The Gipsy Baron
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Directed by Jack Coan
Performed 1973
 Poster |  The Full Company for 1973 |  The Dancers |
|---|---|---|
 ‘The Treasure Waltz’ scene |  The gipsy children and attendants |  Dan Darragon (Kalman Zsupan) |
 ‘Marching along’ |  The Gipsy Baron on stage |  ‘Danube, River of Dreams’ |
 ‘Money, money money’ |  Maurice Ginniff (Otto) |  Dan Darragon (Zsupan) with Maurice Ginniff (Otto) and the chorus |
 Chris Wishart (Count Kareska) with Valerie Hendren (Czipra) and Elizabth Simpson (Saffi) |
‘The Gipsy Baron’ presented in 1973 was the Society’s first venture into the world of Strauss and Viennese musicals and it was a deliberate choice by the Executive Committee in order to widen the repertoire. Following the death of Mr. Lightfoot, Mr. Jack Coan, a local headmaster, was invited to direct the show. Although Mr. Coan had a great deal of experience in local amateur dramatics he had not produced a musical for some years. Mr. Coan was replaced as the independent Chairman of the auditioning committee by Mr. Brian Howard, music master at St. Bees School.
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“A new musical experience and the Society is making such a delightful job of it that suggests its debut in the town is long overdue” reported The Whitehaven News.
“The Society is to be congratulated on choosing such a lively composition by the Waltz King with which to begin their next 50 years. For gay charm, romance and comedy the Society’s first attempt at ‘The Gipsy Baron’ had few blemishes. It is beautifully sung by the cast and sensitively played by the orchestra under Ted Robertson, and if this were not enough this versatile company ooze enthusiasm and exude happiness. The combined talents of Bill Lilly and Elizabeth Simpson set the seal in this wonderful show. Dan Darragon has a natural flair for comedy, he carried off the part of a much older man with considerable aplomb.”
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New members for ‘The Gipsy Baron’ were Pamela Jones and her husband Jack, Gwen Holliday and Sue Walker while Maurice Ginniff made his principal debut as Otto. Edward Robertson, and Paul McKee returned to the stage, with Philllip Dalton, son of Pat and George, as attendants and Amanda Johnson, daughter of Audrey, joined Jonathan Cowan and David Simpson as gipsy children. Ripley Steele, a future principal, Committee member and Ticket Secretary also re-joined for this production.
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Mrs. Ethel Robertson gave a generous donation of £50 towards the cost of the orchestra in memory of her husband Alfred, but the show made a loss of £154.32, the total attendance during the week being 2,245.