Copacabana - The Silver Shoes Diary

...or The Diary of a "Copa" Girl.

One of our lovely "Copa" girls is writing about the trials and tribulations of not only getting to grips with what it takes to be a "Copa" Girl, but also how to cope with adding 4" silver heels to the mix.

This is the first of, what we hope, will be a regular entry until show week!

Over to our mystery "Copa" Girl

Dear Diary

It’s the second week of February & dance rehearsals are well under way.

Trying to remember the steps while not forgetting the words is a normal challenge in any show, but with this one the Showgirls also have to “Copa” with doing it in sky-scraper sparkly silver heels (see pic)!

They make your legs look great on stage, but as I’m 5’7”, I never wear heels this high, so I’ve had to learn to walk in them first!

I’m now a familiar sight tottering around the office as I try to break them in.

If I take the shoes off to give my pins a rest (calf-ache & foot-ache set in after a while) I get asked where they are & I’ve even sold tickets to “Copa” as a result of my efforts!

Next step: succeeding in keeping them on while doing a spin turn. Watch this space... (Editor "Oh, we will!")

Update 11th February 2013

I’m not wearing the shoes today!

Yesterday’s 4 ½ hour dance rehearsal has left me with achy feet, legs & back. Just the thought of wearing them today makes me wince..

Copacabana starts 5 weeks tonight!!!

Harpenden Public Halls, 18-23 March.

Tickets are on sale:

Online:  www.hlos.ticketsource.co.uk
Email:  hlostickets@live.co.uk
Telephone:  07817 331150

Copacabana - Dancing Fools

... or not!

Just before the snow hit our men's chorus had a Sunday afternoon rehearsal to learn, master and conquer the number "Dancing Fools". Here is Ian's version of events -

The men’s chorus gathered on Sunday afternoon, shuffling in to the dance rehearsal room looking at their feet and trying to mentally will the two appendages to work in unison!

The choreographer explained what a great dance number ‘Dancing Fool’ is and how the title is not an instruction. Starting off slow, we began putting a series of steps together, all of us were beginning to feel more confident until the music was played at normal speed and then it was mayhem.

But we persevered, had a cup of tea, persevered some more and slowly the sequences came together and we thought we had cracked it. Then the lyrics were added to our single task brains and the steps went AWOL.

 

The choreographer left for home but the men stayed on determined to master the dancing & singing and eventually hey presto, it clicked, we’re eleven dancing ‘non fools’!

 

We've now got 6 weeks until opening night - tickets are on sale www.hlos.ticketsource.co.uk, via email hlostickets@live.co.uk, or by calling 07817 331150

 

Copacabana - Just Arrived ...

... back at rehearsals after the Christmas break, ramping up for the show (which opens 8 weeks on Monday - in the words of the immortal "Corporal Jones - "Don't Panic!")

Here is our first rehearsal blog, written by one of our long-standing members - Louise.

"Well, it's already half way through January, and rehearsals are continuing for HLOS's production of Copacabana in March.

What better way to beat the cold weather by transporting ourselves to Havana via New York!

I've been a member of HLOS for just over 20 years, and in that time have been in opera's, G&S, classic musicals and more modern musicals so am looking forward to adding Copcabana to that long list.

 

Everyone knows Barry Manilow's song Copacabana, so it's been fun to see how he created a musical storyline and show around the famous song.

We learnt all the music to the show before Christmas, and this year so far, rehearsals have been taking place in smaller groups.

 

There are so many scenes in the show, that it's easier to focus on smaller sections of the show when blocking and setting.

 

It'll be good to see what other people have been working on when it's all pieced back together.

 

We've heard good reports from the men's dance rehearsal on Sunday where they learnt "Dancin' Fool" so we're looking forward to seeing their routine!

So far, my favourite number is Just Arrived, as it's a great song to sing - but we've still got a few numbers to set so that may change!"

 

Our next post will be from one of our men - after a Sunday afternoon dance rehearsal!

Copacabana - The Story Begins...

 

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl!

So begins the saga of Tony and Lola.

Their tale of love and romance on the way to stardom has captured millions, and is now a full-scale Broadway musical fantasy, which is HLOS's next production in March 2013.

Original songs created by Barry Manilow, dazzling costumes, spectacular sets and sensational choreography all add up to an evening of entertainment that will leave you breathless!

We know the song, but what of the musical itself?

The story follows Stephen, a young aspiring songwriter, as he composes what he hopes will become a hit musical.

His imagination takes him back to 1947 as he creates a story surrounding an ambitious young singer Lola de Mar who arrives in New York City from Tulsa hoping to become a star.

Meanwhile, Tony Forte, a 1947 incarnation of Stephen, is attempting to make it as a songwriter while tending bar at the famous Copacabana Nightclub. Tony instantly falls for Lola as she wanders into the Copacabana. He, along with former "Copa Girl" Gladys, introduce her to the owner of the club, Sam Silver, to get her a job as a new Copa Girl. The two try to make it in New York in their respective fields, but do not find it easy. After Tony helps Lola improve a song written by her former music teacher, Sam gives her a job as a Copa Girl at his club. Tony and Lola fall in love as Tony writes a song for Lola as she listens.

