Kismet was performed by the society on 16th-19th April 2008 at the Bob Hope Theatre in Eltham.
Synopsis
A musical tale of grandeur, Kismet is an extravaganza, a musical pageant conjuring up all of the delights of the Arabian Nights, from the brilliant Bazaar of the Caravans to the moonlit gardens of Baghdad. It's a romantic story of a poet who becomes an emir in a single miraculous day.
Kismet weaves a lush tapestry of romance and melody around one fateful day in the life of Hajj, an impoverished poet of legendary Baghdad. Begging outside the Mosque, Hajj is kidnapped by a notorious bandit convinced that the poet cursed him with the loss of his son years ago. Tricking the credulous robber, Hajj returns in triumph to the bazaar with a purse of gold to shower on his lovely daughter, Marsinah, only to be arrested and brought before the evil Wazir. Saved from certain death by the Wazir's wife, Lalume, who plans a more entertaining fate for him, Hajj embarks on a dizzying series of adventures at court.
In the meantime, the young Caliph roams disguised through the bazaar and falls in love with Marsinah and she with him. Fate continues to play more tricks before the day is over and Allah's last prayer is sung.
Cast
Imam/Omar Khayyam - Alan Ingram
First Beggar - Georgina Kirk
Second Beggar - Josh Kirk
Third Beggar - Sarah Mack
Hajj - Stuart Pinel
Marsinah - Sarah Vamplew
Fig Seller - Henrietta Warwick
Hassan-Ben/Orange Merchant - Andy Noakes
Jawan - Frank Geoghegan
Bangle Seller - Sandra Vamplew
Slave Merchant - Steve Clark
Slave Girls - Sylvia McManus, Sue Brookes, Christine Butler, Janice Tiffin
Chief of Police - Leslie Bottomley
Policeman- Francis Mensah
The Wazir of Police - Mac Mercer
Lalume - Rosie Smith
Princesses of Ababu - Debbie Norton, Hannah Donnelly, Natalie Boden
Caliph - Peter Calver
Widow Yussef - Sheila Ingram
Ayah - Wendy Williams
Servant - Stephanie Ferrie
Princess Zubbediya - Louise Harman
Princess Samahris - Tiffany Hepher
Street Dancers
Elizabeth Ford, Louise Harman, Tiffany Hepher, Michelle Hollingsworth, Josh Kirk, Annabel Langley, Sarah Mack, Samantha Nanayakkara
Townspeople
Heather Beazley, Christine Butler, Sue Brookes, Stephanie Ferrie, Elizabeth Ford, Louise Harman, Rita Haste, Tiffany Hepher, Michelle Hollingsworth, Sheila Ingram, Georgina Kirk, Suzie Kirk, Gieorgina Lampen, Annabel Langley, Mike Lea, Sarah Mack, Sylvia McManus, Samantha Nanayakkara, Jill Potter, Jenni Slinn, Denita Smith, Janice Tiffin, Henrietta Warwick
Wazir's Police
Leslie Bottomley, Steve Clark, Alan Ingram, Josh Kirk, Francis Mensah, Andy Noakes
Wazir's Spies
Sarah and Stefan Ford
Director - Chris Williams
Musical Director - M Philip Enscot
Choreographer - Susie Clarke
