"The Geisha" is a late Victorian two act musical comedy set in Japan. The first act takes place in "The Tea House of Ten Thousand Joys", whilst Act Two was "A Chrysanthemum Fete in the Palace Gardens". The cast of almost 50 people in the first production that was staged at the Cineema House after the war included well known Matlock names from before the war and newcomers such as Joyce Loverock and Alastair Storey who were to appear in numerous post war productions^[2].

On the last night Society President John Hadfield presented gifts to F. Banks (producer), H. D. Wildgoose (musical director) and the manager and accompanist (Mr. and Mrs. C. Gale). It was expected that the subscription fund, which has reached £160, would make the opera self-supporting, although there was the assured funding guarantee, already mentioned, if it was needed^[3].

In the photo are:

Back row: Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Roy Wildgoose | Alastair Storey | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |

Standing, 1st row: Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |

Seated: Edith Gale (accompanist) | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Eileen Griffiths (later Redfern) | E. H. Farnsworth? | Unknown | C. Carley (The Marquis Imari) |

Sitting on the floor: Unknown | Clarice Lill (Geisha, Chrysanthemum) | Keith Beardow (Tommy Stanley, midshipman) | Unknown | Joyce Loverock (Geisha, Golden Harp) |
The other two Geishas in this row were I. Howarth and K. Bennett

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Goodnight Vienna, 16-20 March 1948

A local press reporter thought that "Goodnight Vienna" was probably the lightest of the society's productions^[4]. Written before the War, it had been chosen as the 1948 production in the autumn of the previous year^[5].

Stage Manager Charles Gale and his team (L. Statham, H. Brown, Eric Wilmot and the cinema manager E. Merrival) had worked hard adapting both the stage and its lighting the weekend beforehand, and were complimented on the sets^[4].

The reporter's review said the show "offers enchanting scenery, bright and beautiful costumes, some fascinating solo work and dancing, but only the merest thread of a plot". Yet "for one brief evening it whisks patrons away from the austerity and drabness of 1948, and gives them a pleasurable glimpse into happier times^[4].

Many who were given principal roles were commended for their singing. E. H. Farnsworth had "a voice of outstanding quality and who is building up a reputation as an opera star", whilst Marjorie Dickens as his leading lady had "a sweet stage personality and an equally sweet soprano voice"; she made the most of the few dramatic situations the play offered. However, the journalist did ask the query the lack of tenors."^[4]

Here we see a group of members of the chorus, including Edward Samuel (front row, far left), Claude Rice (front row, far right) and Bernice Stoddart (fourth from the right). This was Edward's first year with the society and Claude's second.

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Merrie England, 8-12 March 1949

The production was set in Windsor Town "in the days of Good Queen Bess" and the first act, "The Banks of the Thames", begins with May Day celebrations in full swing. The story involves Sir Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth (Bessie) Throckmorton as well as the Earl of Essex and the Virgin Queen. There's a mix up with a letter sent to Bessie involved, which the Queen had assumed was for her because of the name. It had been handed to her by Essex, who had been given it by a character called Jill-All-Alone. Jill was then accused of being a witch, a serious matter in Tudor England, and was condemned to death^[6].

The second act was set in a glade in "Windsor Forest" where Jill had gone. However, the Queen had arranged to meet an apothecary in the same forest to obtain poison but she was frightened by Herne the Hunter, who was said to appear when royalty was about to commit a criminal act, so Queen Bess forgave everybody and Jill's death sentence was commuted^[6].

The characters are a mixture of real historical characters and references the legendary to King Neptune, George and the Dragon and Robin Hood; the finale rather curiously being "Now who'll come says Robin Hood". Said Robin had been imported into the wrong century!^[6]

In the centre of a number of the female cast, with the mob cap, is Joyce Loverock who performed the role of Jill-All-Alone. In the front row are Daphne Radford, soon to become Daphne Rice (on the far left), and Bernice Stoddart (centre).

Tickets for the final performance

References:

^[1] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 24 October 1946. Matlock's "Opera Week".

^[2] Information from the programme (Maureen Smith collection).

^[3] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 26 May 1947.

^[4] "Matlock Amateur Operatic Society. Performance of Goodnight Vienna. Date of newspaper report, written during the 1948 Opera Week, is unknown (Maureen Smith collection).

^[5] "Derby Daily Telegraph", 1 October 1947.

^[6] Information from the programme (Susan Tomlinson collection).