top of page

1975 - 1976

The Desert Song

Morocco, 1925...

French General Birabeau has been sent to Morocco to root out and destroy the Riffs, a band of Arab rebels, who threaten the safety of the French outpost in the Moroccan desert. Their dashing, daredevil leader is the mysterious "Red Shadow", a Frenchman. The Red Shadow, his Arab lieutenant, Sid El Kar, and their wealthy host, Ali Ben Ali, discuss the relative merits of the Eastern tradition of love for a harem of women (like having a garden full of fragrant flowers), and the Western ideal of loving one woman for life. Margot Bonvalet, a lovely, sassy French girl, is soon to be married at the French fort to Birabeau's right-hand man, Captain Fontaine. Birabeau's son Pierre, in reality the Red Shadow, loves Margot, but pretends to be a milksop to preserve his secret identity. Meanwhile, Benny, a reporter, and Susan, the girl who loves him, provide comic relief.

Margot tells Pierre that she secretly yearns to be swept into the arms of some bold, dashing sheik, perhaps even the Red Shadow himself. Pierre, as the Red Shadow, kidnaps Margot and declares his love for her. To her surprise, Margot's mysterious abductor treats her with every Western consideration. Benny and Susan are captured too. When the Red Shadow comes face to face with General Birabeau, the old man challenges the rebel leader to a duel. Of course Pierre will not kill his own father, so he refuses to fight, losing the respect of the Riffs. Azuri, the sinuous and secretive native dancing girl, who knows the secret of the Red Shadow's true identity, might be persuaded to reveal the information if she could capture the attention of Captain Fontaine. Eventually, the Red Shadow's identity is discovered, a deal is struck with the Riffs, and Pierre and Margot live happily ever after.


Director: Richard Elichuk

Musical Director: William Gordon

Choreographer: Judy Hayes

Cast

Andre Danyliu

Benjamin Kidd

​

Chris Terry

Hadji

​

David Hayes

Ali Ben Ali

​

Eddie Nunn

General Birabeau

​

George Wilson

Paul Fontaine

​

Gerry Morris

Hassi

​

Jeannette Matthey

Edith, ensemble

​

Jocelyn Crain Spaull

Margot Bonvalet

​

Les Bonhower

De Boussac, ensemble

​

Liane Marshall

Susan

appearing by permisson of Actor's Equity Association

Liliane Winter

Neri, ensemble

​

Meredith Lee Pudney

Clementina

​

Nick Michelis

Sid El Kar

​

Nina Alexandor

Azuri

​

Roger Charron

Mindar, ensemble

​

Tony Keenleyside

La Vergne, ensemble

​

York Davis

The Red Shadow/Pierre Birabeau

​

Cher Daley

ensemble

​

David Beckett

ensemble

​

David Campbell

ensemble

​

David Howden

ensemble

​

Dean Wright

ensemble

​

Dieter Meynecht

ensemble

​

Eleanor Cowburn

ensemble

​

Ernie Dean

ensemble

​

Esmee Whitaker

ensemble

​

Frank Burke

ensemble

​

Gail Mildren

ensemble

​

Gail Sturgeon

ensemble

​

Isabel Hornstein

ensemble

​

Jack Wallace

ensemble

​

Jean Wheeler

ensemble

​

Jeremy Phillips

ensemble

​

Joy Phillips

ensemble

​

Karen Stobbe

ensemble

​

Karen Wood

ensemble

​

Ken Vye

ensemble

​

Laura Belton

ensemble

​

Lesley Hibberd

ensemble

​

Linda Hunter

ensemble

​

Lloyd Burton

ensemble

​

Margaret Leigh

ensemble

​

Martha Collins

ensemble

​

Michael Gareau

ensemble

​

Peggy Sample

ensemble

​

Sheila Shields

ensemble

​

Tom Kemeny

ensemble

​

Delyuth Hudson

Dancing Girl

​

Joan Galbraith

Dancing Girl

​

Roberta Sametz

Dancing Girl

​

Sandye Hayes

Dancing Girl

​

Sheila Weeks

Dancing Girl

​

Valerie Fournier

Dancing Girl

​

Production

Alex Milne

Stage Manager

Bill McKinnon

House Manager (Orpheus & Commerce)

Brian Jackson

Set Designer, Costume Designer, Properties Designer

Casey Krzyzanowski

Master Carpenter

Cher Daley

Hair Stylist

Chris Terry

Properties Master, Production Photographer

Dorothy Gough

Social Director

Eileen Lemmon

Assisant to Costume Designer

Faye Lavell

Ticket Manager

J. A. Wallace

Publicity Director

Lesley McHugh

Make-Up Artistry

Lorna Rice

Accompanist

Marg Mahony

Assistant to the Director

Margot Rothwell

Assisant to Set Designer

Marylin Day

Assistant to the Director

Nancy Turner

Lighting Designer

Paul Isaacs

Audio

Peter Vandesande

Audio

Rick Matheson

Production Co-ordinator

Tom Shields

Workshop Chairman

Tony Keenleyside

Programme Director

The Desert Song
bottom of page