THE 1970's
With the start of a new decade the Society decided to produce a lesser known Gilbert and Sullivan, "Princess Ida". The Whitehaven News enthused over Elizabeth Simpson's 'lovely soprano ringing true on every note'. Chris Wishart was 'truly regal' as King Hildebrand and Peter Hendren was 'magnificent' as hunch-back King Gama. Audrey Johnson 'took her chance to prove what a fine voice she really has'. The 1971 "The Desert Song" with Avril Cowper Ramsey 'showed herself to be a very good actress having extremely clear and distinct enunciation'.
In 1972, Lionel Lightfoot produced "The Gondoliers". Mr Lightfoot had produced more than forty Savoy operettas and this was to be the sixth time he had directed "The Gondoliers". Unfortunately he died in August the same year.
Under Ted Robertson the Society gave Whitehaven a taste of old Vienna in Johann Strauss' 'The Gipsy Baron" in 1973 and Franz Lehar's wonderful "Merry Widow" in 1974. This was the start of a period when the shows were produced by a popular and charismatic local head-teacher by the name of Jack Coan. He inspired enthusiasm and anyone lucky enough to be directed by him would never forget the experience. Ripley Steele re-joined the Society in 1973 for "The Gipsy Baron" Amanda Johnson, daughter of Keith and Audrey, Jonathan Cowan, son of Bob and Shirley and David Simpson, son of Ken and Elizabeth were all cast as gipsy children.
Of "The Merry Widow", the Whitehaven News proclaimed, 'for gaiety, charm romance and comedy 'The Merry Widow' would take a lot of beating. Monday night's audience was captivated. Professional, exciting and colourful this show gave the greatest of pleasure and a happy company was clearly full of enthusiasm as they acted and sang the beautiful melodies.' 'The News also added that ' the real humour came from Ripley Steele as Njegus, in a non singing role he was a distinct success'. The show was most emphatically stolen by soprano Elizabeth Simpson who 'with great pose and beauty played the part of the Widow superbly, being aristocratic, autocratic and always charming. Her duets with Danilo (Peter Hendren) both angry and romantic were enthusiastically acclaimed.'
"The Yeoman of the Guard" in 1975 belonged to the wonderful voice of Pauline Bragg (Mrs. Robertson). She was described as 'magnificent, her professionalism shines out'. In "Die Fledermaus" in 1976 Pat Dalton excelled as Adele and proved 'she has a nice gift for comedy and her singing is good too'. Although the Whitehaven audiences were a little bemused by the 'Die' in the title - meaning 'The'- they tended to think the show had something to do with death!!
The Society presented an Edwardian musical comedy in 1977 with "The Quaker Girl" and the following year, 1978, gave their sixth "Mikado". with a chorus of 49 members. Later the same year, we gave a wonderful production of "The King and I" under the direction of John Skelton. In "The Mikado" Baxter Shaw as Ko-Ko introduced some 'zany touches of comedy'. During the run of "The King and I' Audrey Johnson gave the most powerful and moving rendition of 'Something Wonderful' and almost stopped the show. The 'colourful ball-gowns and lighting turned the ballet feature 'The Small House of Uncle Thomas' into something little short of spectacular on such a limited stage'.
The decade ended with "Lilac Time" in 1979. In this show featuring the music of Schubert, Pauline Robertson once again 'gave a real show stopping performance .... her clear and soaring notes adding immeasurably to the evening's success, particularly when joined by Val Hendren and Gillian Cowley for the trio 'Litzi, Mitzi and Fritzi'.