Soliday and the Wicked Bird

1943/44 LTM NATIONAL PANTOMIME
SOLIDAY AND THE WICKED BIRD

Written by
Vera Bell

Directed by
Elinor Lithgow

Musical Director
Barbara Cover
Orchestral arrangement by
George Moxey

Set
Albert Huie

Costumes
Helen Cocking,
Winifred Doran

Choreography
Harold Holness ,
Hazel Doran & Joan McCulloch

The Story
Once upon a time in a beautiful Carib Isle there lived a happy people. All day they would sing and dance, and then - alas a terrible calamity befell them. A wicked bird bewitched these happy people and everywhere there was sadness.

But in this country many were brave and good; and young Soliday, (whom some said was the true spirit of the land) with the help of a beautiful maiden who had a golden voice and the light of a wonderful kindness in her eyes set out to slay the wicked bird.

Now children, you and I know that where there is real goodness and happiness and a young man like Soliday with a love for his country flaming in his heart, there are sure to be fairies and music and dancing.

Not even a villain like Anancy in disguise could really stop our hero. Brave young Soliday set out into the dark and dreary woods knowing full well the dangers that lay before him and the spells that the Wicked Bird possessed. But Goodness and Truth and Beauty were in his heart and gave him courage, and so these happy sunlit people were freed of the evil bird and started to build anew in their green and pleasant land amid the joyous dancing and singing of the happy people.

Cast of Characters
Soliday ............................ Gabrielle
Mirtilla ........................... Olga Mollison
Queen Constanza ............ Peter Samuel
The Prince of Teheran..... John Irving
Princess ......................... Lucille Waldron
M. deBaloney,
the Astrologer.................. Mike Campbell
Sir Archibald.................. Pat Burke
Sir Arthur ....................... Herbert Malabre
Sir Aston ........................ John Hunt
Policeman ..................... Bill Blakely
Big Sambo Gal.............. Louise Bennett
Doney Darby & Frankie Ferguson
Ladies in Waiting............. Cissy DaCosta,
................................... Pat Escoffery,
.................................. June Escoffery,
.................................... Bunty Hemsworth
Two Jolly Hunters......... Ranny Williams & Andy

Chorus: Pat Bell, Hazel Blake, Merline Boult, Ouida Buckley, Joan Buie, Hazel Doran, Barbara dePass, Eileen Drew, Marjorie Dunlop, Gloria Fletcher, Vilma Feres, Joyce Gordon, Audrey Gunter, Marjorie Jackson, Norma Lawson, Patricia McIntosh, Joyce McIntosh, Marguerite Morris, Gloria Smedmore, Cynthia Vautier, Mavis Bennett, Ana Campbell, Winifred Doran, Ivy Ellis, Ivanhoe Braithwaite, Leo Burke, George Dowsett, Dudley Doran, Douglas DuQuesnay, David Ffrench, James Fuller, Ronald Faull, Stuart Goffe, John Gordon, Lloyd Hall, Vivian Hamilton, Frank Kelly, Aurelio Levers, John Lopez, Stuart Martin, Donell Martin, Errol McIntosh, Rae McLaughlin, Donald Mills, Derrick McKenzie, Warren Robinson, Louis Sorapore, Roy Smythe, Lloyd Williams, Michael Wickers

Dancers: Daisy Riley, Amy Barry, Darcia Darby, Pat Feltis, Amy Hudson, Yvonne Lofthouse, Marjorie Kirkpatrick, Dorothy Mae Martin, Mary Moyston

Musical Numbers
Act One
Linstead Market
You No Yerry Whe De Young Man Sey
Jama-Conga
Chi Chi Bud Oh
Every Time I feel the Spirit
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Come We Guh Down a Unity
Le Me Have My Fish and Ackee
Bring Me My Bow

Act Two
Dances: The Spirit of the Dawn, Fairies Dance, Dance of the Bumble Bee
Let My Song Fill Your Heart
Dance of the Butterflies

Act Three
Jamaica
Big Big Sambo Gal
Ada
Anancy
Jamaica Gals Got Rhythm
Finale