The Merry Widow - Programme, 1968
Title
The Merry Widow - Programme, 1968
Date
27 May 1968
Description
Full programme for 1968 production of The Merry Widow starring Lizbeth Webb, Bert Brownbill, John Rhys Evans, Bill Shine, Sonny Farrar, Ann Harriman and David Lander
What's the story?
Set in Paris in 1905, The Merry Widow (German: Die Lustige Witwe) is an operetta by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár and concerns a rich widow, and her countrymen's attempt to keep her money in the principality by finding her the right husband.
This operetta has had popular success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna (title – Die Lustige Witwe), with its English adaptation by Basil Hood opening in London in June 1907, where it ran for 778 performances.
It continued to enjoy frequent revivals, hence this 1968 touring production and its two-week run at the Theatre Royal Nottingham.
Lead star Lizbeth Webb started her career singing with dance bands during World War Two before moving into musicals and light opera. In her 2013 obituary, The Guardian described her as “one of the great forgotten stars of British musical theatre”.
This programme was loaned to the Theatre Royal by Lesley Brown from a collection of theatre memorabilia owned by her late father-in-law William Gordon Brown, a keen performer and member of Nottingham Operatic Society.
This operetta has had popular success since its 1905 premiere in Vienna (title – Die Lustige Witwe), with its English adaptation by Basil Hood opening in London in June 1907, where it ran for 778 performances.
It continued to enjoy frequent revivals, hence this 1968 touring production and its two-week run at the Theatre Royal Nottingham.
Lead star Lizbeth Webb started her career singing with dance bands during World War Two before moving into musicals and light opera. In her 2013 obituary, The Guardian described her as “one of the great forgotten stars of British musical theatre”.
This programme was loaned to the Theatre Royal by Lesley Brown from a collection of theatre memorabilia owned by her late father-in-law William Gordon Brown, a keen performer and member of Nottingham Operatic Society.
Type
Programme
Location of item
Private Collection - Lesley Brown
Rights
Private Collection - Lesley Brown
Contributor
Researcher: David Longford