Stephen's voice can be heard narrating the events as Rico Castelli, an Italian gangster from Cuba, enters the Copacabana with the now-waning star Conchita Alvarez. Sam confronts Rico about the disappearance of Copa Girls each time he comes to the club, and demands he leave. However, Rico, armed with thugs, is able to stay long enough to meet and develop an interest in Lola de Mar. He drugs her and flies her back to Havana, Cuba, to star in his own nightclub - the Tropicana.

In Havana, Rico informs Conchita that she will be replaced by a new, younger actress, Lola. Conchita, frustrated and upset, goes to Lola in order to 'welcome' her. Back at the Tropicana, Tony, Sam and Gladys learn that Lola was kidnapped and taken to Cuba. Tony immediately heads to save her, and Sam, after some convincing by Gladys, agrees to hep him. Conchita, initially intending to threaten Lola, finds that she is truly a victim, and instead treats her with sympathy. Stephen can be seen again, this time expressing his love for the troubled Lola, while also sharing his lament, for she is merely a figment of his imagination.

Tony and Sam, now in Cuba, find Conchita and ask her for her help. She agrees and pretends to guide Lola to become her replacement, while telling her to play along. Near the end of the Tropicana performance of 'El Bravo', Tony runs on stage, reunited with Lola once again. However, Rico is close behind, waving a gun and points the barrel at Tony.

A single gun shot is heard ... but just who shot who?

Back in the present, Stephen has finished his song and his wife, Samantha is urging him to dress for their anniversary dinner. Stephen realises that Lola was simply an incarnation of his wife, and finds he has a new sense of love for her.

Rehearsals are well underway, and we will be bringing you weekly (crosses fingers) updates from various members of the production.

The show itself is on at Harpenden Public Halls, 18-23 March 2013 and tickets ARE NOW ON SALE online at www.hlos.ticketsource.co.uk, or by email hlostickets@live.co.uk. Phone and postal bookings will open on January 1st 2013.

Pirates of Penzance (Broadway Version)

PHEW!

What a week that was.

A fantastic time was had by cast, crew and audience at our most recent production, Gilbert & Sullivan's popular comic opera "The Pirates of Penzance" - the Broadway Version.

Below is the review from the Herts Advertiser:

Pirates of Broadway (John Manning)

Even though the Broadway version of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance may not tick all the right boxes for the purists it is still a thoroughly delightful show.

And although the version the Harpenden Light Operatic Society is putting on is more modern than most productions, it is still tremendous fun.

With its typically complex story complete with a slightly deep and possibly up-to-date political edge, this is a show full of good music and fun.

Putting most of the characters into modern dress did absolutely no harm to Harpenden's version, even though I am sure some audience members would have preferred to see more traditional costumes.

But the important thing was the quality of performance and the standard of the music and both of these came out with top marks.

Hero, Frederick, played by Andrew Whelan, and heroine Mabel, played by Isobel Handley, were both first class. The two artists had good voices and plenty of acting ability.

Similarly, Tom Handley as the Pirate King and Colette Eagle as Ruth, the possible villains of the piece put in tremendous performances and they were soundly backed by an excellent cast of sisters, pirates and policement.

But for me the real star of the show was long-standing society member David Crew as Major-General Stanley.

After more than 40 years of treading the boards with society, David's performance was full of confidence yet played with a tremendous freshness and verve as well as fun. It's perhaps worth noting that he has played most of the baritone leads in the society's G&S productions over the years, including the Pirate King.

Director John Hebden presented a thoroughly good show and musical director Graham Thomson managed an extremely good band of musicians - although sometimes their enthusiasm meant it was a little difficult for the audience to hear the singers.

If there problems, they were small and on the technical side and, as I was attending the first night, I am sure the will be solved well before the show at Harpenden Public Halls ends on Saturday.

It's a Grand Night for Singing

Welcome to the first post from Harpenden Light Operatic Society.

We take a different direction for our Spring show by staging the musical extravaganza "A Grand Night for Singing".

Packed full of Rodgers & Hammerstein favourites, but with fresh new musical arrangements by Fred Wells, this show is an emotional journey through the highs and lows of love, beautifully explored through the stunning music and lyrics of Rodgers & Hammerstein.

It transports you from the fun and frolics of Oklahoma to South Pacific, The Kind & I and The Sound of Music (our show for October 2013!), to name but a few. However, what makes the show such fun and so entertaining is that all of the songs take on a new meaning and are set in a different context from the original productions.

The show is on from Tuesday 27th March through to Saturday 31st March 2012, including Saturday Matinee, at Harpenden Public Halls.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.hlos.ticketsource.co.uk - and to wet your appetite have a listen to our trailer: