CHELSEA MOOR CASTLE
Or, the Contract to Marry
Musical Numbers
Act I
Mini Overture: Chopullivan Waltz
1. “Hark, the Hour of Ten is Sounding/ The Lawyers Set About to Find” (Cadbury, Garret, Servants)
2. “Taken from my Moustache Shoppe” (Tom, Servants)
3. “A Nice Dilemma” (Servants)
4. “The Haughty Duchess from Next Door” (Duchess, Millicent, Archibald)
5. “I am the Very Model of the Modern Aristocracy” (Duchess, Ensemble)
6. “To Another You Must Tether” (Millicent, Archibald)
7. “The Curse of Chelsea Moor” (Cadbury, Duchess, Archibald)
8. “With This I am a Bride” (Millicent)
9. “Long Years Ago” (Millicent, Mrs. Garret)
10. “The Nightingale/Oh Where is my Brave Millicent?” (William, Servants)
11. ‘Three Little Castle Ghosts’ (Felicity, Dulcibella, Zeboriah)
12. “Lament” (William, Felicity)
13. “The March of the Players” (Players)
14. “Finale Act I” (Ensemble)
Act II
15. “Play the Overture/The Mousetrap” (William and Players)
16. “Oh Mother, You Have Deceived Me” (Duchess and Millicent)
17. “My Eyes are Fully Open” (William, Millicent, Tom)
18. “The Kind of Maid” (Archibald)
19. “I Am So Proud” (Cadbury, Duchess, Archibald)
20. “Cheerily Carols The Lark” (Tom, Felicity)
21. “Oh Rapture/There was a Time” (William, Millicent)
22. “Now Millicent Becomes a Bride” (Archibald, Ensemble)
23. “Hold! Pretty Daughter of Mine” (Ensemble)
24. “Away Away” (Instrumental)
25. “Stop! Cease Your Chase” (Felicity, Ensemble)
26. “Life’s Road Remains Inscrutable” (Millicent)
27. “The Ghost Reveals a Secret to All” (Ensemble)
28. “Hail Pedigree” (Cadbury, Ensemble)
29. “Finale Act II” (Ensemble)
ACT I PLOT SYNOPSIS
The Entrance Hall of a Grand Estate Somewhere in England
It has been two years since the previous Earl, the 26th of North Yorkingtonshire, fell off the parapet of the Castle and the Lawyers finally settled on Tom Jones, the unassuming proprietor of a Moustache Shoppe.
The Servants are very excited at the prospect of serving their new master, but he tells them they can serve him best by taking it easy.
The formidable and aristocratic Lady Delilah Bilkington, Duchess of Forest Hillingtonshire, arrives with her daughter, Millicent and their companion, Archibald Haddington-Smythe the 3rd. She reveals to all that the previous Earl had signed a Contract to Marry her daughter and the contract applies to his heir!
Left alone with Archibald, Millicent reveals that, though she will accede to her mother’s wishes, she is despondent because she is in love with a man whose name she cannot speak. The information pleases Archibald immensely.
The Duchess and the Butler, Cadbury, join Archibald and they discuss what to do with Tom. They are at a loss and then Cadbury reminds them of the Curse of the Castle - each Earl of Chelsea Moor who climbs to the top of the tower is cursed to fall off. They decide all they have to do is go ahead with the marriage and then wait.
Millicent, in an interrupted a moment alone reveals that she is in love with a foundling boy from her household.
Just as she leaves, who should arrive, but William, the Foundling she grew up with. He proclaims his love to the empty castle. The Servants and Mrs. Garret inform him that Millicent is under contract to marry the current Earl of Chelsea Moor.
As the clock strikes five, three ghosts arrive for the teatime haunting. The Servants run off leaving William with Felicity, the Castle Ghost. Their conversation leads the Ghost to reveal that the Duchess forged the contract to marry.
William, armed with the shocking news of the forgery, wonders how he will find out if the ghost is actually telling the truth when who should arrive, but the North Toronto Players! William asks them to perform a play about a betrayal of trust, the destruction of true love and the end of all happiness.
Will William’s play expose the Duchess? Will the Duchess, Cadbury and Archibald succeed in their plot? Will Tom survive his time as Lord of Chelsea Moor? Will Millicent and the Ghost find an end to their melancholy? Will the North Toronto Players have another theatrical triumph in their performance of William’s play? All will be revealed in Act 2!
