The Sault Opera Legacy

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1987

After a touch-and-go year, Sault Opera reprised two old-time favourite Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, "The Sound of Music" and "South Pacific". Both shows were directed by Wilf Beauchamp, with Frank Elliott conducting the music and featuring an all-local cast with both Sault Opera veterans and fresh faces.

Wendy Guzzo (center, with guitar) as Maria, with the von Trapp children in "The Sound of Music"

"The Sound of Music", produced by the Executive of Sault Opera, which ran during the last weekend in April and the first weekend of May, had a cast of over 30, supported by a 20-piece pit orchestra. The major leads were played by veterans Wendy Guzzo (Maria), Jo Ramakers (Captain von Trapp), Dario and Theresa Laurenti (Detweiler and Baroness von Schraeder), supported by a loveable and well-received cast of juveniles playing the von Trapp children. Other supporting cast members were Paul Gribbon as Rolf, and the three nuns who supported the other major lead part of Mother Abbess so well-played by and sung by Jill McPhee: Luise Morano, Shelley Gold, and Karen Willert. According to the Sault Star reviewer, "Music earned top marks in Sault Opera's show". The show was, indeed, a popular success with a total attendance in excess of 3200 and a net surplus of over $8000.

"South Pacific", produced by Diane Wysynski, which ran in late November, was again cast locally with 32 people on stage and a pit orchestra of 18. Making their first stage appearance in the Sault were John Grandmont as Emile DeBecque, Dave Anderson as Lt. Cable, and Roberta Lea Bruni as Liat, along with veterans Jill McPhee (Nellie), Lisa Dunn (Bloody Mary), and Terry McPhee reprising his role as Luther Billis from the 1980 production, complete with wig, grass skirt and coconut bra in the "Honey Bun" number. The show was quite well attended, with a total of approximately 2200 in attendance and a net surplus of over $1500. The excellent choreography was by Caroline Smith of Toronto, whose dance numbers were the highlights of the show.

Terry McPhee once again as "Honey Bun" Luther Billis in "South Pacific" - this photo is from the 1980 production (no photos were available of the 1987 production)

Both productions were supported by top-notch backstage personnel with the stage direction by Terry McPhee, lighting design by Nina Karhu and Dirk Becker, and costumes co-ordinated by Luise Morano and Norma Dalrymple with the assistance of Tomira Sierzputowski. A great host of other people made both of these productions by their input on stage and in other capacities in support of these stage productions.

During the summer, Sault Opera once again hired two students under the SEED program to clean and sort the wardrobe department and to set and print a 24-page illustrated catalogue of the costume stock to be used for rentals for out-of-town customers. In addition, the campaign for the publicity of the 1987/88 season was also organized by this program.

Overall, the year 1987 was a financially successful year for Sault Opera with a lot of input by new talent to the company.

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