July 2009
• 'Rose of England' Memorial Concert to Jose Webb - Sunday 26 July 2009. I would like to place on record our thanks and appreciation to all who will be taking part in the Memorial Concert at the Thameside Theatre this Sunday. This is a very important occasion and I know that Alan Webb and his family are very touched by the amount of effort that has gone in to the preparation. We now need to make this a very special tribute to Jose. The Theatre is generously allowing us access from 12noon.
As announced at last weeks rehearsal, Alan Webb has invited all involved to go back to his home at 82 Lodge Lane, afterwards.
A reminder, lest anyone is still in any doubt – the Dress Code for the Concert is:
• Ladies: Formal Evening Wear – Dresses or Skirts should be ankle length. The dress or skirt/top combination should either be all red, all black or a combination of the two.
• Men: Formal Dinner Suits, White Shirt and Red Bow-Tie and Cummerbund. The intention is that all the men will wear a red rose button-hole and these will be given out on the day.
Please arrive as soon after 1.00pm as you are able and wait in the dressing rooms until you are requested to come to the stage. There are a number of technical issues to be organised on the day to do with staging, lighting, sound and setting up of keyboards, so please don’t wander about the stage.
Having said that, it would be useful if a few men could help get the various equipment and properties to the stage area. So, I will need some volunteers and would ask that they arrive at the Theatre at 12.00 o’clock.
• Summer Break. Following the Concert, the next rehearsal will be on 3rd September. I would like to wish everyone a very good August, leading up to –
• Our next production - 'The Chicago Mikado' The printing of the Librettos and of the Show Information Pack is being undertaken as I prepare this newsletter. If all goes according to plan, these will be available at tonight’s rehearsal. The Show Information Pack which contains detailed information will be free of charge and will be put into a downloadable form on the TOPS website: www.thurrockoperaticsociety.co.uk. The cost of the Libretto is £5.00 per copy (any cheques should be payable to “Thurrock Operatic Society”). The Libretto is something that can be kept, and written in to your hearts content. The dialogue has been completely re-written by Gary Sullivan and is set in the Foyer of “Titipu”, a 1920’s Chicago Nightclub and Casino run on behalf of the Mafia. The production will be a “World Premiere” and this will definitely be a fun show to do.
• TOPS 50th Anniversary Dinner/Dance - 18 June 2010 By way of reminder I repeat the following information about the 50th Anniversary Dinner/Dance. A number of tickets have already been reserved:
“To celebrate next years half-century, a Dinner/Dance has been arranged to take place in the Monks Barn Restaurant at Ye Old Plough in Bulphan. Tony Jose, the founder of the Society, together with his wife Mary, will be our Guests of Honour. The final price per ticket can not be established until we know better how many will be attending, but I can say that the cost will not be more than £50 per head. Please order your tickets on that basis and we will refund any surplus once we have finalised the price.
Obviously there is a restriction on the number that can attend, so please don’t leave it too long before reserving your place. Basically, if you put to one side £1 per person per week you will have paid for the tickets and be able to include some drinks. In fact Suzanne Gunn, our Treasurer, has offered to take in payments from anyone who wishes to save for this on a weekly basis. Now we can’t say fairer than that – thanks Suzanne.”
• Sponsored Bungee Jump - Simon Baker, 31 August 2009. My eldest son, Simon is raising money for St. Francis Hospice by Bungee Jumping and is seeking sponsors. There is a form at rehearsals this evening or alternatively you can let me know by email – bakers_honeypot@hotmail.com or by writing to Simon Baker, Sponsored Bungee Jump, 45 Honeypot Lane, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4QX.
• Social Events Calendar. Social events as previously announced are listed in the social events section of this site. Such events apart from being a sociable and fun occasion, serve to offset the losses that are always incurred in putting on our productions and without the additional income from fund raising activities held throughout the year, the only alternative is to charge more on Subscriptions and Fees. I have said before that it is always the same minority subsidising the majority and that should not continue to be the case. I have asked the Committee to look into the possibility of introducing a Social Subscription, paid annually which would entitle Members to attend 3 Social functions during the year. That way everybody makes some contribution, whether or not they choose to attend these fund raising activities. Nobody expects everyone to be able, or even want, to attend all of the events, but I do hope that more of our Members participate in some of the following. Some Members have, more recently made a voluntary donation when prevented from attending a Social Occasion. (Perhaps others might take that lead).
Ken Baker Chairman of TOPS
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