book and lyrics by Geoffrey Dunn
2) book by Edmund Tracey, lyrics by Geoffrey Dunn
SYNOPSIS AND CAST
The goddesses Juno, Minerva and Venus are at loggerheads over who is the most beautiful, so Jupiter decrees that a mortal should be chosen to decide the issue, impartially, once and for all. On Mount Ida the three make themselves known to a somewhat bewildered Prince Paris of Troy, who chooses Venus, the goddess of love. As a reward, she promises him the love of the most beautiful woman on earth: universally acknowledged to be Helen of Sparta.
Young Paris, disguised as a shepherd, goes in search of Helen who has somewhat inconveniently married the rather dull Menelaus. After a brief soul searching session, Helen takes a definite shine to Paris and the pair engage Calchas, the chief augur, to remove the obstacles to their happiness. To further confuse the issue, King Menelaus is playing host to the other three Kings of Greece, his brother Agamemnon, Ajax and Achilles. Paris reveals his true identity to his fellow royals and is invited to dinner when a message from the gods (or Calchas and his thunder sheet) orders the reluctant Menelaus to go on a pilgrimage.
On his return he finds that the love of Paris and Helen is running its course and, keen to make it as bumpy as possible, he banishes Pads and proclaims himself as the epitome of marital misfortune.
Flying in the face of the will of Venus, Sparta faces disaster but what will become of the young lovers and will a week at the sea‑side sort things out once and for all?
Producer: Norma Evans
Musical Director: Christopher Slater
CAST
| Helen | Theresa Booth |
| Nesta | Marie Bennett |
| Leona | Nancy Lang |
| Cressida | Doreen Legg |
| Paris | Phllip Otto |
| Menelaus | Peter Evans |
| Calchas | Laurie Cuckney |
| Philocomus | David Field |
| Agamemnon | Derek Plumb |
| Ajax | Geoffrey Newman |
| Achilles | Christopher Boa |
| Orestes | Philip Wilcox |
| Juno | Pat Coombs |
| Minerva | Cheryl Lansdell |
| Venus | Jayne Wilcox |
| Mercury | David field |
| CITIZENS OF SPARTA | |
| Ladies: | Amanda Collin, Pat Coombs, Margaret Etches, Sue Fairman, Barbara Fleming, Katie Griffiths, Rosemary Griffiths, Rosemary Hills, Cheryl Lansdell, Joanne Merry, Jill Nuthall, Mary O’Keef, Anny Harvey-Smith, Marion Stewart, Sue Talbert, Peggy Thomson, Debbie Traynor, Jayne Wilcox |
| Gentlemen: | Brian Card, Neil Catton, Stephen Coulman, David Field, Malcolm Jones, Percy Morgan, Iain Saville, Robert Showan, John Talbert, Cyril Vance, Ken Warner, Stephen Welham |