Music by Edward German: Book and Lyrics by Basil Hood
SYNOPSIS AND CAST
Set in the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, the famous courtier, Sir Waiter Raleigh, loves Bessie Throckmorton, one of the Queen’s Ladies in Waiting. Bessie is frightened that a misplaced letter from Raleigh will fail into the hands of the Queen, who would be displeased at the association. Raleigh’s rival, the Earl of Essex, is given the letter by Jill-All-Alone, who is persecuted by the local people who think she is a witch.
A forester begs the Queen to protect Jill. However, when Essex hands Elizabeth the letter, the Queen is so incensed that she orders Bessie’s imprisonment, Raleigh’s banishment and Jill’s death by burning. Elizabeth retracts each sentence when Essex halts a threat to her life through his exposure of Dr Lopez, the Queen’s Portuguese physician, who is planning to poison her. This adaptation was first seen at Sadlers’ Wells in 1960 and has the effect of increasing the dramatic realism and allowing the music to give greater unity. The original version is available if required
Producer and Stage Manager: Vincent McCall
Musical Director: J S Wardale L.R.A.M.
CAST
| The Earl of Essex | F Leslie Cowham |
| Sir Walter Raleigh | Geo. H Storer |
| Walter Wilkins | Frank Bennett |
| Silas Simkins | John Easy |
| Long Tom | Richard Maxwell |
| Big Ben | Leonard Dodd |
| The Queen’s Fool | Frank Pearson |
| A Butcher | Howard Wigzell |
| A Baker | Gordon Smith |
| A Tinker | Harold Ford |
| A Tailor | Harold Goalen |
| Queen Elizabeth | Lillian Shannon |
| Miss Bessie Throckmoron | Ivy Webb |
| Jill All-Alone | Patricia Brice |
| The May Queen | Nora Rule |
| Marjorie | Colleen Greenwood |
| Kate | Daisy Barrell |
| Ladies-in-Waiting | Betty Goalen |
| Joan Barrell | |
| 1st Royal Page | Evelyn Spearman |
| 2nd Royal Page | Peggy Ford |
| Trumpeters | Oliver Treadway |
| Joan Spearman | |
| Solo Dancer | Evelyn Lawless |
| Trumpeters | Oliver Treadaway |
| Joan Spearman | |
| Solo Dancer | Evelyn Lawless |