The DMTC archive 2002

Durham Musical Theatre Company

What a Swell Party!

200228th – 29th June 2002Gala Theatre
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Back in the spotlight

About the show.

Charting the rise of Cole Porter through the ’20s, the glittering ’30s and ’40s, the story of his life interweaves with a dazzling array of his most famous songs, including: “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “Anything Goes”, “From this Moment On”, “I Love Paris”, “Blow Gabriel, Blow”, “Begin the Beguine”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “Night and Day”, “In the Still of the Night”, “Friendship”, “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”, “Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall in Love”, “It’s Delovely”, “You’re the Top”, “Another Op’nin, Another Show”, “True Love” and many more.

“What a Swell Party” is a tribute to a musical and lyrical talent which even now remains unsurpassed.

What a Swell Party! poster
Original production artwork · 2002

Behind the scenes

The production team.

Director

Fred Wharton

Musical Director

George Hetherington

Choreographer

Janet Dixon

View the full production credits
Written and Devised By
George Hetherington · Fred Wharton
Musical Arrangements
George Hetherington
Set Construction and Stage Management
David Foxall · Mike Dixon
Deputy Stage Manager
David Wright
Properties
Denise Brooksbank
Wardrobe
Jean Graham · Jane Flowers · Judith Frisby
Lighting Design
David Wright
Make-up
Brenda Mullen
Prompt
Jo Smart
Rehearsal Pianist
Robert Humes
Front of House
David Foxall · Frank Cure · Mary Robinson · Margaret Sutton · Pam Drion · Claire Wright · Christina Slane · Lawrence Jones · Joyce Allinson · Harry Cottle
Refreshments
Val Cure · Joan Foxall
Acknowledgement
Rob Flower · Staff of GALA, Durham
First Aid
St John Ambulance Brigade
Properties Assistance
Ken Bartley · Jarrow Amateur Operatic Society · Whitley Bay Amateur Operatic Society
Programme Supply
Sports & Leisure Publications

On stage

Cast & company.

Principals / cast

Linda — Cole’s wife
Valenda Taylor
Kate — Cole’s mother
Audrey Robson
The Barman
Olly Burton
Part One · Night and Day
Janet Dixon · Eileen Glenton
Part One · Easy to Love
Graeme Walton
Part One · I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Glen Moore
Part One · The Physician
Eileen Glenton
Part One · Friendship
Rosemary Cleasby · Margaret Graham · Helen Harries · June Lavin · Heather McLoughlin · Audrey Robson
Part One · It’s All Right With Me
Anthony Smith
Part One · I Love Paris
Ron Kemp
Part One · Paris Loves Lovers
Graeme Walton
Part One · Well Did You Evah?
Glen Moore · Carol Gardner
Part One · Don’t Fence Me In
Katie Bell · Rebecca Dixon · Allison Feasey · Andrea Scott · Genni Steele · Caroline Wheeler
Part One · Mrs. Lowsborough-Goodby
Laurence Scott
Part One · I Concentrate on You
Ron Kemp
Part One · You’re the Top
Delia McNally · Anthony Smith
Part One · In the Still of the Night
Delia McNally
Part One · Anything Goes
Andrea Scott · Chris Grief
Part One · It’s Delovely
Delia McNally · Graeme Walton
Part One · Blow Gabriel Blow
Eileen Glenton
Part Two · Do I Love You?
Lisa Thorner
Part Two · You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
Anthony Smith
Part Two · My Heart Belongs To Daddy
Eileen Glenton
Part Two · Miss Otis Regrets
Laurence Scott
Part Two · Every Time We Say Goodbye
Delia McNally
Part Two · I Get a Kick Out of You
Carol Gardner
Part Two · Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?
Anthony Dixon · Sophie Begg
Part Two · A Shooting Box in Scotland
Anthony Smith · Glen Moore
Part Two · Love For Sale
Eileen Glenton
Part Two · Let’s Do It
Laurence Scott
Part Two · Were Thine That Special Face
Ron Kemp
Part Two · I Hate Men
Eileen Glenton
Part Two · Too Darn Hot
Graeme Walton
Part Two · So In Love
Ron Kemp
Part Two · Brush Up Your Shakespeare
Glen Moore · Olly Burton
Part Two · Use Your Imagination
Delia McNally

The company

In the pit

The orchestra.

Drums
Jack Kennedy
Bass
Dougie Milburn
Original programme cover for What a Swell Party!

Turn back the pages

The original programme.

Meet the people, revisit the production and explore the programme as it appeared at the time.

The original programme

What a Swell Party! (2002)

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Reviews

Ian Wells – Northern NODA News – August 2002

This compilation of Cole Porter songs, with biographical details interspersed, was written and devised by George Hetherington and Fred Wharton, and what a delightful evening it made.

Many of the numbers were familiar to ‘amateurs’ (think scores like “Anything Goes”, “Kiss Me Kate”, “Can-Can” and “High Society”) but many from earlier shows were not. They ranged from ballads to up-tempo, to comedy numbers, all presented with style and panache.

The staging was simple, yet elegant, and the device of having Cole’s mother, wife, and a barman (Audrey Robson, Valenda Taylor and Olly Burton) narrate the story of his life very telling without ever feeling heavy. George’s trio accompaniment adapted its style from cocktail to raunchy with deceptive ease, and the lighting created the appropriate mood.

The company of sixty, led by Delia McNally, Carol Gardner, Lisa Thorner (who was outstanding in “Love For Sale”), Anthony Smith, Glen Moore, Ron Kemp, Laurence Scott, and Graeme Walton, performed the forty three numbers faultlessly.

All are to be congratulated, especially the ‘Andrews Sisters’ with “Don’t Fence Me In” —yes, Cole Porter wrote that! Every one in the cast, from the ‘Golden Girls’ to the ‘stars of tomorrow’ seemed to be having a ball, and so did the audience.