsville.
Producer Jack Grasso deserves much praise for tackling the long and exacting musical, which, like most Rodgers and Hammerstein, has more subtlety than traditional musicals and even a bit of sermonising.
"The King and I" was the first of their successes to exploit the Oriental atmosphere, and this production exploited it to the full.
With settings, décor and costumes, especially costumes, it was always highly colourful, and sometimes enchanting in its effects.
The "fairy-tale" atmosphere was also beautifully conveyed by exciting ballet and a charming chorus of children.
But the subtlety was caught here too, with warm characterisation, par¬ticularly from Betty Brown as Anna. Hers was a sympathetic and often moving performance and she sang pleasantly and clearly. Always there was a fine balance between her petulance and pathos.
As the King, Jack Grasso completely dominated the stage, as he was meant to. Moving and expressing him¬self well, he was handicapped at times by his accent and quick speech, but his com¬manding presence generally made amends.
His "A Puzzlement" was eloquent and his polka delightfully funny.
The young lovers, Lesley Wyer and Ray Campbell, sang their two lovely numbers splendidly. Lesley Wyer was a demure and pretty Tuptim with a sweet voice and clarity in the narration of the "Uncle Thomas" ballet. Ray Campbell lent his fine voice well to the part of Lun Tha.
As Lady Thiang, Mary Summerfield both sang and acted well and also achieved a warm portrayal of her character.
Ronald Stannett made an impressive appearance as the Crown Prince and made the most of his first-act entrance.
Young Kenneth Brown had a strong voice and natural¬ness in his part as Anna's son and fully shared the polish of his elders.
Glen Power, as Phra Alack, contributed his moments of comment effectively. Other speaking parts were well handled by Michael Lilwall, Alan Tealby, Barbara Mitchell and John Fox.
The children were enchanting and the "wives" an attractive chorus, although they appeared rather hastily got together at the beginning of Act II. The small group who sang in the ballet sequences was particularly good.
The dancers, led by Carol Jones and Gary Hill, were superbly dressed and highly efficient, and it was largely due to them that the long second act did not seem to drag at all.
The orchestra had also had a large part to play and put up a spirited performance. Not only the catchy melodies, but the visual effects and all-round effort of this production will linger with those who see it.
"The King and I” will be presented nightly until next Wednesday night.

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