Grab Me a Gondola

“Venice in Film Festival time. Gay, colourful, satirical, tuneful and right up to the minute, by the part authors of THE WORLD’S THE LIMIT, with a glittering cast.” – ‘Curtain Up’ vol 15 no 8, 15th October 1956

“I shall be responsible for staging the production, but the all-important direction of movement, dances and musical numbers will be in the hands of a young choreographer, Eleanor Fazan, whose great talent, fertile imagination and considerable experience will give to a show, essentially up to the minute in conception, its clear-cut modern style.” – John Counsell, same source

“With book by Julian More and music by James Gilbert, GRAB ME A GONDOLA, which amusingly guys the Continental film festivals and the ‘promotion’ of young starlets, was first presented by the Windsor Repertory Company and brought new hope for British musicals.” – Theatre World Annual (London), number 8

The London run achieved 687 performances.

In the latter part of 1957, Joyce Blair took over the leading role from Joan Heal for a lengthy period, with Heal officially returning on 13th January 1958.

Cast & Crew

Cast

Alex Bryan
Giuseppina
Giuseppina (replacement)
Herring
Lt Commander Fitzmorris RN
Marcia Grey
Marcia Grey (replacement)
Margaret Kyle (replacement 2)
Margaret Kyle (replacement 3)
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor
Pressman, Manager, Sailor (West End)
Pressman, Manager, Sailor (West End)
Pressman, Manager, Sailor (West End)
Prince Luigi Bourbon Corielli
Starlet
Starlet
Starlet
Starlet
Tino
Tom Wilson
Virginia Jones
Virginia Jones (temporary replacement)
  (ended 11th January 1958)
Margaret Kyle
  (October 1956 – March 1957)
Tino (replacement)
  (started 27th November 1956)
Margaret Kyle (replacement 1)
  (started March 1957)
Lt Commander Fitzmorris RN (temporary replacement)
  (started June 1958)

Crew

Director
Production staged by
Settings designed by
Settings designed by
Musical Director
Musical Director (replacement)
Presented by (London)
Presented by (London)
Stage Manager

Photographs

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Photo credits

Observations

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