September 5 - 22, 2007
| Production Designed & Directed by JOE CASCONE |
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satiric to poignant, riped from the newspaper
headlines of the day. Featuring some of Irving
Moss Hart's sketches were sharp, witty and Berlin's
greatest hits like rich and famous and hilarious and
Irving Berlin's songs ranged from wry advice to the
lovelorn, with comic strips and weather report being
fair game as well.
headlines of the day. Featuring some of Irving
Moss Hart's sketches were sharp, witty and Berlin's
greatest hits like rich and famous and hilarious and
Irving Berlin's songs ranged from wry advice to the
lovelorn, with comic strips and weather report being
fair game as well.
| CAST (in alphabetical order) |
| LARRY GIBBS ASHLEY GIBSON DAVID HAINES CASILDA JOSEPH PETER LOUCAS CAROLINE MORO-DALICANDRO SUSAN SANDERS LARRY WESTLAKE |
| Sketches by Moss Hart Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin |
| Pictured: David Haines (left) Peter Loucas (right) |
1933 for the Irving Berlin/Moss Hart musical As Thousands Cheer.
Every song and sketch in this revue is inspired by headlines of the day. After a successful Broadway run, the show
utterly vanished for 60 years until a small off-Broadway revival was presented in New York to great acclaim. This
brought the property to the attention of Joe Cascone who decided it was time for Canadian audiences to finally see
it.
Cascone has worked with his design team to give the show a proper old newspaper look with everyone dressed in
shades of grey until the colourful rotogravure-inspired first act finale, "Easter Parade".
Other memorable songs include "Heat Wave", given a lively interpretation by Ashley Gibson; and the touching
"Lonely Heart" beautifully sung by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro.
One of the sketches gently spoofs Mahatma Gandhi’s hunger strikes with Peter Loucas as the celebrated
peacemaker. In another John D. Rockefeller’s 94th birthday is covered with Bob Deutsch obviously enjoying
playing the penny-pinching billionaire.
Stephanie Douglas offers a remarkably accurate portrayal of Joan Crawford trying to milk publicity from her
impending divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. amusingly played by her real-life husband, Larry Gibbs. This and
several other sketches may not yield huge belly laughs and some are undone by over length, but they are charming,
frequently amusing and provide modern audiences with a look at what people were talking about 75 years ago.
Back then the cast of As Thousands Cheer numbered 50. Here, we have 10 performers who do the work of 50.
David Haines shines in a delightful salute to the funny pages; Susan Sanders has offers a humorous impersonation
of Amiee Semple McPherson, and Larry Westlake provides several bright cameos including Herbert Hoover.
Finally, Casilda Joseph is given two opportunities to blaze the stage. In the first half she pays tribute to the fabulous
Josephine Baker with "Harlem on My Mind", while in the second half she offers a heart-breaking "Supper Time",
the one serious moment in a generally light-hearted show.
The Civic Light Opera Company is to be commended for searching out unusual and rarely performed musicals. It’s
a unique opportunity for Toronto audiences to step back in time and see the world that was.
Every song and sketch in this revue is inspired by headlines of the day. After a successful Broadway run, the show
utterly vanished for 60 years until a small off-Broadway revival was presented in New York to great acclaim. This
brought the property to the attention of Joe Cascone who decided it was time for Canadian audiences to finally see
it.
Cascone has worked with his design team to give the show a proper old newspaper look with everyone dressed in
shades of grey until the colourful rotogravure-inspired first act finale, "Easter Parade".
Other memorable songs include "Heat Wave", given a lively interpretation by Ashley Gibson; and the touching
"Lonely Heart" beautifully sung by Caroline Moro-Dalicandro.
One of the sketches gently spoofs Mahatma Gandhi’s hunger strikes with Peter Loucas as the celebrated
peacemaker. In another John D. Rockefeller’s 94th birthday is covered with Bob Deutsch obviously enjoying
playing the penny-pinching billionaire.
Stephanie Douglas offers a remarkably accurate portrayal of Joan Crawford trying to milk publicity from her
impending divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. amusingly played by her real-life husband, Larry Gibbs. This and
several other sketches may not yield huge belly laughs and some are undone by over length, but they are charming,
frequently amusing and provide modern audiences with a look at what people were talking about 75 years ago.
Back then the cast of As Thousands Cheer numbered 50. Here, we have 10 performers who do the work of 50.
David Haines shines in a delightful salute to the funny pages; Susan Sanders has offers a humorous impersonation
of Amiee Semple McPherson, and Larry Westlake provides several bright cameos including Herbert Hoover.
Finally, Casilda Joseph is given two opportunities to blaze the stage. In the first half she pays tribute to the fabulous
Josephine Baker with "Harlem on My Mind", while in the second half she offers a heart-breaking "Supper Time",
the one serious moment in a generally light-hearted show.
The Civic Light Opera Company is to be commended for searching out unusual and rarely performed musicals. It’s
a unique opportunity for Toronto audiences to step back in time and see the world that was.