THE ACTORS (in order of Appearance)
CADBURY (A Butler) Michael Harms*
MRS GARRET (An Housekeeper) Alexa Colenbrander
DAISY AND JEEVES (Servants) Tracy Ohman and Anthony Castro
THOMAS JONES (Earl of Northyorkingtonshire) Mark Terene*
LADY BILKINGTON (A Duchess) Emily Romano
MILLICENT BILKINGTON (Her Daughter) Catherine Fergussen
A. HADDINGTON SMYTHE III (A Companion) Holland Ziemann
WILLIAM (A Foundling) Joseph Wong
FELICITY (A Mournful Ghost with a Secret) Lindsay Burrows
DULCIBELLA AND ZEBORIAH (Two Ghosts) Tara Ferrier-Clarke and Reo Reilly
* Appearing with the permission of the CAEA
CHORUS OF HOUSKEEPERS, COOKS, FOOTMEN, GARDENERS AND PLAYERS:
Andrew Carchesio, Vanessa Charlesworth, Geoff Dewar, Christine Linge Macdonald,
Morven Orr, Bill Snodgrass, Walter Zagorski
Our Directors and Designers
Stage Director ...................................... Michael Harms*
Music Director/Pianist ............................ Joseph Follows
Set Designer ...................................... Al Downey
Stage Manager ......................................... Charmaine Peters
*Working with the permission of CAEA
Set Construction .................................... Walter Zagorski
Set Painting ............. Kathy McGibbon, Anne McGibbon
......................................Helen Bourne, Pam DiNardo
Backstage Crew ................Nico Graham, Melzee Diao,
......................................Oliver Belfield, Leela Langille
Graphic Design ...................................... Michael Harms
Webmaster ............................................. Justin Ralph
Front of House
House Manager .................................. Marg Murphy
Ticket Sales .................. Angela Isoki, Lindsay Burrows
50/50 Draw ....................................... Marg Murphy
Confectionery ................................... Papermill Theatre
Ushers ...................... Michael Evans, Leslie Paton, Mike Romano
Theatre Etiquette
Please TURN OFF your cell phones for the duration of the show.
Please refrain from using flash photography in the theatre.
Food and beverages are not permitted in the theatre.
Production Notes
Every year we ask the question, "What would Gilbert and Sullivan
do if they were writing a show today?". And, as they drew on
popular culture from their time to create their works, we have
drawn on popular culture to adapt their works for our time.
With Chelsea Moor Castle we set out to write a play that Sullivan
might have described as having "human interest and probability".
We have stolen plot elements liberally and shamelessly from
Gilbert and Sullivan, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and a recognizable
contemporary costume drama. We like to think of it as a love letter
to G&S and NTP. The irony is that after years of connecting these
wonderful plays with contemporary audiences we have created a
show that draws more from the 19th Century than the 21st.
Michael Harms and Barb Scheffler (Playwrights)
Come Join Us Next Year for Another Great Show!
We appreciate your patronage as audience members, but
have you considered a more active role?
Auditions for leads and Chorus rehearsals will begin in September.
We are also looking for volunteers for front of house and backstage.
The numerous jobs include assisting with stage management,
props and makeup during the show, and, also, publicity, costuming,
and set building which takes place between now and next year’s show.
For more information email us at info@northtorontoplayers.com
or visit www.northtorontoplayers.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Our heartfelt thanks to Willowdale Presbyterian Church for allowing us space to rehearse.
NTP is grateful for the support of The Old Orchard Blossom Grandmother’s Group,
who have previously partnered with NTP through ticket
purchases to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s
“Grandmothers to Grandmothers” campaign.
North Toronto Players wishes to acknowledge the generous support of the following organizations:
• The City of Toronto, Parks,
Forestry Recreation Department
• Papermill Theatre
• Downsview Park Arts Alliance
The DPAA is a joint venture of nine arts groups.
Through shared facilities at Parc Downsview Park,
we endeavour to provide you, our audience, with quality
entertainment at a reasonable price. DPAA acknowledges
the generous support of its members, Canada, and Downsview Park.
About the NTP
Since 1966 North Toronto Players has entertained many
thousands with not only our fresh interpretations of the
works of Gilbert & Sullivan, but original creations as well.
We hope you enjoy the show!
North Toronto Players is a Canadian Registered Charity.
Donations in excess of $20 will be provided a receipt for tax
purposes. Please consider supporting us,
by making a donation through our ticketing page,
or sponsoring us, by contacting NTP at 416-704-9342
Our Patron Sponsors (2023 - 24)
We extend our sincere appreciation to the
following individuals and companies who
have made financial donations to NTP
Directors Chair ($500+)
Steve Smith, Anonymous
Directors Circle ($200 - $499)
Emily Romano, Bill Snodgrass, Joyce Hewitt, Seline Berish
Spotlight Level ($20-$199)
Christine Linge-McDonald, Walter Zagorski, Jane Reynolds, Tracey Ohman
Lindsay Burrows, Tara Ferrier-Clarke, Angela Isoki, Mark Terene, Geoff Dewar,
Morivin Orr, Reo Reilly, Lorraine Wilson
NTP Executive
President ......................................... Angela Isoki
Vice President ................................. Robert Follows
Treasurer ......................................... Bill Snodgrass
Secretary ..................................... Lindsay Burrows
Administration
Group Sales ................................... Jane Reynolds
Memberships .................................. Bill Snodgrass
Internal Communications ............... Emily Romano
Marketing ............................... Catherine Fergusson
Edithvale, Papermill/ Downsview Park Liaison ................ Bill Snodgrass
A BIG Thank You to...
All those who volunteered to help in the many areas
that make our production a success, including:
Makeup, Set Construction/Painting, Moving, Marketing and Stage Crew.
Our apologies to anyone whose name
we have inadvertently omitted from this programme.