Production Details
- Dates: 5th – 9th June 2007
- Venue: Gala Theatre
- Director: Fred Wharton
- Musical Director: Paul Wood
- Choreographer: Janet Dixon
Synopsis
A well crafted period musical, Gigi perfectly recaptures the romance and chivalry of fin-de-siecle Paris.
Gigi is a snapshot of Parisian belle epoque life in turn-of-the-century Paris, with the sparkling Lerner & Lowe scores, the musical was awarded an outstanding 9 Oscars in 1958.
Gaston Lachaille is a bon vivant following in the footsteps of his uncle Honore. But Gaston is becoming bored with the high life; especially the women. He only truly enjoys the time he spends with one of his uncle’s old friends, Madame Alvarez and her granddaughter, the precocious and care free Gigi.
Gigi is being groomed to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps as a famous courtesan. It suddenly occurs to Gaston that he could become her first protector, but the situation makes him uneasy until he discovers that he’s in love with Gigi and wants to marry her.
Wonderful songs in this show are ‘Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well‘, ‘It’s a Bore‘, ‘She’s Not Thinking of Me‘ and ‘Thank Heaven for Little Girls‘.
Cast
Principals
- Gigi – Sophie Begg
- Gaston Lachailles – Graeme Walton
- Liane d’Exelmans – Catherine Finn
- Sandomir – Peter Bradshaw
- Aunt Alicia – Valenda Taylor
- Honore Lachailles – Laurence Scott
- Mamita – Audrey Robson
- Clerk 1 – Mike Dixon
- Clerk 2 – Rob Gair
- Charles – David O’Donnell
- Maitre Du Fresne – Olly Burton
- Maitre Duclos – Bill Harland
- Manuel – Alan Ball
- Telephone Installer – Paul Maddison
- Head Waiter – Jonathan Taylor
- Voice of Gigi’s Mother – Heather McLoughlin
- Receptionist – Helen Harries
The Company
Alan Ball, Ruth Ball, Alison Banks, Denise Beckford, Michael Beckford, Jacqui Billinge, Peter Bradshaw, Olly Burton, Liz Cairns, Doreen Cothay, Trevor Dawson, Janet Dixon, Mike Dixon, Rebecca Dixon, Christine Dobbie, Anouska Drion, Pam Drion, Rob Gair, Karen Gallagher, Barbara Gray, Martin Gray, Rebecca Grundy, Katy Haggart, Richard Hall, Bill Harland, Hazle Harle, Helen Harries, Nikki Hellmuth Michelle Hood, Sarah Jackson, Maria-Teresa Lander, Dennis Lavin, June Lavin, Catherine Lawes, Esther Longe, Paul Maddison, Catherine Marsden, Heather McLoughlin, Stuart Mills, Stephanie Morton, David O’Donnell, Sue Robinson, Anthony Smith, Derek Smith, Luke Smith, Joan Spence, Steve Stephens, Rob Sweeney, Jonathan Taylor, Bev Thompson, Nicky Tones, Pat Walker, Katy Watson, Ian Wells
Children
Katherine, Elizabeth, Liah, Paige, Rachel, Emma, Sadie,Sophia , Helena
Dancers
Rachel Brooks, Rowena Cooper, Rebecca Turner, Anouska Drion, Karen Gallagher, Rebecca Grundy, Nicola Keen, Stephanie Morton, Emma Pearson
Backstage
- Stage Manager – Alan Hogarth
- Deputy Stage Manager – Christina Chapman
- Stage Crew – Mark Calvert, Carole Carter, Dave Carter, Katy Duff, Jean Forster, John Smith & Team
- Set Hire – Scenice Projects Suffolk
- Properties Team – Denise Brooksbank, Melanie Spedding, Miriam Maddocks, Graham Sneddon, Rachel Burnett
- Properties – Howarth Wrightson Manchester, Scenic Projects Suffolk, Northern Prop Hire Morpeth, Society Property Store
- Wardrobe – Jean Graham, Jane Flowers, Judith Frisby
- Costumes – W. A. Homburg Ltd. Leeds, Society Wardrobe
- Production Assistant – Eunice Sneddon
- Make-Up – Brenda Mullen, Eunice Sneddon, Anne Thompson, Lucy Allen & Team
- Wigs – Derek Easton Wigs Peacehaven
- Lighting Design – Brian Dunn
- Sound Design – Graham Holder
- Technical Support – Brian Dunn
- Prompt – Jo Smart
- Rehearsal Pianists – Stephen Hood, Martin Dack, Jennifer Reid
- Front of House – David Foxall, Margaret Sutton, Lawrence Jones, Frank Cure, Val Cure, Mary Robinson, Jean Jones, John Cuckson, Joyce Allinson
- Refreshments – Joan Foxall & Team
- Dressers – Lesley Begg, Pam Drion, Katy Duff, Delia McNally, Eunice Sneddon & Team
- Nannies – Karen Cumpson, Gerti Foolen, Rachael Gunn, Helen Shogren
Orchestra
- Violins – Julia Boulton, Michael Walton
- Viola – Jonathan Rutter
- Cello – Greg Pullen
- Bass – Gordon Callander
- Reeds – Andrew Martin, Catherine Freeman, Norman Moore, Jackie Catchpole
- Horn – Chris Senior
- Trumpet – Alex Lewis
- Percussion – Malcolm Dick
- Trombones – John Flood, Alan Bravey
- Piano – Martin Dack
- Keyboards – Steven Hood
Promotion Gallery
Programme
Reviews
Gavin Havery – Northern Echo
PARISIAN culture is on display with the Durham Musical Theatre Company’s production of the Lerner and Loewe musical Gigi. Set in belle Epoque Paris at the turn of the century, Gigi is the tale of Gaston, a French aristocrat who falls in love with a young girl who has been groomed to be a courtesan.
This light-hearted view into Parisian life is blessed with several skilled performances, most notably those of 18-year-old Sophie Begg in the title role, as well as Laurence Scott as Honore.
The cast gave a strong musical performance, bringing to life classics like Thank Heaven For Little Girls and The Night They Invented Champagne. There were, however, a few things that could have been improved. There was too much going on visually during the contract signing scene, which, although providing comic relief, drew attention from the main plot. But this, and a few other minor flaws, such as a couple of dancers losing their balance, did little to detract from the flow of the show.
Overall, the evening was enjoyable and the show performed with a refreshing enthusiasm.