This is thought to be the professional Equity Canadian premiere of the 1973 Tony Award-winning version of the 1958 Academy Award-winning film inspired by the novel by Colette. The musical by the writers who gave the world Brigadoon, My Fair Lady and Camelot, tells the story of the young tomboy Gigi and her friendship with Gaston, the most eligible bachelor in Paris — a friendship that he realizes is something more when her great-aunt's lessons take effect and Gigi suddenly becomes a young woman.
The Stratford staging is already selling well. By April 9, more than half the seven-month run was sold out.
The score by lyricist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe includes "I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore," "I Remember It Well," "The Night They Invented Champagne" and "Thank Heaven for Little Girls."
The Stratford Festival production is directed by artistic director Richard Monette with associate director and choreographer Donna Feore. Musical direction is by Berthold Carrière. Set and costume design is by Cameron Porteous, lighting design is by Kevin Fraser and sound design is by Peter McBoyle.
Gigi features James Blendick as Honoré, Domini Blythe as Mamita (Inez Alvarez), Douglas Chamberlain as M. Laverne/Maître Dufresne, Dan Chameroy as Gaston Lachailles, Patricia Collins as Aunt Alicia, Randy Ganne as Jacques, Adrienne Gould as Madame Laverne, Jennifer Gould as Gigi, Stephanie Graham as Liane, Jacob James as the Head Waiter, Laird Mackintosh as Manuel the Barber, Cory O'Brien as the Telephone Installer/Jean-Paul, Philip Griffith Pace as Charles the Butler, Amy Sellors as Juliette and Robert Yeretch as Maître Duclos. Also appearing are Naomi Costain, Jade Elliott, Michael Falcucci, Barbara Fulton, Kerry Gage (also dance captain), David Hogan, Krista Leis, Stephanie Roth, Dayna Tekatch, Jon Tsouras (swing) and Heather E. Wilson (swing). Opening is May 30, with performances continuing in repertory to Nov. 1. For more information, visit www.stratfordfestival.ca.
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The 1973 stage version won Lerner and Loewe a Best Score Tony (the eligibility committee allowed for it, despite the fact the score was culled largely from the film) and an original cast album was released. A later cast album of a London run was also recorded.
