Dad's Army - The Stage Show

[cjb666]

Is here:

ulozto.net/hledej?q=dad%27s+army+stage

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[cjb666]

"Dad's Army: A Nostalgic Music and Laughter Show of Britain's Finest Hour" was a 1975 stage adaptation of the BBC sitcom Dad's Army. Following the success of the television programme, the stage show was commissioned by Bernard Delfonte in the spring of 1975.

Jimmy Perry and David Croft adapted material from the original scripts, making changes to allow for the absence of location filming. The show was in the style of a revue, with songs, familiar scenes from the show, and individual turns for cast members. It was produced by Roger Redfarn, who shared the same agent as the writers.

Most of the principal Dad's Army cast transferred with it, with the exception of John Laurie who was replaced by Hamish Roughead. Following James Beck's death two years earlier, Walker was played by John Bardon. Clive Dunn was replaced for half the tour by Jack Haig (David Croft's original first choice for the role of Corporal Jones on television). Jeffrey Holland, who went on to star in several later Croft sitcoms, also had a number of roles in the production.

The show opened at the Forum Theatre, Billingham, County Durham on Thursday 4 September 1975 for a two-week tryout. A local critic wrote of the event:

"The special bond of affection between cast and audience helped each item spark along" Kevin Eason

After cuts and revisions, the show transferred to London's West End and opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 2 October 1975. On the opening night there was a surprise appearance by Chesney Allen, singing the old Flanagan and Allen song Hometown with Arthur Lowe.

The show ran in the West End from 4 October to 21 February, 1976, where it was disrupted twice by bomb scares, and then toured the country until 4 September 1976.


Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 1:
- Overture
Company & Orchestra

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 2:
- Put That Light Out
Bill Pertwee, Edward Sinclair, Ensemble & Frank Williams

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 3:
- Carry On the Home Front
Bill Pertwee, Edward Sinclair, Ensemble, Frank Williams, Janet Davies, Joan Cooper & Pamela Cundell

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 4:
- Command Post
Arthur Lowe & John Le Mesurier

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 5:
- When Can I Have a Banana Again
Bernice Adams, Ensemble, Ian Lavender & John Bardon

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 6:
- The King is still in London
Clive Dunn

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 7:
- Lords of the Air
Arnold Ridley & Ensemble

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 8:
- Siegfried Line/We'll Meet Again
Bill Pertwee, Edward Sinclair, Ensemble, Frank Williams, Janet Davies, Joan Cooper & Pamela Cundell

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 9 (Pt 1 & Pt 2):
- The Floral Dance (in two parts)

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 10:
- A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
Ian Lavender & John Le Mesurier

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 11 - Happidrome:
- Radio Personalities of 1940: Happidrome
Arthur Lowe, Ian Lavender & Michael Bevis

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 12:
- Radio Personalities of 1940: Gert & Daisy
Joan Cooper & Pamela Cundell

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 13:
- Radio Personalities of 1940: Robb Wilton
Arthur Lowe

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 14:
- Radio Personalities of 1940: Max Miller
Bill Pertwee

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketch 15:
- Home Town
Arthur Lowe, Company & John Le Mesurier

Dad's Army Stage Show, Sketches 16 & 17:
- The Beach & Finale
Arthur Lowe & Orchestra

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[Col]

Some stage show memorabilia on the website link below including programme, L.P and poster.

Link

[Anglo]

Deleted!

[Anglo]

I went to the Shaftesbury Theatre and still have the programme.

I recall lots of musical numbers. I recall a very sloping stage.

But it was 46 years ago ...

[Col]

Lucky sod, Anglo - getting to see the show twice. 

Would have been a memorable experience no doubt. Recalling lyrics to all the songs wouldn't have been easy for the cast. I'm wondering if everything ran smoothly?

[Alan Hayes]

Actually, I would imagine that recalling lyrics to songs was probably easier for the cast than if the production was a more conventional play full of dialogue. After all, music acts as an audible aide memoire.

[Anglo]

Well, they were different times. No VCRs, not that many repeats, no internet. We weren't nearly as knowing. And it was a vintage age of tv and Dad's Army was just sitting in there alongside lots of other great shows.

I do remember all the colourful costumes; the cast were only in their Home Guard outfits for about a third of the show.

I must confess to having been a bit disappointed; also that Hamish Roughead (Frazer) and John Bardon (Walker) were not the originals.

Of course, those criticisms said more about me than what was a fairly lavish West End musical revue. I suppose I had just hoped for a two-hour Dad's Army episode on stage.

Now of course I value what memories remain - and wish I could remember more!

[Col]

Jan 31, 2021 22:29:26 GMT 12 Alan Hayes said:

Actually, I would imagine that recalling lyrics to songs was probably easier for the cast than if the production was a more conventional play full of dialogue. After all, music acts as an audible aide memoire.

True Alan, though some songs are more difficult to recall than others. Take Noel Coward for example. His lyrical content was the Wartime equivalent of today's rappers! In fact, I was very impressed when I watched the clip from the Coward Revue and Mainwaring, Wilson and Jones remembered all the lyrics of such a long song - proving that there is something in what you say about recalling song lyrics. 

[Col]

An article from 2016 about the Dad's Army stage show in Newcastle for those who haven't seen it.



Stage Show Article