The Sault Opera Legacy
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1971
Gypsy chorus in Act II of Sault Opera's 2nd show, "The Gypsy Baron"
The repertoire for 1971 consisted of the operettas "The Gypsy Baron" and "The Student Prince". Dick Larson, Vilma Ambel, Jo-Ann Morgan, Diane (Kallio) Anderson, Lydia Fritsch, David Gould, Ernie Peeling, Fred Webster, and Bob Bouchard were in the featured lead parts. Although "The Gypsy Baron" financially broke even, the other community theatre groups began to see this fledging opera company as a major contender in the local theatre scene.
When Sault Opera was in the process of producing "The Gypsy Baron", it created a media sensation from the public auditioning and the ensuing hullabaloo of a piglet "which had to oink in the key of G Major". It was supposed to oink in time and in the proper key with the pig-farming character Zsupan during one of his couplets. A piglet was found and named "Arnold" (remember the TV show "Green Acres"? It just happened that the name of the director was also Arnold, or Arno, for that matter). The name had to be changed to "Salomey"; after knowledgeable people had found out that it was a "she".
"The Gypsy Baron" Act II chorus - Sam Bessant conducting
For its second show of the year, Sault Opera polled its audience for its choice of a third show and the executive agreed to do both operas and musicals if that is what the public wanted. The results showed that the public wanted Sault Opera to do "The Student Prince" which, in turn, made a lot of money.
"The Student Prince" Act III - Karlsburg Castle Ballroom
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Fred Webster (Zsupan) with Salomey the Pig in "The Gypsy Baron"
Richard Larson (Prince) and Jo-Ann (Morgan) Wilson (Kathi)- Act I - Serenade - "The Student Prince" 1971 Production
In the early days of Sault Opera, sets and scenery were built and painted at the Ambel residence when a suitable location could not be found. Arno and Vilma take a break to discuss plans for the upcoming production of "The Student Prince" - Sault Star file photo
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