| Musicals
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Pride and Prejudice Album
Cast
GAY SOPER (Mrs Bennet) has been a leading light of the British stage in the 3O-odd years since she first appeared alongside Jeremy Irons and David Essex in the original London production of Godspell~. Other starring roles include Barbara in the London production of "Barnum", opposite Michael Crawford, and in the original Drury Lane production of "Side by Side by Sondheim". She recently completed three years as Madame Thenardier in the West End production of Lea Miserables and is widely considered to be the finest Madame Thenardier to date. When it comes to playing and singing character parts, Gay has few rivals. But at the time of this recording she was extending her talents to opera, playing Marcelina in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro". JAMES STADDON (Bingley) was, at the time of this recording, playing Javier in the West End production of "Les Miserables" to great acclaim. He has appeared in a number of West End productions - including "Miss Saigon" - in both singing and non-singing roles. He created the role of "Edgar" on the Silva Screen recording of Bernard J. Taylor's musical version of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and has assisted Bernard J. Taylor in the recording of demos for other musicals. His singing is attracting a growing number of admirers. JANET MOONEY (Jane Bennet) can sing with a voice of unrivalled sweetness and purity - as she proves on this recording, and as she also proved in her performances as Cosette in the West End production of "Les Miserables" - but she can also do the big belters. A highty-trained singer of considerable versatility, she has successfully turned her talents to opera and, at the time of recording, was preparing to play the title role in a touring production of Bizet's "Carmen'. MICHAEL DUCAREL (Mr Bennet) was a successful accountant before deciding to forsake the security and financial rewards of his accounting practice to embark on an operatic career. He has never regretted this decision, partly because he was lucky enough - and talented enough - to make his professional debut with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in the title role of Gilbert and Sullivan's 'The Mikado'. This was followed by a succession of prominent roles in British operatic productions. He has also performed extensively in Europe, as well as in Africa and the United States of America. CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS (Mr Collins) became a household name in Britain through numerous roles on television, in such series as "Porridge" and for his performance as Nero in the highly-acclaimed production of 'I Claudius', alongside Derek Jacobi, Sean Philips and other luminaries of the British stage and screen. Constantly active as a performer, producer and director for stage and television, he is also constantly in demand as a pure celebrity. At the time of this recording, he had just completed his role as a producer for a television series with Joan Collins and was directing and performing in a play scheduled for a tour of Barbados. LINDA JARVIS (Lydia Bennet) has appeared in a number of British theatre productions, including the West End productions of 'Lea Miserables' and 'Aspects of Love'. She had her first leading role in the production of Bernard J. Taylor's first musical, 'Neighbours and Lovers', at the Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, in 1987, shortly after leaving drama school. She was acclaimed by the provincial Press as a potential star - and her performance led immediately to her being offered a leading role in a touring production of a musical version of Roald DahI's 'James and The Giant Peach'. She temporarily abandoned the theatre for a few years before this recording to give birth to two sons, but has now returned to the boards. THELMA L'ESTRANGE (Lady de Bourgh) trained at the Guildhall School of Music and in Vienna and Studied with Rupert Bruce Lockhart. She has had wide experience in films, stage and cabaret work and has given recitals at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Purcell Room, The Wigmore Hall, Mermaid Theatre and the London International Festival of Opera, among many other venues. She has presented a series of 'Victorian evenings' at ancestral homes and has also sung extensively in France and Spain.
DARREN BOYD (Wickham) had only recently left school at the time of this recording, but had already taken leading roles in a number of amateur productions in the East Sussex area of England and won awards in singing competitions. Darren was a member of the chorus on the recording of Bernard J. Taylor's 'Success!' (First Stage Records, Catalogue number DCSCII) and also provided the speaking voice for 'Robert' in dialogue with Cedric E. de Ville (Lon Satton) on the 'Success!' album. Darren has since been appearing in the West End production of "Les Miserables". |
SHERI
COPELAND