High Society

Chairmans Chat The Story Musical Numbers Cast and Characters Orchestra Production Team   Prize Crossword answers

Chairman’s Chat by Ray Fisher

It only seems a few weeks ago that I was writing this piece for SuperStar – time really flies by.

“We have a round table ideas session, sharing existing knowledge about shows that have been suggested, either by SRC members or by other HAODS members. We then shortlist by consensus and ask individual committee members to research shows in greater depth against a set of agreed criteria. Once all shows have been properly researched, a thorough assessment is put together for each one. The SRC then recommends a shortlist to main Committee for consideration.”

The main Committee try to pick out a good mix of shows to give all members a chance to demonstrate what they can do and to make sure we offer our audience a wide range of styles. Lots of shows which we would love to do are either unavailable or would be impossible for us to cast. Finally the Committee’s choices are put to the whole membership for a vote.

We are working over 2 years ahead and are now deciding which productions to perform in 2008!

High Society is one of the good old shows but you will find that it has been considerably updated, with some things missing and new things added, so please sit back and “enjoy”.

Musical Numbers

High Society
Ridin’ High
Throwing a Ball Tonight
Little One
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
I Love Paris
She’s Got That Thing
Once Upon a time
True Love
Let’s Misbehave
I’m Getting Myself Ready for You
Just One of Those Things
Well, Did You Evah!
You’re Sensational
Say it With Gin
It’s All Right with Me
He’s A Right Guy
Samantha
I Worship You

The Story

The story is set in 1948 when Tracy Samantha Lord is about to marry her second husband, George Ketteridge. Her mother, Mrs Margaret Lord, and her younger sister, Dinah, are at the family mansion in Philadelphia supervising last minute preparations. Her father, Seth Lord, is absent ostensibly on business. Sydney Kidd, editor of "Spy" Magazine is determined to get the inside story on the wedding and blackmails Dexter Haven, (Tracy's first husband who is still coming to terms with the failure of their marriage) to arrange for two journalists, Liz Imbrie and Mike

Connor, to pose as guests and obtain an exclusive story. Tracy shows a great deal of interest in Mike's ambition to become a successful author, causing jealousy from both Liz and George: her erratic behaviour on the eve of the wedding leads to it being called off just as the guests arrive for the ceremony. The show's finale is a spectacular double wedding; Tracy and Dexter, Liz and George!

The Cast

Chorus

Philip Chadwell, Chris Hampton, Mark Jones, Kevin Summers, Bryan Swain, Gregor Thomson

Orchestra

Production Team

Director & Choreographer	Yvonne Chadwell
Musical Director	John Vinall
Scenery	Clifford and Brown
Props	HAODS
Costumes	HAODS
For Horsham District Council
General Manager	Michael Gattrell
For HAODS
Production Manager	Bryan Swain
Stage Manager	Tim Lawrence
Deputy Stage Manager	Tony Francis
Lighting Design & Operations	Tim Lawrence
Sound Operator	Steve McEvoy
Follow Spot Operators	Tim Ayres,
	Keith Greenwood
Flyman	Peter Shapley
Stage Crew	Dave Fuller,
	Brian Greenwood,
	Derek Mileham,
	Duncan Morton
Properties Manager	Tim Ayres
Properties	Alix Chadwell
	Stephanie Daly,
	Mary Lejeune,
	Daisy O’Sullivan
Costumes	Esther Betts,
	Barbara Gumbrill
Continuity	Alison Shapley
Rehearsal Pianist	Iris Holmes
Box Office Manager	Jean Salmon
Publicity & Programme	Mary Lejeune
Cast Photography	Ray Fisher
Front of House Manager	Gill Tanner
Green Room Steward	Carrie Collis