Pictures by Serge Huber (Crossroads first rehearsal, first rehearsal in Saussure, sound crew pictures & first performance song sheet surprise)
The Cast
"The Water Nymph" was cast as follows:
Dame Tilsit
Danny Benjamin
Tomme (her elder son and a goatherd)
Victoria Corlass
Bert (her younger son)
Mick Storr
Duke of Rösti
Richard Walsh
Duchess of Rösti
Pamela Walsh
Gouda (their daughter)
Tracey Smith
Stilton (Major-domo to the Duke)
Roger Williams
The Spirit of the Waterfall
Jennie Klein
Fontal (Princess of the water nymphs)
Sarah Nalty
Trickle (handmaiden to the Princess)
Helen Beveridge
Splash (another handmaiden to the Princess)
Sharon Gill
King Roquefort (an Ancient Lord of the
Mountains)
Max Wenner
The Red Leicester (his Chamberlain)
David Pittuck
Zola (a Gorgon)
Penny Morris
Hi-Pong (an Oriental Warrior)
Claudio Vera
For any other information, contact either Jo Irwin (as
above) or the Director himself - Dan Boyle, email: boyle_dan@yahoo.com
Production
Team
Director
Dan Boyle
boyle_dan@yahoo.com
Musical Director
Sue Lloyd
slloyd@club-internet.fr
Band Director
Gavin Spencer
gavin.spencer@mails.ch
Stage Manager
Phil Vowles
phil_vowles@cargill.com
Set Designer
John Fox
j.fox@ibe.unesco.org
Costume Designer
Margaret de Marchi
margaretdemarchi@yahoo.com
Lighting Designer
Robert Boyle
robertboyle@yahoo.com
Chief Choreographer
Karen Perrenoud
karenperrenoud@dplanet.ch
Children's Choreography
Diana Ratcliff
diana.ratcliff@bluewin.ch
Properties
Linda Krasker
krasker@broadmoor.fsworld.co.uk
Make-up Designer
Helen Rolef
hzr@capgroup.com
Sound Effects
Amy Vowles
avowles@bluewin.ch
Sound Amplification
Serge Huber
webmaster@gaos.ch
Production Co-ordinator
Jo Irwin
jo@irwin.ch
The
Legend
The ancient legend of The Water Nymph
Long, long ago, high up in the mountains, a young man
named Tomme was tending his flock of goats. Suddenly, through
the early morning mist, he spied the entrance to a narrow
glade. At the far end was a waterfall, with a group of water
nymphs dancing in the warm sun. Their leader was the most
beautiful girl that Tomme had ever seen. He started towards
them but then the mist came down and they were gone. Try
as he might, he could not find the entrance to the glade.
That evening, he told his friends in the village about
this strange vision. They were very scornful, but an old
woman heard what he was saying and drew closer. She recognised
his description of the girl and was fearful, because of
an ancient legend that her power would one day be taken
from her by a beautiful water nymph who fell in love with
a mortal.
The old woman was really Zola, a member of the hideous
race of Gorgons. She lived in a rocky cavern, deep in the
mountains, in the Palace of King Roquefort, an ancient Lord
of the Mountains who had fallen under her evil influence.
She resolved to kidnap the girl and force her to marry the
King. He would be delighted to have a young and beautiful
wife, and the water nymph would never be able to fall in
love with a mortal.
Several days later, Tomme again found himself at the entrance
to the magic glade. This time he hurried forward, before
it disappeared. The water nymphs were surprised to see him
and made him welcome, for they did not often see mortals
in their glade. Their leader, Fontal, was greatly attracted
by the handsome young goatherd. They talked together and
he learned that she was a mortal upon whom magic powers
had been bestowed. Later, as he left to make his goats ready
for the night, he promised to return the next day. He and
Fontal parted with a tender embrace.
Unknown to them, the Gorgon had followed Tomme and was
watching every move. She returned to the King's palace with
the news that she had found him a beautiful wife. The King
was delighted, and readily agreed that the girl should be
brought to him. That evening, the Gorgon took some of the
King's soldiers to seize Fontal and carry her back to the
palace. The King made every effort to make her welcome but
Fontal rejected his advances and demanded to be returned
to her friends. The Gorgon told him that the girl would
surely change her mind, once she got used to her new life
in the Palace, and so she was taken away and locked into
a bridal chamber.
The water nymphs told Tomme what had happened and he swore
that he would rescue her. They told him that he must come
back at dawn and call out to the Spirit of the Waterfall,
telling her of his determination to rescue Fontal. He must
ask to borrow the Great Sword of Saussure, a magical weapon
which would help him to enter the Kingdom of Roquefort,
although once inside, only his courage and love for Fontal
would enable him to save her.
He returned to the village to find that the Duke of Rösti
had arrived, hearing that Tomme had seen a water nymph in
the mountains and hoping that it might be his lost daughter.
From Tomme's description he realised that this was indeed
his daughter, who had been spirited away by the fairies
when she was very young. He was horrified to learn of her
fate, and assembled his soldiers to rescue her from the
Gorgon's evil power.
Tomme knew that they could never defeat the Gorgon in that
manner, and went next morning to summon the Spirit of the
Waterfall. She agreed to lend him the sword and he set off
for the Kingdom of Roquefort. As the nymphs had foretold,
he was able to reach the Palace where, after a fierce fight,
he defeated the Gorgon and her evil power. The rocks which
encompassed the palace were rent and a shaft of daylight
penetrated the sombre cavern. Fontal was released and the
spell which bound the King was broken.
The Duke arrived soon after and was overjoyed to find his
daughter safe. In gratitude, he rewarded Tomme with a half
share of his lands and property. Tomme returned to the village
in triumph with Fontal and they were soon married.
